11 Adventures for An Affordable Spring Break Staycation Louisville: From a Local with Kids!
Create Long-lasting Spring Break Family Memories on a Budget
Looking for spring break fun in Louisville? We’ve got you covered with our family-approved guide.
Before the word Staycation was popular, my family created Spring Break Staycation fun in Louisville, KY. Growing up in a “large” family with four kids meant vacation was a trip to my grandparent’s house.
My parents did an AWESOME job keeping us occupied with fun adventures during spring break in our hometown. While the spring break adventures of the 1980s would seem tame to today’s standard, playing indoor mini-golf and bowling were fun afternoon activities during our weeklong escape from school!
Creating awesome adventures and memories on spring break doesn’t have to break the bank! Keep reading to build the best Spring Break Staycation 2024 in Louisville for your kids!
TL;DR: Spring Break Staycation in Louisville with Kids
- Expert-approved adventures by our own kids, catering to pre-teens and teens.
- Adventures are categorized by cost: Low (Free to nominal), Medium (Under $25/person), and High (Over $25/person).
- Variety of activities: From free hikes in Louisville’s expansive parks to educational day trips and thrilling indoor adventures.
- Customizable plans to mix and match for a fun-filled week in the Louisville Area, without the need for long travels.
- Savings tip: Pack a lunch for healthy, cost-effective picnics during your adventures.
- Stay tuned to OCU for more family travel tips and local adventure guides.
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11 Spring Break Staycation Ideas for 2024 in Louisville with Kids
Before jumping into these 11 Louisville area spring break adventures, let’s share how we developed our list:
We asked the experts…Our Kids!
These ideas are pre-teen and teen-approved for having a blast on Spring Break!
We also decided to categorize these items based on cost:
- Low cost – Free or an optional cost
- Medium cost – Under $25 per person
- High cost – Over $25 per person (or adult)
Sara and I think the best part is you can mix and match several of these adventures and have a super fun week in L.A. (aka the Louisville Area).
Note – we did not include transportation costs or meals in the overall cost of the adventure.
Low-Cost Spring Break Adventures in Louisville
Our low-cost spring break adventures generally have zero cost except for transportation and maybe the cost of a special treat!
We love packing a lunch and enjoying an impromptu picnic during our adventures. Not only is this a great way to save money, but it also allows us to eat healthily. Whether you’re exploring the Parklands or setting off on a hike through Jefferson Memorial Forest, packing a picnic adds a delightful touch to your day.
1a. Take a Hike in the Woods
From the Parklands to the Olmstead Parks, Louisville is home to a world-class park system that is waiting to be explored! If young explorers are up for some hikes, you could explore a different park every day and still not see everything!
Here are some of our favorite hikes in Louisville:
- Coppiced Woods Trail –
- Getting There
- Located in the Parklands of Floyds Fork, the Coppiced Woods Trail is a beautiful 2.0-mile trail that leads hikers past ponds, large overlooks, and old wood forest. Plan for about 1 to 1.5 hours to hike this trail with kids. After your hike, take time to enjoy a picnic by the lake!
- Cherokee Scenic Loop Trail
- Getting There
- This 2.4-mile trail is on a paved path through Cherokee Park. One lane of the road is open for walkers, runners, and cyclists. This urban hike is breathtaking in the spring as the trees and flowers return to life. Enjoy a few minutes of playing on the playground near Hogan’s Fountain!
- Joe Creason Beargrass Creek Nature Preserve Trail
- Getting There
- At 3.24 miles, this trail is longer but leads visitors through some fabulous White Oak forest.
- Iroquois Park Overlook Trail
- Getting There
- This trail is 1.2 miles long and leads hikers to a stunning overlook of downtown Louisville. Seeing the city from this overlook helps provide a different perspective!
- Jefferson Memorial Forest
- Getting There
- For a truly immersive nature experience, plan a hike in Jefferson Memorial Forest. As the largest municipal urban forest in the United States, it offers an escape into nature with miles of trails perfect for families looking to pack a picnic and explore the great outdoors during spring break.
