Guest, Sign inJoin
Dayton High SchoolDayton, #1 on this list · Dayton High School · Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Kentucky rankings · Outdoors

Best towns for the outdoors in Kentucky

Dayton ranks first on outdoors among Kentucky’s 142 towns of 2,500+; 16 of the 142 grade A− or better on outdoors nationally.

The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. How grades work

#1

Dayton

Campbell County · 5,974 people
A

Outdoors grade, better than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #44 of 138 in KY

#2

Prospect

Jefferson County · 4,705 people
A

Outdoors grade, better than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #57 of 138 in KY

#3

Covington

Kenton County · 41,847 people
A

Outdoors grade, better than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #72 of 138 in KY

All 142 towns

Outdoors grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 2 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

142 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1DaytonCampbell County · 5,974 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #44 of 138
2ProspectJefferson County · 4,705 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #57 of 138
3CovingtonKenton County · 41,847 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #72 of 138
4Thrustonunincorporated, Daviess County · 2,581 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #55 of 138
5OwensboroDaviess County · 60,892 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #117 of 138
6Calvert CityMarshall County · 2,510 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #125 of 138
7HendersonHenderson County · 27,822 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #105 of 138
8PrestonsburgFloyd County · 3,618 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #129 of 138
9LudlowKenton County · 4,391 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #48 of 138
10Morehead College campusRowan County · 6,776 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall C+
11Fort ThomasCampbell County · 17,142 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #3 of 138
12FrankfortFranklin County · 28,657 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #119 of 138
13Park HillsKenton County · 3,188 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #4 of 138
14LyndonJefferson County · 11,301 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #115 of 138
15LexingtonFayette County · 329,751 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #94 of 138
16WilmoreJessamine County · 6,380 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #10 of 138
17PaducahMcCracken County · 26,730 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #101 of 138
18BrandenburgMeade County · 3,003 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #49 of 138
19SouthgateCampbell County · 3,868 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #23 of 138
20LondonLaurel County · 7,637 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #122 of 138
21GreenvilleMuhlenberg County · 4,350 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #83 of 138
22Burlingtonunincorporated, Boone County · 18,008 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #15 of 138
23BarbourvilleKnox County · 3,064 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #131 of 138
24Louisville795,222 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
25MurrayCalloway County · 18,964 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #68 of 138
26HodgenvilleLarue County · 3,378 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #76 of 138
27ElizabethtownHardin County · 35,448 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #77 of 138
28IndependenceKenton County · 30,198 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #6 of 138
29NewportCampbell County · 13,998 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #134 of 138
30Bowling GreenWarren County · 78,505 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #124 of 138
31PaintsvilleJohnson County · 4,111 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #85 of 138
32Fort WrightKenton County · 6,240 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #5 of 138
33VersaillesWoodford County · 10,734 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #41 of 138
34LeitchfieldGrayson County · 7,015 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #103 of 138
35RussellvilleLogan County · 7,454 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #87 of 138
36St. MatthewsJefferson County · 17,868 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #113 of 138
37GeorgetownScott County · 40,883 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #52 of 138
38ParisBourbon County · 10,130 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #102 of 138
39CarrolltonCarroll County · 3,964 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #111 of 138
40MadisonvilleHopkins County · 19,428 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #120 of 138
41Highland HeightsCampbell County · 6,341 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 138
42BellevueCampbell County · 5,847 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #54 of 138
43WilliamstownGrant County · 4,030 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #33 of 138
44LebanonMarion County · 6,699 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #86 of 138
45StanfordLincoln County · 3,761 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #34 of 138
46MarionCrittenden County · 2,879 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #70 of 138
47DanvilleBoyle County · 17,736 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #62 of 138
48MaysvilleMason County · 8,688 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #128 of 138
49CynthianaHarrison County · 6,576 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #69 of 138
50WinchesterClark County · 19,514 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #98 of 138
51Cold SpringCampbell County · 6,640 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #27 of 138
52Beaver DamOhio County · 3,537 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #58 of 138
53Douglass HillsJefferson County · 5,575 peopleC+better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #84 of 138
54Bucknerunincorporated, Oldham County · 4,119 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #30 of 138
55BardstownNelson County · 14,161 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #75 of 138
56MorgantownButler County · 2,512 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #66 of 138
57ErlangerKenton County · 20,158 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #9 of 138
58WaltonBoone County · 5,868 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #29 of 138
59MorganfieldUnion County · 3,102 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #96 of 138
60Russell SpringsRussell County · 2,828 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #97 of 138
61NicholasvilleJessamine County · 33,857 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #63 of 138
62FranklinSimpson County · 10,759 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #82 of 138
63GlasgowBarren County · 15,302 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #127 of 138
64RichmondMadison County · 40,663 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #92 of 138
65SomersetPulaski County · 12,695 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #99 of 138
66Indian HillsJefferson County · 2,939 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #80 of 138
67Crescent SpringsKenton County · 4,708 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #28 of 138
68UnionBoone County · 7,937 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #25 of 138
69MiddlesboroughBell County · 8,776 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #138 of 138
70ScottsvilleAllen County · 4,673 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #110 of 138
71HarrodsburgMercer County · 9,576 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #107 of 138
72CrittendenGrant County · 4,185 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #74 of 138
73PikevillePike County · 7,270 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #136 of 138
74BereaMadison County · 16,662 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #50 of 138
75AshlandBoyd County · 20,996 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #109 of 138
76CampbellsvilleTaylor County · 11,783 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #106 of 138
