Overview
Owensboro is a town on the banks of the Ohio River in Kentucky's Western Coal Fields. It bills itself as the Barbecue Capital of the World and has had some interesting figures call it home over the years, such as Beulah Annan, whose story inspired the play and movie Chicago; Florence Henderson, aka Carol Brady of The Brady Bunch; NASCAR great Darrell Waltrip (as well as his brother Michael, also a longtime NASCAR driver); and Johnny Depp. On a darker note, it was also the site of the last public hanging in the United States, the subject being an African American, in 1936.
5 sights · 3 things to do · 11 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Owensboro
Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum
Interactive exhibits on bluegrass music and the instruments behind it. Concerts are offered by a number of renowned bluegrass artists in the attached theater, but usually, separate tickets are required.
Western Kentucky Botanical Garden
Some gardens here surrounding a house from the 1890s.
Owensboro Museum of Science and History
Various items related to science and history, like Model Ts and giant anthills.
Owensboro Museum of Fine Art
Collections that span European, Asian, and Appalachian art, along with temporary exhibitions.
Green River Whiskey Distillery
One of the country's first Kentucky Bourbon distilleries, it underwent a fairly recent reconstruction of its facilities and grounds after being abandoned for a number of years. They offer distillery tours at several time…
The River Park Center
The arts and cultural center for the Owensboro-Daviess County Region. Featuring plays and operas, as well as concerts by the local symphony orchestra and regional, national, and international musical artists.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Summer highs reach about 91°F; winter lows dip to about 29°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: May and Mar. (climate data from nearby Mammoth Cave National 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.
- OWB Owensboro Daviess County Airport, Owensboro — 4 mi away. Directions
- EVV Evansville Regional Airport, Evansville — 29 mi away. Directions
- SDF Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, Louisville — 80 mi away (major hub). Directions
The Owensboro aka Glover Bridge connects Owensboro with Indiana, whereas I-165 connects it with Bowling Green to the south and US Route 60 with Henderson to the west.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Smothers Park, Owensboro Museum of Science and History
- Lunch Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn
- Afternoon The River Park Center, Owensboro Museum of Fine Art
- Dinner Ole South Bar-B-Q
- Evening The Brew Bridge
Day 2
- Morning Western Kentucky Botanical Garden
- Lunch Old Hickory Bar-B-Que
- Afternoon Green River Whiskey Distillery
- Dinner Windy Hollow Biscuit House
- Evening Goodwood Brewing and Spirits
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
While Owensboro is best known regionally for two dishes, barbecue and burgoo (a traditional stew made with mutton, chicken, beef and vegetables), its restaurant scene has broadened to include a number of fine and unique dining establishments.
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.
Get in
By plane
By car
The Owensboro aka Glover Bridge connects Owensboro with Indiana, whereas I-165 connects it with Bowling Green to the south and US Route 60 with Henderson to the west.
Get around
Go Downtown Owensboro Trolley
The Owensboro Trolley provides FREE transportation on both weekdays and weekends in downtown Owensboro. You can catch a ride on the trolley at tons different areas across downtown Owensboro, with stop times around every 20 minutes: The great thing about the Trolley is that both visitors and locals can experience everything downtown Owensboro has to offer, without ever having to move their car. You can simply hop on the trolley from your hotel and be taken to the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum if you’d like. From there, you can hop back on the trolley and be taken to one of our local bars or restaurants for a fun night out. Or to our riverfront walk. Or to our historic shopping district. And then, once you’re done exploring, catching a show–whatever it is you’ve made plans for–you can catch a ride on the trolley back to your hotel. The trolley schedule changes with the seasons, but from April-October, you can catch free rides Monday-Thursday from 11AM-3PM AND from 4-8PM. On Friday and Saturday, the trolley’s hours are extended to 11AM-3PM and 4-10PM. From November-March, the downtown trolley runs Tuesday-Thursday from 11AM- 2PM and Friday and Saturday from 11AM-6PM.
See
See Green River Whiskey Distillery
One of the country's first Kentucky Bourbon distilleries, it underwent a fairly recent reconstruction of its facilities and grounds after being abandoned for a number of years. They offer distillery tours at several times every day, except Sunday. Tours cost $20/person, which includes sample tasting of 3 of their whiskies and a Green River shot glass. They also have a gift shop and cocktail lounge.
Do
Do Escape Today
Escape Today offers three different escape room scenarios, six axe throwing lanes, and 35 arcade machines that you play by the hour, instead of per game. Hours vary by the day of the week, so it is highly advisable to book your visit online to be sure that you have use of the specific facility offerings when you want them.
Events
Owensboro is known as 'The City of Festivals', serving host to many local and international festivals and fairs. Some of the more popular, recurring events include:
- Friday After 5, offering multiple venues of live entertainment along the beautiful riverfront every Friday starting around Memorial Day and running through Labor Day.
- The International Bar-B-Q Festival, second weekend of May
- The River of Music Party (ROMP), a 4-day bluegrass music festival held at Owensboro's Yellow Creek Park.
- The Apple Festival
- The Owensboro PumpkinFest, held in September
- The Owensboro Air Show, held on a weekend in September along the riverfront, with a static aircraft display at the airport the day before.
Buy
Like most U.S. cities of its size, Owensboro has the usual assortment of "standard" retail chains, such as Walmart, Target, Kohl's, etc. However, for a more unique retail buying experience, a visit to the stores listed below is recommended.
Eat
While Owensboro is best known regionally for two dishes, barbecue and burgoo (a traditional stew made with mutton, chicken, beef and vegetables), its restaurant scene has broadened to include a number of fine and unique dining establishments.
Eat Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn
Best known for its barbecue mutton, it also offers barbecue chicken, beef, and pork, either as plates or sandwiches. Other menu offerings include breaded shrimp, chicken, and catfish, for those who prefer something other than barbecue. It also has a lunch and dinner buffet for those with bigger appetites. Its barbecue meats have won numerous awards and accolades, including being voted best in Kentucky by readers of Kentucky Monthly and Kentucky Living.
Eat Ole South Bar-B-Q
Offers a very wide variety of barbecued meats, including barbecue chicken, turkey, pork, brisket, ribs, and mutton, as well as traditional burgoo for lunch and dinner. Also offers traditional breakfast fare, or for those with larger appetites, a daily breakfast buffet.
Eat Old Hickory Bar-B-Que
Family-owned restaurant, founded in 1918, offering pit-smoked barbecue mutton, chicken, turkey, beef, pork, ham, and ribs, as well as burgoo, in dine-in, carry-out, or drive-thru options.
Eat Windy Hollow Biscuit House
Off the beaten path a bit, the Windy Hollow Biscuit House is well worth a trip by anyone seeking true southern-style cooking. The interior of the restaurant is decorated throughout with historic items from the region, numerous movie posters from old westerns, and lots of WWII and other military memorabilia. They offer traditional breakfast fare, with an obvious emphasis on biscuits, as well as a robust buffet offering pretty much everything you might want for breakfast or brunch.
Eat Gramps Coffee and Donuts
Located , Gramps offers truly unique and scrumptious donuts, along with a wide variety of your standard barista coffeehouse offerings (e.g. latte, espresso, Americano, etc.) and other beverage options (e.g. tea, hot chocolate, soda, etc.). The perfect breakfast or brunch alternative for those who prefer somewhat lighter fare.
Eat Colby's Fine Food & Spirits
Colby's Fine Food & Spirits provides the highest quality seasonal dishes using aged meats and fresh produce with a first-class wine selection. Their dining atmosphere is pleasantly casual and intimate.
Eat Fetta Specialty Pizza and Spirits
Fetta's offers a wide variety of standard and specialty pizzas (e.g. mashed potato pizza or chicken bacon ranch pizza) by the slice or as whole pizzas, for dine-in or delivery. Not in the mood for pizza, then try one of their specialty salads. They're especially known for their garlic knots, which are great addition to whatever is ordered. A wide selection of beer, wine, and cocktails are also available to complement your meal.
Eat Famous Bistro
Famous Bistro strives to produce amazing, scratch-made food and provide the best service in town. It offers deli style lunch with soups, sandwiches, salads and daily specials. For dinner, it offers fine dining in a casual atmosphere - anything from fresh seafood to hand-carved steaks, classic Greek entrees and many other cuisines. Winner of TripAdvisor's 2021 Traveler's Choice Award.
Eat Miller House Restaurant
Located in Owensboro's Historic District, the Miller House Restaurant is in an older home (built in 1905) that serves up southern-style food, with a bourbon-focused bar that carries over 600 different bourbons.
Eat Lure Seafood and Grille
With one of the better views of the Ohio River, Lure Seafood & Grille offers a made-from-scratch lunch and dinner menu complemented by the freshest ingredients, and a comfortable ambiance. It offers a diverse menu with rotating specials that will please the palette of fine diners and foodies alike.
Eat Pamir Afghan Cuisine
Pamir Afghan Cuisine operates out of the Windy Hollow Biscuit House in the evenings on weekends, since the Biscuit House shuts down its meal service at 2 PM. For those who've never had Afghani food, it's a bit like Indian food, with lots of rice and vegetables, but not quite as spicy. Among their standard offerings are Kabuli Palaw, basmati rice with carmelized carrots, raisins, and beef chunks, and Murgh Biryan, fried chicken marinated in herbs and spices served over a bed or rice. They also offer both 3 and 5 dish "samplers" that let your try a little bit of each of their main dishes. Reservations are highly advisable.
Drink
Drink The Brew Bridge
A microbrewery named, tongue-in-cheek, after Owensboro's iconic Glover Bridge, affectionately known by locals as the Blue Bridge because of its distinctive color. Offers several of its own beers for consumption, along with a full bar. It also has a restaurant offering typical brew pub fare, such as hamburgers and chicken fingers. It has live local music performances most weekends. A covered patio is also available for those who prefer to do their drinking and dining outside when the weather permits.
Drink Goodwood Brewing and Spirits
Spot for burgers, brunch and brews. It offers a traditional, southern menu with favorites such as Buffalo Cauliflower, Chicken and Waffles and Fried Green Tomatoes. It also features sixteen beer taps and over thirty bourbons. Both indoor and outdoor patio dining options are available.
Sleep
Stay Holiday Inn-Owensboro Riverfront
A full-service hotel fronting the Ohio River. It offers several amenities including: free Wifi, business center, 24-hour fitness center, heated indoor saltwater pool, in-house guest laundry and onsite restaurant (Burger Theory). It is a short walk away from Smothers Park, and local cultural attractions such as the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum and the Owensboro Museum of Science & History,.
Stay Hampton Inn & Suites-Downtown Owensboro/Waterfront
Fronting the Ohio River. Lure, the hotel's seafood restaurant located on the first floor, is also an option for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. Pet-friendly rooms are available, as well as an indoor pool and fitness center. Free parking, free wifi, and a free hot breakfast are all standard.
Stay Marriott TownePlace Suites-Owensboro
Each suite comes with a fully equipped kitchen and a work area with high-speed Internet access. It also has a state-of-the-art fitness center, outdoor saltwater pool, Weber gas grills, complimentary breakfast, 24-hour sundries market, and an on-site laundry. Pets are also welcome (up to 40 lb).
Go next
Henderson, to the west, is the home of Ellis Park, a thoroughbred horse track that races in the summer months.
To the south are two towns that gave birth to musicians. Rosine is the birthplace of Bill Monroe, the father of Bluegrass music. Central City is the birthplace of Don Everly, the older of the two Everly Brothers, famous for countless hits including "Bye, Bye Love" and "Wake Up Little Susie". (The other brother, Phil, was born in Chicago.)
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