Overview
Ashland is a city in Boyd County in the Kentucky Appalachians near the confluence of the Big Sandy and Ohio Rivers. It was founded as Poage's Landing in 1786, incorporated as Ashland in 1854, and has witnessed the likenesses of such personalities as Billy Ray Cyrus and the Judds (country singers Naomi and her older daughter Wynonna, who performed as The Judds before Wynonna launched a solo career, and younger daughter Ashley, who became a prominent actress).
1 sights · 3 things to do · 4 places to eat · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Ashland
The Highlands Museum & Discovery Center
This is like half regional history museum/half kids discovery place.
Paramount Arts Center
Various cultural programs and nationally renowned artists/concerts.
Central Park
A beloved municipal park with pond and foliage and pioneer cabin, but watch out for hypodermic needles.
Port of Ashland
A place to view the languid Ohio River and boat traffic, with statuary.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 21°F. Wettest: May and Jul. (climate data from nearby Natural Bridge State Park)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- HTS Tri-State Airport / Milton J. Ferguson Field, Huntington — 9 mi away. Directions
- CRW Yeager Airport, Charleston — 57 mi away. Directions
- CMH John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Columbus — 106 mi away (major hub). Directions
Tristate Airport (HTS) is across the Big Sandy river in West Virginia. It offers several connections to Ashland and the surrounding Tri-State Area.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning The Highlands Museum & Discovery Center, Port of Ashland
- Lunch Fat Patty's Ashland
- Afternoon Paramount Arts Center, Central Park
- Dinner Sonora Mexican Grill- Ashland
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By plane
Tristate Airport (HTS) is across the Big Sandy river in West Virginia. It offers several connections to Ashland and the surrounding Tri-State Area.
By car
- From Interstate 64 there are two exits.
By train
- Route stopping in Ashland:
- Cardinal operating three trips weekly between Chicago and New York City with stops in Dyer, Rensselaer, Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, Connersville, Cincinnati, Ashland, Huntington, Charleston, Hinton, White Sulphur Springs, Staunton, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark. Westbound trains arrive around 10PM while eastbound ones arrive early morning about 6:30AM, delays are however quite common.
See
Do
Do Port of Ashland (Riverfront Park)
A place to view the languid Ohio River and boat traffic, with statuary.
- Summer Motion is a two-week festival culminating on July 4th. Events include concerts, air show, and a carnival.
- Greenbo State Park
- Carter Caves State Park
Eat
- Crisp's Dairy Treat, US 60 W, Summit, +1 606 928-8193
Eat Sonora Mexican Grill- Ashland
- The Mill AKY, 1537 Winchester Ave, +1 606 547-5385
Drink
The city of Ashland is "wet", meaning that full retail alcohol sales are allowed. Boyd County is dry, but allows alcohol sales by the drink in larger restaurants (seating at least 100). The same applies in the nearby city of Russell, which is in Boyd County's otherwise dry neighbor of Greenup County. Nearby areas in Ohio and West Virginia are wet.
Sleep
Nearby
Catlettsburg
City / town · 1 listings · 5 mi away
Huntington
City / town · 88 listings · 11 mi away
Greenbo State Resort Park
Park · 13 mi away
Portsmouth
City / town · 29 listings · 27 mi away
Carter Caves State Resort Park
Park · 27 mi away
Gallipolis
City / town · 9 listings · 33 mi away
Hurricane
City / town · 34 mi away
Point Pleasant
City / town · 11 listings · 38 mi away
My experience
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