77FlorenceBoone County · 34,018 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #47 of 138
78Fort Campbell Northunincorporated, Christian County · 11,356 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
79ShepherdsvilleBullitt County · 14,931 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #93 of 138
80PrincetonCaldwell County · 6,168 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #60 of 138
81WilliamsburgWhitley County · 5,371 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #59 of 138
82MayfieldGraves County · 9,851 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #91 of 138
83LawrenceburgAnderson County · 12,329 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #38 of 138
84EminenceHenry County · 2,823 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #126 of 138
85EdgewoodKenton County · 8,503 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 138
86WilderCampbell County · 3,108 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #22 of 138
87JeffersontownJefferson County · 29,193 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #71 of 138
88MiddletownJefferson County · 9,944 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #123 of 138
89ShelbyvilleShelby County · 18,453 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #104 of 138
90AlexandriaCampbell County · 10,994 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #12 of 138
91Villa HillsKenton County · 7,797 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #14 of 138
92Central CityMuhlenberg County · 5,793 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #116 of 138
93GraysonCarter County · 3,728 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #73 of 138
94BentonMarshall County · 4,718 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #61 of 138
95Taylor MillKenton County · 7,144 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #16 of 138
96ElsmereKenton County · 9,521 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #43 of 138
97Fort MitchellKenton County · 8,751 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #11 of 138
98SpringfieldWashington County · 3,033 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #36 of 138
99West LibertyMorgan County · 3,339 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #81 of 138
100Fort Knoxunincorporated, Hardin County · 8,836 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
101Vine GroveHardin County · 7,018 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #79 of 138
102HopkinsvilleChristian County · 30,411 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #135 of 138
103FlemingsburgFleming County · 3,005 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #114 of 138
104HardinsburgBreckinridge County · 2,513 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #64 of 138
105Crestview HillsKenton County · 3,301 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #7 of 138
106HazardPerry County · 4,794 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #132 of 138
107SimpsonvilleShelby County · 3,183 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #89 of 138
108CadizTrigg County · 2,771 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #53 of 138
109Lakeside ParkKenton County · 2,847 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #8 of 138
110StantonPowell County · 3,153 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #133 of 138
111RadcliffHardin County · 22,576 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #121 of 138
112La GrangeOldham County · 10,669 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #35 of 138
113MonticelloWayne County · 5,721 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #108 of 138
114Francisvilleunincorporated, Boone County · 10,565 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #17 of 138
115AnchorageJefferson County · 2,547 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #21 of 138
116HartfordOhio County · 2,665 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #45 of 138
117Hendronunincorporated, McCracken County · 4,495 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #39 of 138
118Massacunincorporated, McCracken County · 4,698 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #42 of 138
119FlatwoodsGreenup County · 7,439 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #24 of 138
120ShivelyJefferson County · 15,895 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #130 of 138
121CrestwoodOldham County · 6,582 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #19 of 138
122Mount WashingtonBullitt County · 18,989 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #32 of 138
123ProvidenceWebster County · 2,872 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #40 of 138
124LouisaLawrence County · 2,520 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #90 of 138
125Mount SterlingMontgomery County · 7,586 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #78 of 138
126Oakbrookunincorporated, Boone County · 10,211 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #20 of 138
127CorbinWhitley County · 7,911 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #118 of 138
128Masonvilleunincorporated, Daviess County · 2,887 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #46 of 138
129Westwoodunincorporated, Boyd County · 4,473 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #95 of 138
130LancasterGarrard County · 4,111 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #112 of 138
131Oak GroveChristian County · 7,830 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #137 of 138
132ColumbiaAdair County · 4,680 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #31 of 138
133HillviewBullitt County · 9,020 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #67 of 138
134RussellGreenup County · 3,628 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #26 of 138
135HurstbourneJefferson County · 4,787 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #100 of 138
136Graymoor-DevondaleJefferson County · 2,832 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #56 of 138
137Reidlandunincorporated, McCracken County · 5,277 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #37 of 138
138Claryvilleunincorporated, Campbell County · 3,251 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #18 of 138
139Sorghounincorporated, Daviess County · 2,960 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #88 of 138
140Farleyunincorporated, McCracken County · 4,458 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #65 of 138
T141Hebronunincorporated, Boone County · 6,407 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall A · #13 of 138
T141Pioneer VillageBullitt County · 2,794 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B · #51 of 138
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which Kentucky town is best for the outdoors?

Dayton (Campbell County) ranks first on outdoors among 142 towns, with an A; Prospect and Covington follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a outdoors grade (142 in Kentucky). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Kentucky page.

Go deeper

More Kentucky lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Kentucky rankings →
Best places to live138 towns · #1 EdgewoodBest small towns94 towns · #1 EdgewoodMost affordable towns142 towns · #1 ProvidenceSafest towns115 towns · #1 ProvidenceTowns with the best schools139 towns · #1 AnchorageHealthiest towns141 towns · #1 ProspectBest towns for jobs & income142 towns · #1 Indian HillsMost walkable towns142 towns · #1 NewportTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk142 towns · #1 HebronMost historic towns142 towns · #1 NewportTowns with the most civic life126 towns · #1 DanvilleTowns with the least snow136 towns · #1 BereaDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns136 towns · #1 AlexandriaDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters134 towns · #1 Fort Campbell NorthDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers134 towns · #1 Bowling GreenDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers134 towns · #1 Erlanger and 2 moreDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes142 towns · #1 AnchorageDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes140 towns · #1 MorgantownDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns125 towns · #1 RichmondDescribed, no letters
Other states

Best towns for the outdoors in other states

ALAKAZARCACOCTDEFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVTVAWAWVWIWY