Monticello, KY Road Trips
Plan drives from Monticello, KY with practical route pages for distance, drive time, fuel cost, road character, and places to stop along the way.
Photo: Vietnam Hidden Light
Trip Routes
3
Longest Drive
178.3 mi
Owensboro, KY
Quickest Drive
2h 52m
Bowling Green, KY
Plan Around Monticello, KY
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Monticello, KY is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Monticello, KY by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
5,741
Median Income
$37,733
Median Home Value
$125,800
Median Age
40.2
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Monticello, KY at a Glance
Founded
1801
Elevation
922 ft
Area
6 mi²
Notable People from Monticello, KY
A sampling of people born in Monticello, KY.
Shelby Moore Cullom
1829–1914
American politician (1829-1914)
Whitey Bell
1932–2025
American basketball player
City data from Wikidata (Q2001583), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Monticello, KY
Monticello is a small city in Kentucky's Southern Lakes region. It is the county seat of Wayne County and one of the cities located on Lake Cumberland.
Nearby Lake Cumberland is one of the largest man made lakes east of the Mississippi River in the United States. As a lakeside community, Monticello's economy is mostly based on lake tourism. Three houseboat manufacturers are based in the city and have given rise to the motto "Houseboat capital of the world."
1 Mill Springs Mill, 1116 Duncan Ramsey Rd, ☏ +1 606 679-6337. A restored grist mill featuring a 40-foot overshot water wheel. It is believed to be the largest operating water wheel in the world. The mill was restored, and is operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers as a day use recreation area on the shore of Lake Cumberland. Besides the mill, there is a gift shop and picnic area. The recreation area can be accessed from the lake via boat slips as well as by car. The operating season is May through September.
Lake Cumberland is known for its Striped Bass fishing and there are local guide services available.
1 Black Stallion Steakhouse, 163 Travis St, ☏ +1 606 343-0011.
Monticello and Wayne County are dry, meaning no alcohol sales are allowed. There is one exception, wine sales and consumption are allowed at Lake Cumberland Winery. The nearest location that allows alcohol sales is Somerset.
1 Conley Bottom Resort, 270 Conley Bottom Road, ☏ +1 606 348-6351, [email protected]. A privately owned resort featuring a full service marina, houseboat and cabin rental, a campground and a restaurant. 2 Golden Pond Resort, 56 Golden Pond Rd., ☏ +1 606 348-7663, [email protected]. A resort on Lake Cumberland that offers 2-5 bedroom cabins for rent. There is a 2-night minimum stay. 3 Fall Creek Campground, 1144 New Fall Creek Rd., ☏ +1 606 348-6042. A campground on the shore of Lake Cumberland that is operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The property offers 10 sites with electric hookups. Amenities include a shower house, boat ramp, and a playground. The campground is open May through September. 1 Hidden Ridge Camping, 122 Cedar Lane Farm, ☏ +1 606 348-5253. Camping retreat with lots of trails and nature. 4 Best Western Lake Cumberland Inn, 2030 E. Hwy. 90, ☏ +1 606 340-8687.
Monticello does not lie on any interstate or US highway. The main highway through the area is KY-90 which provides access to Glasgow to the west and Somerset to the east. Several local marinas provide access from Lake Cumberland. 1 Safe Harbor Beaver Creek, 8929 W Hwy 92, ☏ +1 606 348-7280, [email protected]. A full service marina featuring boat rentals and a swimming area. 2 Conley Bottom Resort, 270 Conley Bottom Road, ☏ +1 606 348-6351, [email protected]. A privately owned resort featuring a full service marina, houseboat and cabin rental, a campground and a restaurant.
Travel tips adapted from Monticello (Kentucky) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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