- Charlestown State Park
- Getting There
- Located in Charlestown, Indiana, this state park has 7 wonderful, kid-friendly hiking trails. Trails 2 and 6 will likely have cool waterfalls from the spring rain. Trial 7 takes hikers back in time to Rose Island Amusement Park. There is a daily fee of $10 for out-of-state visitors, but it’s well worth the money!
If you want to travel further, visit Red River Gorge or Cumberland Falls State Park.
- Red River Gorge
- Getting There (note the visitor center is temporarily closed as of this writing but should open in early April 2024)
- Red River Gorge is home to the most arches East of the Mississippi River. From easy hikes like Skybridge to rugged trails like Rough Trail, you will be surrounded by some of the most amazing scenery in Kentucky!
- Cumberland Falls
- Getting There
- See why this magnificent waterfall is called the Niagra of the South! Two of our favorite hikes at Cumberland Falls State Park are Dog Slaughter Falls and Eagle Falls (no dogs allowed)
1b. Hike the Big 4 Walking Bridge
Hiking the Big 4 Walking Bridge is fun to spend time outside, burn extra energy, and see downtown Louisville from a new vantage point.
Here are a couple of ways we recommend enjoying a fun day at the Big 4 Walking Bridge.
- Option 1 – Lazy Morning with late Breakfast and Early Afternoon Walk on the Bridge
- Let your kids sleep in later than normal
- If your kids wake up early, enjoy a Netflix movie together
- Enjoy a late breakfast with kid favorites like bacon, pancakes, and waffles.
- Take a mid-day adventure to the Big 4 Walking Bridge
- Once in Jeffersonville, Indiana, visit Schimpff’s Confectionery for fantastic ice cream served at their historic ice cream fountain or some homemade Red Hots!
- Walk back across and enjoy an hour or more at the playground
- Option 2 – Late morning hike on the Walking Bridge to the Parlour Pizza
- Head to the Big 4 Walking Bridge in the late morning
- Enjoy the walk over to Jeffersonville, Indiana
- Stop into Parlour Pizza for a delicious pizza!
- If you still have some room in your belly, try some ice cream before heading back across
2. Visit Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace
Bring history class to life for your kids with a spring break staycation day trip to Lincoln’s Birthplace National Historical Park. Learn how life in Kentucky shaped Abraham Lincoln’s values and anti-slavery views.
National Park Rangers share their knowledge of Lincoln’s early life on FREE tours of this historic park. Jack and I enjoyed our hour-long tour with Ranger Nick.
The Boundary Oak Trail is an easy walk through the woods on a nice gravel path. Depending on the direction you hike, the trail leads from the Lincoln symbolic cabin memorial to the boundary oak tree.
While at the Lincoln Birthplace, don’t miss the NPS documentary film in the visitor center.
3. Sauerbeck Family Drive-In
The Sauerbeck Family Drive-In is hands down the best value for going to the movies in Louisville!
The Sauerbeck Family are huge movie fans, and they brought their love of the big screen to Louisville with a state-of-the-art Drive-In. This is your opportunity to see movies in a laid-back environment.
Feature films rotate regularly, from the latest releases to Taylor Swift to Kung Fu Panda to a FREE Thunder Over Louisville viewing party on April 20, 2024!
Tickets are a great deal! Adults are $11 each, and kids are $6 each. This includes all the movies for the night—usually, they show two films!
Before the feature film or at intermission, stop by the concession stand for the best popcorn in Oldham County and talk with the owners! The Sauerbecks permit guests to bring their snacks, but they charge a small fee of $5 for a snack permit.
4. Visit Frankfort, Kentucky’s Capital: Tour the Historic State Capital Building
Take a day trip to Frankfort, Kentucky, and tour the historic state capital building. The current state capital building was constructed in the early 1900s to replace the capital building built in the 1830s.
Our current capital building, constructed in the early 1900s, was needed to accommodate the growing size of the Kentucky House of Representatives and Senate. This structure also solidified Frankfort as the capital of Kentucky.
Tours are available Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM. On-site parking is available!
