Old Frankfort Pike Historic and Scenic Byway
A 15.5-mile country road between Lexington and Woodford County, past horse farms, stone fences and small historic districts of the Inner Bluegrass.
Also known as Old Frankfort Pike (KY 1681)
- Length15.5 miles[1]
- Drive timeAbout half an hour without stops, from US 60 near Frankfort to the Visitor Viewing Area near Lexington[8]
- RoadsKY 1681 (Old Frankfort Pike)[5]
- Start and endDuckers Station Road in Woodford County east to Wolf Run Creek in Fayette County[6]
- Fees and passesNone for the byway[1]
- Best seasonFall, when the leaves change color[7]
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesTwo lanes the whole way, with signed speeds of 35 to 55 mph; one four-way stop at Midway Road (US 62) and one roundabout near the Lexington end.[8]
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.
About the drive
Old Frankfort Pike (KY 1681) runs from Duckers Station Road in Woodford County east to Wolf Run Creek on the edge of Lexington. The road sits below the level of the fields in places, worn down by long use, and is lined with dry-laid limestone fences and a near-continuous canopy of hardwoods.
This is Kentucky horse country, where Thoroughbred farms share the land with traditional crop and livestock farms. Kentucky's Transportation Cabinet says the byway passes through six National Register historic places, including small crossroads districts.
Wallace Station, a restaurant and bakery in an old country store, makes a natural break. At the Lexington end, a small viewing area at the Alexandria Drive roundabout looks out over the West Fayette farms toward a statue of Secretariat. Most farms along the road are private, so enjoy them from the car or the pull-offs.
Stops along the way
-
Weisenberger Mill
Historic mill in the Redd Road Rural Historic District.
-
Nugent's Crossroads
Small historic crossroads district along the Pike.
-
Wallace Station
Restaurant and bakery in a historic country store.
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Lexington Farmers' MarketLexington, KY · about 0.3 mi from the route · listed as year-round
- Lexington Farmers' Market - Main St.Lexington, KY · about 0.4 mi from the route
- Lexington Farmers' Market - National Ave.Lexington, KY · about 1.6 mi from the route
- Lexington Farmers' Market - Alexandria Dr.Lexington, KY · about 1.7 mi from the route
- Woodford County Farmers MarketMidway, KY · about 2.1 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
In season during the best months to drive
The drive's best months are Oct, Nov. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.
- Acorn squashSep, Oct, Nov
- Butternut squashSep, Oct, Nov
- ChestnutsSep, Oct, Nov
- CranberriesSep, Oct, Nov
Keep exploring
Scenic drives nearby
- Ohio River Scenic BywayIL, IN, OH · about 33 mi away
- Lincoln Heritage Scenic HighwayKY · about 50 mi away
- Red River Gorge Scenic BywayKY · about 59 mi away
- Wilderness Road Heritage HighwayKY · about 80 mi away
- Historic National RoadMD, PA, WV, OH, IN, IL · about 93 mi away
- Indiana's Historic PathwaysIN · about 94 mi away
More scenic drives in Kentucky
Food and farms in the area
Sources
- America's Byways: Old Frankfort Pike Historic and Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- America's Byways photo: Wallace Station, Old Frankfort Pike (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- America's Byways photo: Redd Road Rural Historic District, Weisenberger Mill (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- America's Byways photo: Nugent's Crossroad Historic District (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Kentucky State and National Scenic Byways and Highways (Kentucky Transportation Cabinet) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Gov. Andy Beshear Announces Federal Designations of 2 Kentucky Byways (Kentucky Transportation Cabinet news release) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Discover Highways And Byways Less Traveled With A Scenic Fall Drive (Kentucky Department of Tourism) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Old Frankfort Pike National Scenic Byway (oldfrankfortpike.org, the byway's own site) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-29.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).