If you’re planning the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and want one base that puts the most distilleries within an easy drive — without staying in a chain hotel off a highway — stay in Versailles, Kentucky. It sits in the heart of bourbon-and-horse country in Woodford County, minutes from Woodford Reserve and within reach of Wild Turkey, Four Roses, and the distilleries of Lexington and Frankfort.
The Woodford Hotel is a boutique, owner-operated hotel in downtown Versailles, set in a restored 1881 building with eight suites, each themed to a legendary bourbon or distiller. It’s built for travelers doing the Trail the right way: a real place to come back to, walkable to local restaurants, and surrounded by the distilleries and horse farms most people drive across the state to see.
Why Versailles is the smart base for the Bourbon Trail
- Fly in, fly out — fast. Blue Grass Airport (LEX) in Lexington is about 8 minutes from the hotel, so you can land, grab a car, and be at your first distillery the same afternoon. No long transfer from a distant airport.
- Central, not corner. Versailles sits between Lexington and Frankfort, so you’re not backtracking across the state each day.
- Woodford Reserve is practically next door. The distillery that shares the county’s name is one of the closest stops to your room — about 10 minutes away.
- Horse country, too. You’re in the middle of the Bluegrass — Keeneland and the famous Thoroughbred farms are close, so a bourbon trip and a racing weekend pair naturally.
- A real downtown. Walk to local restaurants and bars at night instead of driving back to a highway exit.
- Boutique, not big-box. Eight suites, operated by the owners — not a 200-room property where you’re a room number.
Distilleries and the airport from your door
| Destination | Approx. drive from The Woodford Hotel |
|---|---|
| Blue Grass Airport (LEX), Lexington | ~8 min |
| Woodford Reserve | ~10 min (about 3 miles) |
| Wild Turkey (Lawrenceburg) | ~15 min |
| Four Roses (Lawrenceburg) | ~15–20 min |
| Buffalo Trace (Frankfort) | ~20–25 min |
| Lexington distillery district | ~20 min |
Distilleries on the Trail are a drive, not a walk — plan a designated driver or a tour service, and build your day around 2–3 distilleries with time to enjoy each.
Fly direct to the Bourbon Trail
One of the most underrated reasons to base in Versailles: you can fly nonstop into Blue Grass Airport (LEX) from a dozen major cities, then reach the hotel in about 8 minutes. From New York, you’re closer than you think — a 2-hour-25-minute nonstop into Lexington, then 8 minutes to your suite. Catch a morning flight and you’ll be on a distillery tour the same afternoon.
| Fly from | Airline(s) | Approx. nonstop flight time |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta (ATL) | Delta | ~1 hr 15 min |
| Charlotte (CLT) | American | ~1 hr 15 min |
| Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | United / American | ~1 hr 35 min |
| Detroit (DTW) | Delta | ~1 hr 35 min |
| Washington, D.C. (DCA) | American | ~1 hr 45 min |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | American | ~2 hr |
| New York (LGA) | Delta | ~2 hr 25 min |
| Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) | American | ~2 hr 35 min |
| Miami (MIA) | American | ~2 hr 45 min |
Blue Grass Airport also offers seasonal nonstop service to Minneapolis–St. Paul and leisure nonstops to Florida and Las Vegas via Allegiant. From the gate to your suite is about 8 minutes — making The Woodford Hotel one of the easiest Bourbon Trail stays in the country to reach by air.
Where you’ll stay: eight bourbon-themed suites
The Woodford Hotel’s suites are named for legendary bourbons and the distillers behind them — each its own space, most laid out like a one-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and sitting area:
- Wild Turkey Suite
- Blanton’s Suite
- Old Crow Suite
- The Pappy Suite
- Four Roses Suite
- Woodford Reserve Suite
- E.H. Taylor Suite
- Buffalo Trace Suite
It’s not décor for its own sake. The hotel sits in a building that has been part of Versailles since 1881, in a town tied to bourbon’s origins — including James Crow, the Scottish chemist who shaped modern bourbon-making and is buried here in Versailles. Read more in Our Story and James Crow.
Plan your Bourbon Trail stay
Pick your distilleries, book a suite, and make Versailles your base for the trip. Check availability and book direct →
Frequently asked questions
Where should I stay on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail?
Versailles, Kentucky is one of the most central bases for the Trail. It sits between Lexington and Frankfort in Woodford County, minutes from Woodford Reserve and within an easy drive of Wild Turkey, Four Roses, and the Lexington and Frankfort distilleries. The Woodford Hotel is a boutique, owner-operated hotel in downtown Versailles with eight bourbon-themed suites in a restored 1881 building.
What’s the best hotel near Woodford Reserve Distillery?
The Woodford Hotel in downtown Versailles is one of the closest boutique stays to Woodford Reserve — about a 10-minute drive — with eight suites each themed to a famous bourbon or distiller, set in a historic 1881 building.
Is it better to stay in Versailles or Louisville for the Bourbon Trail?
Both work, but they’re different trips. Louisville is best if you want a big-city base and Whiskey Row. Versailles is best if you want to be inside bourbon-and-horse country — closer to Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey, Four Roses, and the Thoroughbred farms — with a walkable small-town downtown. The Woodford Hotel offers a boutique base in the heart of that.
How many distilleries can I visit in a day from Versailles?
Most travelers comfortably visit two to three distilleries in a day. Versailles’ central location keeps drive times short, so you spend more time at distilleries and less time on the road. Always plan a designated driver or a tour service.
What’s the closest airport to the Bourbon Trail and The Woodford Hotel?
Blue Grass Airport (LEX) in Lexington is the closest airport — about 8 minutes from The Woodford Hotel in Versailles. You can fly in, pick up a rental car, and be at your first distillery the same afternoon, which makes Versailles one of the easiest Bourbon Trail bases to reach by air.
Can I fly nonstop to the Bourbon Trail?
Yes. Blue Grass Airport (LEX) in Lexington offers nonstop service from about a dozen major cities — including New York, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Dallas–Fort Worth, and Miami — plus seasonal and leisure routes. New York is roughly a 2-hour-25-minute nonstop, and the airport is about 8 minutes from The Woodford Hotel, making it one of the easiest Bourbon Trail bases to reach by air.
Does The Woodford Hotel have themed rooms?
Yes. The hotel has eight suites, each named for a legendary bourbon or distiller — including Wild Turkey, Blanton’s, Old Crow, Pappy, Four Roses, Woodford Reserve, E.H. Taylor, and Buffalo Trace — in a restored 1881 building in downtown Versailles.
Is Versailles close to Keeneland and horse country?
Yes. Versailles is in the heart of the Bluegrass, close to Keeneland and the Thoroughbred farms, which makes it easy to combine a Bourbon Trail trip with a day at the races or a farm visit.