5. Discover the History of Fighter Aircraft at the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, OH
If you’re looking for a day filled with indoor exhibits that are both educational and fascinating for the kids, the National Museum of the United States Air Force is a must-visit. Home to over 350 exhibits, it’s a perfect blend of learning and spring break fun, regardless of the weather outside.
Located in Dayton, Ohio, about 2.5 hours northeast of Louisville, this museum has over 350 exhibits. It showcases aircraft from the era of the Wright Brothers, who happen to be from Dayton, Ohio, through modern aircraft like the F-22 Raptor!
Scavenger hunts and other kid-friendly activities make this museum an interactive day for the whole family!
Admission AND parking are FREE! The museum is open from 9 AM to 5 PM, seven days per week.
Explore Medium-Cost Spring Break Daycations from Louisville
Our medium-cost spring break adventures generally cost less than $25 per person, plus transportation and food costs.
6. Explore Mammoth Cave National Park: The Longest Cave in the World
With over 400 miles of this underground labyrinth mapped, Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest cave in the world. As you tour this cave, discover the power of water-eroding rock over thousands or millions of years.
The National Park Service offers tours ranging from a self-guided discovery tour to a 6+ hour exploration deep into the cave. The NPS rotates tour offerings, so check their site for availability.
Usually, we take the shorter Historic Tour (2 hours) or the Frozen Niagra (1.25 hours) and find these satisfy our caving curiosity. While we hiked on the trails above ground, we believe the cave tours are the star of this national park.
Mammoth Cave is a perfect rainy-day activity. Spring break staycations in Louisville often include some rain. If possible, plan your Mammoth Cave National Park visit on a rainy day. However, this can be challenging since tickets must be purchased in advance.
The NPS charges fees for cave tours, which vary depending on the tour you choose. Tickets are required to enter the cave, so make sure to plan ahead!
Remember to explore above ground at Mammoth Cave. This National Park offers amazing hikes to sinkholes, beautiful overlooks, and more!
Local Tip: Purchase tickets in advance! Tours sell out.
7. Visit the Home of the Corvette: America’s Supercar
While you are visiting Mammoth Cave NP, make a detour to the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. On the self-guided tour, see how the Corvette evolved and remained a car ahead of its time. See the world’s only mass-produced and “affordable” supercar!
The National Corvette Museum showcases how the Corvette shaped America’s “cool factor” from the 1950s to today. And in many ways, how America shaped the Corvette.
In February 2014, the ground supporting the museum began to cave into a giant sinkhole. The sinkhole swallowed several pristine Corvettes whole. After mitigating the area and ensuring the building was on a solid foundation, this area was preserved as a reminder of the power of the earth.
Even non-Corvette enthusiasts will enjoy this museum.
Tickets are $18 for adults and $13 for kids. The ticket cost does not include the Corvette simulator exhibit in the lobby. Madeline, Jack, and I all did this exhibit and found it was not realistic and not worth the price.
8. Falls of the Ohio State Park
The Falls of the Ohio State Park is located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and is a short drive across the Ohio River from downtown Louisville.
Discover how the Falls of the Ohio, a series of rapids on the Ohio River, contributed to the city of Louisville’s growth in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
This area also served as the starting point of the great Lewis & Clark Expedition in 1803!
Explore the “Devionan Era” fossil beds as you walk on the huge exposed fossil bed (pending river conditions).
Admission to the Falls of the Ohio State Park is $9 for adults and $7 for kids.
9. Climb to New Heights at Rocksport Indoor Climbing Gym
Unleash your inner Spider-Man at Rocksport Indoor Climbing Gym. We enjoy spending a few hours there hanging on the side of a wall and conquering tough climbing routes.
We are complete climbing newbies, but conquering the wall brings a rush of adrenaline that is tough to beat. Not to mention, it’s a darn good workout!
Rocksport offers classes for an additional price. Beyond an introductory belay class, we have yet to have formal training.
Climbing fees for adults are $26 per day, including shoe and harness rental, and $21 for kids. The fees allow climbers access to the gym the entire day. So, you can climb in the morning, grab lunch and rest, and return in the afternoon.
