Woodlands Trace
The main road through Land Between the Lakes, 43 miles from Grand Rivers, Kentucky to Dover, Tennessee, past bison range, prairie and lake views.
Also known as The Trace (Land Between the Lakes)
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length43 miles[1]The Kentucky section is 30 miles, per the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
- Drive timeAbout 1.5 hours of driving, or a full day with stops[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsThe Trace, the main north-south road through Land Between the Lakes[2]
- Start and endGrand Rivers, Kentucky to Dover, Tennessee[2]
- Fees and passesNone for the byway[1]The Elk & Bison Prairie drive-through loop charges a vehicle fee, per Land Between the Lakes.
- Best seasonFall, when the leaves change color[3]
- SurfacePaved; The Trace is maintained by the Tennessee DOT and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet[4]
- Vehicle notesSide roads off the Trace range from paved to gravel; check the Motor Vehicle Use Map to stay on legal roads.[2]
- 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
Woodlands Trace runs the length of Land Between the Lakes, the forested ridge between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. It starts near Grand Rivers, Kentucky, and heads south to Dover, Tennessee, through forest that changes with each season.
Along the way are the Elk & Bison Prairie drive-through loop, the Golden Pond Visitor Center with its planetarium, the South Bison Range and the Homeplace living history farm. Short side drives lead to lake overlooks and wildlife viewing spots.
The drive itself takes about an hour and a half, but a full day lets you stop. Some side roads are gravel, so check the area map before you leave the Trace.
Stops along the way
-
Grand Rivers
Kentucky town at the north end of the drive.
Official information · 37.00312, -88.23448 · about 1.2 mi from the route line
-
Golden Pond Visitor Center
Main visitor center, with maps and the planetarium, midway along the Trace.
Official information · 36.77775, -88.06298 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
-
Homeplace Working Farm
Living history farm with original buildings, period crops and animals.
Official information · 36.6555, -87.97305 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
-
Dover
Tennessee town at the south end of the drive.
Official information · 36.48784, -87.83836 · about 4.6 mi from the route line
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
- HWY 79 Farmers MarketDover, TN · about 3.5 mi from the route
- Marshall County Farmers MarketBenton, KY · about 13.3 mi from the route
- Cadiz Farmers MarketCadiz, KY · about 13.3 mi from the route
- Cadiz/Trigg County Farmers MarketCadiz, Ky, KY · about 13.5 mi from the route
- Downtown Farmers MarketMurray, KY · about 15.8 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
- Lincoln Heritage Scenic HighwayKY
- Sequatchie Valley Scenic BywayTN
- Cumberland Historic BywayTN
- Natchez Trace ParkwayAL, MS, TN
- Great River RoadMN, WI, IA, IL, MO, KY, TN, AR, MS, LA
- Old Frankfort Pike Historic and Scenic BywayKY
More scenic drives in Kentucky, Tennessee
Food and farms in the area
Sources
- America's Byways: Woodlands Trace (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Scenic Drives (Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, USDA Forest Service) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Discover Highways And Byways Less Traveled With A Scenic Fall Drive (Kentucky Department of Tourism) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Woodlands Trace Corridor Management Plan (Tennessee Department of Transportation, PDF, archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
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).