Overview
Morehead is a small city at the foot of the Kentucky Appalachians. The 2020 census puts the population as 7151. It is the home of Morehead State University, one Kentucky's seven public universities.
4 things to do · 3 places to eat · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Morehead
Kentucky Folk Art Center
A museum operated by Morehead State University.
Cave Run Lake
An artificial lake south of town.
Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival
A long running annual bluegrass festival.
Arts and Crafts Festival
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 — 50 mi away. Directions
- LEX Blue Grass Airport, Lexington — 64 mi away. Directions
- CVG Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport, Cincinnati / Covington — 89 mi away (major hub). Directions
The city is located on I-64.
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 Kentucky Folk Art Center, Cave Run Lake
- Lunch The Fuzzy Duck
- Afternoon Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival, Arts and Crafts Festival
- Dinner Root-A-Bakers
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
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Morehead is almost equidistant between Lexington and Huntington, WV on I-64, a one hour drive from each.
Get in
By car
The city is located on I-64.
Get around
An automobile is a necessity to properly explore the area around Morehead.
US-60 is the main east-west route through the area, I-64 runs parallel to the north of the town. KY-32 connects downtown with I-64.
Do
Learn
Eat
Eat The Fuzzy Duck
A local coffee shop.
Eat Root-A-Bakers
A local bakery.
Drink
Morehead is a wet city that allows alcohol sales.
Sleep
Go next
- Carter Caves State Resort Park
- Daniel Boone National Forest
- Red River Gorge Geological Area
- Natural Bridge State Park
- Lexington is 1 hour west on I-64
- Huntington is 1 hour east on I-64
- Louisville is 2 hours west on I-64
- Charleston is 2 hours east on I-64
- CIncinnati is 2 hours north
- Columbus is 3 hours north
Nearby
Carter Caves State Resort Park
Park · 22 mi away
Mount Sterling
City / town · 6 listings · 29 mi away
Natural Bridge State Park
Park · 10 listings · 31 mi away
Maysville
City / town · 10 listings · 37 mi away
Greenbo State Resort Park
Park · 37 mi away
Paintsville
City / town · 7 listings · 43 mi away
Paris
City / town · 3 listings · 44 mi away
Portsmouth
City / town · 29 listings · 46 mi away
My experience
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