There’s no barbecue like Bluegrass barbecue. It’s a fact. Sticky and sweet, slow-smoked and fall-off-the-bone tender, Kentucky barbecue is an art form that simply cannot be beat. And we’ve devised the most delicious Kentucky road trip to prove that Bluegrass barbecue really is the best. Bring your appetite – and wet naps – on the following road trip to seven hole-in-the-wall barbecue restaurants in Kentucky.

Our Kentucky Barbecue Road Trip visits seven of the state's finest BBQ joints, covering 376 miles of pure Bluegrass barbecue bliss! Total trip time is just under seven hours, and we recommend splitting the journey into a long weekend, stopping for the night in lovely Paducah!
Google Maps
View a Google Map for the BBQ restaurants road trip, and a Paducah lodging option if you want to turn this into a multi-day adventure!
Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn
Moonlite Bar-b-q Inn, 2840 W Parrish Ave, Owensboro, KY 42301, USA
Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn/Facebook
Alan Yee/Google Local
Easily one of the most iconic restaurants in Kentucky, Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn is famous for its barbecue. The mutton, pork, beef, chicken, and ham are tender, juicy, and have the perfect smoky, spicy, tangy flavor that Kentuckians love. The pit masters of Moonlite travel across the U.S., promoting their own special Bluegrass barbecue. While you're there, be sure to order a side of burgoo stew, another speciality at this only-in-Kentucky institution.
Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q
Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q, 2520 Louisville Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42101, USA
Marilyn Kolezke/Google Local
Richard Kraddock/Google Local
If barbecue chicken is your love language, Smokey Pig Bar-B-Q in Bowling Green will be your happy place. Generous, juicy slabs of chicken are served smoky-sweet and slathered in sauce, with comforting sides like beans and slaw. This is pure barbecue heaven!
Roy's Bar-B-Que
Roy's Bar-B-Que, 101 Sarah Ln, Russellville, KY 42276, USA
American Marketing & Publishing/Google Local
Tim Wilson/Google Local
Roy's Bar-B-Que is a place for folks with big, ole appetites. In addition to serving some of the best barbecue chicken around, the Southern-style sides and to-die-for pies make for the kind of down-home dinner dreams are made of!

Related Stories

The One Fried Chicken Restaurant In Kentucky With Surprisingly Delicious Tacos

The One Fried Chicken Restaurant In Kentucky With Surprisingly Delicious Tacos

 The Cafeteria-Style Restaurant With Some Of The Best Home-Cooked Food In Kentucky

The Cafeteria-Style Restaurant With Some Of The Best Home-Cooked Food In Kentucky

 It Should Be Illegal To Drive Through Bedford, Kentucky Without Stopping At Little Town & Country Restaurant

It Should Be Illegal To Drive Through Bedford, Kentucky Without Stopping At Little Town & Country Restaurant
Hoskins BBQ
Hoskins BBQ, 155 KY-1241, Mayfield, KY 42066, USA
Hoskins BBQ/Facebook
Hoskins BBQ/Facebook
Hoskins BBQ is Bluegrass barbecue at its finest, served sky-high on a bun, slathered in sauce, and topped with a slew of 'slaw. Don't skip the slaw... it totally makes this sandwich sing!
Starnes Bar-B-Q
Starnes Barbecue, 1008 Joe Clifton Dr, Paducah, KY 42001, USA
Matthew Mac/Google Local
Starnes Bar-B-Q/Facebook
Hailed as the most legendary barbecue in the South, Starnes Bar-B-Q is a Paducah institution that's truly a bucket-list must. Step inside this unassuming blue building and prepare yourself for bold, smoky barbecue (smoked out back, in fact!) smothered in finger-lickin' sauce. Pro tip: buy a bottle (or two... or 10) to take home!
Swaggy P's Kitchen and Coffee Bar
Swaggy P's Kitchen and Coffee Bar, 818 S Main St, Madisonville, KY 42431, USA
American Marketing & Publishing/Google Local
Swaggy P's Kitchen and Coffee Bar/Google Local
Swaggy P's Kitchen and Coffee Bar is about as unassuming as they come, with a beige building and no-frills menu. But none of that matters, because the barbecue at this Madisonville spot is darn delicious. Piled atop toast with an ice-cold Dr. Pepper on the side, it might just be the best lunch of your life.
Old Hickory Bar-B-Q
Old Hickory Bar-B-Que, 338 Washington Ave, Owensboro, KY 42301, USA
Sean Correia/Google Local
Timothy Ford/Google Local
Hailed as the "world's best barbecue," Old Hickory Bar-B-Q certainly lives up to this bold claim. This long-time spot has been serving the same, soul-filling, delicious BBQ for generations. The restaurant was named Old Hickory in 1954, thanks to the hickory wood used to create the distinctive BBQ. Not much has changed in terms of the menu at the restaurant, and this family-owned eatery aims to continue the high-quality standards set all those years ago.

There’s nothing like Bluegrass barbecue, and we hope you enjoyed each and every stop on this delicious road trip in Kentucky!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Kentucky Barbecue

Sarah M. | February 07, 2023

Why is Kentucky known for barbecue?

The Bluegrass and barbecue go hand in hand, with Kentucky home to some of the very best BBQ joints in the country! (And it’s not just us who think so… Southern Living named this Paducah institution among the “South’s Most Legendary Barbecue Joints!”) But there’s one town in Kentucky that’s at the heart of the Bluegrass barbecue scene, and that’s Owensboro. Why? Well, this "big little town" is home to an abundance of great barbecue restaurants. Owensboro, Kentucky, is colloquially referred to as the "Bar-B-Q Capital of the World," in fact, and it certainly lives up to such a title, as it's home to Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, Old Hickory Bar-B-Q, and Ole South Barbeque! (Craving Hawaiian-style BBQ in Kentucky? Tri-R-Tips Hawaiian-style BBQ is *the* place to go!)

What are the best restaurants in Kentucky?

Looking to add some restaurants to your Bluegrass dining list? We recommending adding all 12 of these best restaurants in Kentucky, including:

  • Pompilio’s: *The* place for authentic Italian food in Kentucky.
  • The Brown Hotel: A Kentucky icon, The Brown Hotel is home of the world-famous hot brown and the perfect mix of Southern hospitality and five-star luxury. 
  • Wallace Station Deli and Bakery: Craving classic Southern lunch favorites? The Pimento Cheese sandwich from Wallace Station is delicious, as is the classic fried chicken 'wich!
  • Castle Farms Restaurant: If you're looking for the royal treatment in Kentucky, it doesn't any better than dining at a real castle!
  • Patti’s 1880's Settlement: From the appetizers to desserts, their food earns rave reviews; Patti's is known for Southern-style cooking, offering items like steak and potatoes, catfish fillets, and their specialty two-inch pork chops. Make sure you get a side of their flowerpot bread -- and be sure to bring your appetite, as the portions at Patti's are as big as the restaurant's hospitality!
  • Sanders Cafe: This is a place that belongs on every Kentuckian’s bucket (of fried chicken) list — not simply because it’s the amazing restaurant that birthed a culinary legend, but also because it has its own museum that’s devoted to all things fried chicken!

Related Articles

Explore Kentucky