Overview
Princeton is a town in the Western Waterlands of Kentucky.
2 sights · 1 things to do
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Princeton
Big Springs
A natural spring in the center of town where Cherokees encamped in 1838-1839 during their Trail of Tears. It's not terribly commercialized, but there's a plaque.
Adsmore Museum
A living history museum that recreates life from the later 1800s/early 1900s.
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
A fun state park centered on a lake with hiking trails, golf course, non-motorized paddleboats, lodge, and camping.
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 — 49 mi away. Directions
- OWB Owensboro Daviess County Airport, Owensboro — 59 mi away. Directions
- BNA Nashville International Airport, Nashville — 95 mi away (major hub). Directions
It's right off of I-69, and less than an hour east of Paducah by car.
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 Big Springs, Adsmore Museum
- Afternoon Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
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.
Understand
Princeton has the typical sort of Kentucky town history: Revolutionary war figure is granted lands in return for his military service, figure in turn sells/gives lots of land to create town, town is squabbled over by Civil War forces while locals are divided over their allegiances, town grows up to its modern day counterpart. This one also had some tobacco crop turf battles too, but that is sort of the story in a nutshell.
Get in
It's right off of I-69, and less than an hour east of Paducah by car.
Get around
With only 6,000 or so people, Princeton is pretty cohesive and can be walked, but there is stuff outside the town limits.
See
See Big Springs
A natural spring in the center of town where Cherokees encamped in 1838-1839 during their Trail of Tears. It's not terribly commercialized, but there's a plaque.
Do
- Eddie Pennington Festival, a popular summer music festival featuring folk music and thumbpicking in particular, a la Merle Travis or Chet Atkins.
Sleep
- Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, see above, is a super place to stay with all the nature and recreation at hand. Plus it has an enticing swimming pool.
Nearby
Grand Rivers
City / town · 2 listings · 21 mi away
Gilbertsville
City / town · 14 listings · 24 mi away
Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park
Park · 4 listings · 24 mi away
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
Park · 11 listings · 25 mi away
Calvert City
City / town · 7 listings · 26 mi away
Aurora
City / town · 12 listings · 27 mi away
Hopkinsville
City / town · 6 listings · 28 mi away
Benton
City / town · 32 listings · 31 mi away
My experience
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