Rocksport Indoor Climbing Gym and Climb NuLu both offer fantastic opportunities for indoor spring break fun, letting you conquer new heights together.
High-Cost Spring Break Adventures in Louisville
Our high-cost spring break adventures generally cost more than $25 per person plus transportation and food costs.
10. MegaQuest at Louisville Mega Cavern
Louisville Mega Cavern’s MegaQuest takes ropes courses to a new level! The MegaQuest ropes course includes 76 different obstacles to challenge participants.
Our kids love this ropes course, and the two-hour admission flies by for them!
Certain restrictions for age, height, weight, clothing, etc. are in place so read over their policy before reserving your tickets.
Admission is $39 + plus fees and taxes for a two-hour session.
11. Full Throttle Adrenaline Park: Feel the Need for Speed
As a kid, I could not wait to drive a car! Naturally, driving go-carts was the next best thing. I still love driving go-carts; fortunately, Jack and Madeline do, too!
Full Throttle offers the fastest indoor go-carts in Louisville and will make your spring break staycation a blast! Here are the details
- Go carts are sized based on adults and kids
- Pro series go-carts are available for experienced drivers. I don’t think we have driven these
- Full Throttle offers helmet cameras for a small additional cost and the video is cool to watch! I felt like I was part of Dude Perfect!
- Members of the Full Throttle team provide a full safety overview to keep all drivers safe!
- Races last about 5 to 6 minutes. Lap times are tracked for each driver.
Racing is expensive. The best deal is three races for $59 plus the annual membership of $8.
Pro Tip: Making advance reservations can help you save $2 on a three-race package.
Other Ideas to Create Spring Break Fun in Louisville
Louisville has tons of other free and fun things to do like:
- Louisville Free Public Library – 18 public libraries are located throughout the city
- Locust Grove National Historic House – learn about prominent families like the Croghans and Clarks from Louisville’s early years
- Yew Dell Botanical Gardens – a beautiful garden in Oldham County where visitors can tour the grounds as spring begins to bloom in Louisville
- Bernheim Arboretum and Research – take an easy hike around the grounds and check out the gentle giants. This is a great spot for a picnic lunch!
- Kentucky Science Center – consider enrolling your junior scientists in the Pay-by-the-Day Science Camps (grades Pre-K to 5).
- Louisville Zoo is the perfect place to spend a warm sunny spring break staycation day.
Conclusion: Wrap Up Your Spring Break Staycation in Louisville with a Bang!
No matter your budget, Louisville has so much to offer on your Spring Break Staycation. Here are a few last tips to create an unforgettable adventure with your kids!
- Reflect on the adventures – Take a moment to reflect on the memories made and the places discovered right in your backyard. Each adventure offers a unique way to connect with your kids and see the world through their eyes.
- Mix and match for maximum fun – Remember, the best part of a staycation is the flexibility it offers. Feel free to mix and match these ideas to create a custom Spring Break that fits your family’s interests and budget. Whether it’s hiking in the vast park system, exploring historical sites, or getting your adrenaline fix at an indoor go-kart track, there’s no shortage of ways to make lasting memories.
- Plan ahead for next year – And finally, as you enjoy these moments, why not start thinking about next Spring Break? Louisville is always evolving, offering new and exciting adventures for families to explore. Keep an eye on Our Campfire Unplugged for the latest in family travel tips and ideas.
Spring Break in Louisville doesn’t have to mean traveling far from home to find fun. With these staycation ideas, you’re all set for a week filled with adventure, learning, and quality time spent with the ones you love the most. Here’s to creating unforgettable memories without leaving the comfort of your city! 🌳🍦🏞
Stay adventurous, stay curious, and most importantly, craft your own spring break fun. Make every moment count with your family this Spring Break!
About Us
Mike & Sara began RV camping in 2020 and instantly loved the lifestyle. We found the thrill of exploring new places, breaking our vacation routine, and crossing off all those “one-day” trips a blast! At Our Campfire Unplugged, we enjoy sharing our experiences to help fellow travelers live their best lives.
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