US 42 42
US 42 is a State Scenic Byway in Kentucky. Within Kentucky it covers roughly 15 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along US 42 with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
This Kentucky scenic byway covers a 14.8-mile stretch of US 42 east of Louisville, following the south shore of the Ohio River between Goshen and Sligo. The two-lane road runs roughly parallel to Interstate 71 and the river itself, passing through rolling northern Kentucky hills dotted with nature preserves and golf courses, with Hermitage Farm, a working thoroughbred operation open for horse-viewing, among the stops along the way. Farther northeast the byway passes Markland Lock and Dam and the Markland Dam Bridge connecting to the Kentucky Speedway across the river in Indiana, before US 42 itself continues on to Covington and crosses into Cincinnati via the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge. At about 20 minutes end to end, this stretch is a quick, pastoral alternative to the interstate for travelers moving between Louisville and the Cincinnati area who want a slower look at the Ohio River.
- 14.8 miles, Goshen to Sligo
- south shore of the Ohio River
- Hermitage Farm thoroughbred operation
- Markland Lock and Dam
- alternative route between Louisville & Cincinnati
What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along US 42
No campgrounds are listed close to US 42 yet, but there are rooms near the route.
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