Overview
Paducah is a small city on the Ohio River about midway between St. Louis, Missouri and Nashville, Tennessee. The county seat of McCracken County and the largest city in the Jackson Purchase area of western Kentucky, Paducah has a booming riverfront restaurant trade and arts scene in part driven by the city's artist relocation program which offers interest-free housing loans and other subsidies for established artists willing to relocate. Paducah is the hometown of humorist Irvin Cobb and former Vice President Alben Barkley (who served under President Harry S. Truman). Fans of contemporary Christian music will know it as the hometown of Steven Curtis Chapman, one of that genre's most iconic artists.
6 sights · 3 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Paducah
National Quilt Museum
Whitehaven
Historic home and state welcome center. At I-24 Exit 7 (Lone Oak Road). Many local high schoolers have their prom photos taken here, so it gets very busy on those nights.
Maiden Alley Cinema
Award-winning films every weekend.
Flood wall murals
Enjoy the larger than life murals created by Robert Dafford on the flood wall as you walk down scenic 2nd street near the river.
River Discovery Center
Simulations of commerce on the river to demonstrate its importance.
William Clark Market House Museum
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Summer highs reach about 89°F; winter lows dip to about 27°F. Wettest: May and Apr. (climate data from nearby Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area)
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.
- PAH Barkley Regional Airport, Paducah — 10 mi away. Directions
- MWA Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois, Marion — 51 mi away. Directions
- BNA Nashville International Airport, Nashville — 126 mi away (major hub). Directions
Most visitors will arrive by car: Interstate Highway 24 describes a semi-circle around Paducah from the northwest where it crosses the Ohio River into Southern Illinois to the southeast where it meets Interstate 69 at Gilbertsville, near Kentucky Lake. You could also reach Paducah from the east or the west using U.S. Highway 60. Travelers coming from the south or southwest on I-69 (the former Purchase Parkway) should take Exit 25 (U.S. Highway 45) on the north side of Mayfield and turn left (north on 45); from there, Paducah is about a half-hour drive along a four-lane highway.
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 National Quilt Museum, River Discovery Center, Maiden Alley Cinema
- Lunch Italian Village Pizza
- Afternoon Flood wall murals, Yeiser Art Center
- Dinner Backwoods BBQ
- Evening Paducah Beer Werks
Day 2
- Morning Whitehaven, William Clark Market House Museum
- Afternoon Carson Center For The Performing Arts
- Evening Etcetera
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.
Get in
By car
Most visitors will arrive by car: Interstate Highway 24 describes a semi-circle around Paducah from the northwest where it crosses the Ohio River into Southern Illinois to the southeast where it meets Interstate 69 at Gilbertsville, near Kentucky Lake. You could also reach Paducah from the east or the west using U.S. Highway 60. Travelers coming from the south or southwest on I-69 (the former Purchase Parkway) should take Exit 25 (U.S. Highway 45) on the north side of Mayfield and turn left (north on 45); from there, Paducah is about a half-hour drive along a four-lane highway.
By plane
Most locals however prefer to fly out of Nashville International Airport (BNA).
By bus
Greyhound offers plenty of bus services, there are daily departures from Memphis, Nashville and St. Louis. Greyhound Bus Station is on 2719 Irvin Cobb Dr, south of the city.
By boat
Where the Tennessee River meets the Ohio River, just upstream from where the Ohio meets the Mississippi. River boats, like the Delta Queen(no longer in service), often stopped at the riverfront in Paducah.
Get around
Paducah is served by a limited network of buses, Paducah Area Transit System has three lines with departures every hour during daytime.
Districts
- Market District. Revitalized starting in the early 1990s, Paducah's riverfront downtown boasts a charming restaurants, shops, museums and an active farmer's market. A particularly unique offering is that of the mural-covered Ohio River flood walls, which are well worth an afternoon of your time and make for a pleasant stroll.
- Lowertown Arts District. The centerpiece of Paducah's Artist Relocation Program, Lowertown plays host to a dozen or so art galleries of varying reputation, one of the most friendly coffee houses ever and a fine-dining fusion style restaurant. How could you go wrong? In general the feel of the neighborhood is reminiscent of New Orleans' Garden District, at least before Hurricane Katrina. If you make art yourself, the city might even be willing to buy you a house here.
See
See Flood wall murals
Enjoy the larger than life murals created by Robert Dafford on the flood wall as you walk down scenic 2nd street near the river.
See William Clark Market House Museum
See Yeiser Art Center
Do
Events
- Quilt Show. April: Visitors from around the world come to Paducah to see the AQS Quilt Show & Contest. And shop and visit with each other.
- Dogwood Trail. April: Usually around the same time as the Quilt Show, the city marks out a driving tour of the city, where the blooming dogwood trees are illuminated.
- LowerTown Fine Art & Music Festival. May: All day event, art, music, food vendors and dancing in the streets. Live jazz, blues, salsa & zydeco music. Around 7th & Monroe.
- River's Edge Film Festival. August: First-class international film festival, held at Maiden Alley Cinema .
- Barbeque on the River. September: The downtown parking lot, between the Floodwall Murals and 2nd Street, is filled with vendors selling BBQ of course, but also cheesecake-on-a-stick, deep fried oreos, local treat Dippin' Dots, baked goods, and more. Live music on the stage at the floodwall. A friendly rivalry continues between many of the yearly competitors for the top prizes. A craft fair is usually held simultaneously along the edges of the Quilt Museum.
- August 8th Black Family Celebration-August the 8th was the day that the word had reached Paducah Slaves that Slavery had been abolished by the signing of the Emanicipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln. Black people from around the country come to Paducah to celebrate this event which includes open markets/street vendors/good food/music/African dance and other events including your "neighborhood block party" at the Community Center on 7th Street.
Buy
[http://paducahky.gov/historic-downtownlowertowngalleries Lowertown]
(On the Second Saturday of every month, most lowertown galleries remain open until 8PM.)
- 520 Studio Gallery, 520 Madison, +1 270-575-4595. Tu-Sa 11AM-5PM.
- AIR Studios, 621-629 Madison.
Shop Dixie Leather Works
Shop Pinecone Gallery
Shop Stornoway House Gallery
Downtown
(Downtown After Dinner program runs Saturday nights April–October, and most businesses remain open late. Broadway is usually blocked off from the riverfront to 7th Street (cross streets remain open) to allow a street-fair like atmosphere complete with live musical performances. Antique cars are often displayed on Broadway between the riverfront and 2nd Street, and along 2nd Street.)
- Allen Music, 215 Kentucky, +1 270-442-8900.
- Crash Comics, 1201 Kentucky Ave, +1 270-442-7348.
- Creatures of Habit, 406 Broadway, +1 270-442-2923. Costume rental.
- PAPA - Paducah Area Painters Alliance, 124 Broadway, +1 270-575-3544.
Antiques
Shop American Harvest Antiques
- Courtyard Antiques, 319 Broadway. +1 270-442-1921.
Other shopping
- Kentucky Oaks Mall, 5101 Hinkleville Rd. Contemporary mall. Tel: +1 270-444-0440
Eat
- Chongs. There are several locations of this local Chinese restaurant in town. The nicest is by the mall, and the one on Jackson Street has a buffet.
- Cynthia's, 125 Market House Square, +1 270-443-3319.
- Gold Rush Cafe, 400 Broadway St, +1 270-477-9995
- Flamingo Row, At I-24 Exit 4, behind Home Depot. The fillymingo stuffed breads are a must-try.
- Kirchhoff's Bakery, Deli & Market, 116 Market House Square, +1 270-442-7117. If you've never been to Kirchhoff's, get a sandwich (and a cookie) -- just make sure to sample something from their bakery, which has been family-owned since 1873.
- Max's Brick Oven Café, 112 Market House Sq., +1 270-575-3473. Sometimes it can be hard to find good bread in small-town America. That's why it can be such a thrill to find a place like Max's.
Eat Backwoods BBQ
Family restaurant with BBQ pork, ribs, chicke ribs, pork, custom cooking & catering, and chicken. The pulled pork is prepared just right, not drowned in sauce to mask the flavor. It is slightly smokey, very tender, and juicy. The ribs are fantastic. The meat literally falls off the bone and they use a special dry rub that has an exceptional flavor.
Drink
Drink Etcetera
Coffee and tea, bubble tea, indoor/outdoor seating.
Sleep
- Duck Creek Campground, (60 sites) 2540 John Puryear Dr. Exit 11 off I-24, +1 270-415-0404. Game room, water, sewer, store, primitive camping.
- Fern Lake Campground, (60 sites) 5535 Cairo Rd. Exit 3 off I-24. Water, sewer, and dump station. 30 & 50 amp, paved & gravel interior roads, some shade, 30 pull-throughs, bath house and laundry facility. +1 270-444-7939
Stay Fox Briar Inn at RiverPlace
Distinguished by jacuzzis in some of the rooms, a kitchen for guest use and nice river views.
Stay Holiday Inn Paducah Riverfront
Go next
- Metropolis. Right across the river. Attractions include Superman monument, festival, and museum; Ft. Massac State Park; and Harrah's Casino.
- Kentucky Lake
- Lake Barkley
- Land Between the Lakes
- Carbondale
- Murray
- Cairo (Illinois)
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