Without A Doubt, There's No Summer Drive In Kentucky More Scenic Than The Wilderness Road Heritage Highway
By Sarah McCosham|Published May 02, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Here at Only In Kentucky, we’re always up for a scenic drive, as these trips let us sit back and soak up the sublime beauty of the Bluegrass. There are certain drives we reserve for fall leaf peeping, while other routes take us through the state’s most brilliant spring blooms. In the summer, however, there’s no drive in Kentucky more scenic than the Wilderness Road Heritage Highway.
When it comes to scenic drives in Kentucky, the sky's the limit. Whether you're looking for an hour-long drive or day-long adventure, Kentucky has much to offer road trippers.
But in the summer, when you can roll down the windows and cruise through the rolling blue hills and valleys for which the Bluegrass is known? There's nothing better. Especially if you're taking a drive down the Wilderness Road Heritage Highway.
Spanning just under 100 miles from the Tennessee-Kentucky border near Middlesboro all the way to its terminus in Berea, this route takes travelers on a historic tour de force through the Bluegrass.
This trip begins and ends on a high note. Spanning 24,000 acres across Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee, Cumberland Gap is one of the largest national parks in the eastern United States. The views here are phenomenal, especially as the summer sun is rising and the clouds are beginning to dissipate.
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Middlesboro, KY 40965, USA
The scenic dashboard views continue as the route cruises past Pine Mountain State Resort Park, a Kentucky State Park known for its iconic Chained Rock formation.
Pine Mountain State Resort Park, 1050 State Park Rd, Pineville, KY 40977, USA
Continuing northwest to London, travelers will come across the McHargues Mill within the Levi Jackson Wilderness State Park. A true hidden gem in Kentucky, this park honors the pioneers who braved the wilderness to settle in Kentucky and features a museum spread across seven buildings and plenty of kid-friendly entertainment such as a pool, minigolf, and treetop adventures. The onsite mill -- an authentic reproduction working watermill built in 1939 --grinds fresh cornmeal available for purchase.
Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park, 998 Levi Jackson Rd, London, KY 40744, USA
Heading north through Renfro Valley, a stop at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame is certainly in order. Located in the beautiful blue hills of bucolic Mt. Vernon, the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum opened in 2002 and celebrates the many Bluegrass musicians that made their mark in the music industry. When you return to your car, be sure to crank up the tunes! We're partial to Loretta Lynn, the Bluegrass State's most beloved daughter.
Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum, 2590 Richmond St, Mt Vernon, KY 40456, USA
There are so many other points of interest along the Wilderness Road Heritage Highway that, while it could easily be done in under two hours, we recommend taking your time and enjoying the journey.
Berea College, 101 Chestnut St, Berea, KY 40403, USA
Because this is Kentucky, and my, is the journey a beautiful one!
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Ah, Berea. The terminus of the Wilderness Road Heritage Highway, Berea is best-known for its titular college. Founded in 1855, Berea College was the first college in the American south to be coeducational and racially integrated, and it's as historically significant as it is breathtakingly beautiful.
Berea College, 101 Chestnut St, Berea, KY 40403, USA
