river boat tours louisville ky

The Belle of Louisville is a national historical landmark and an icon of our waterfront. Whether you’re boarding the steamboat for your first or tenth river cruise, it’s always a memorable experience.

To board the Belle of Louisville is to do more than see the city and the Ohio River from a unique perspective. You are embarking on a piece of American history. Steamboat travel and transportation revolutionized our river, our city, and our nation. The geography of the area played a central role in Louisville’s founding and why it became the Bourbon Capital of the World.

At over 100 years old, the steamboat is steam-powered and paddlewell-propelled. No matter what you’re boarding for — sightseeing, a four-course dinner, live music, or a unique event — you are in for a special treat. Also, check out the Belle’s sister, the Mary M. Miller, the newest riverboat addition to our waterfront.

Book a Trip

For more details on how to book your next trip or to view the calendar of family-friendly programming and unique river cruises, visit the Belle of Louisville or call 502.574.2992 .

Address: 401 W. River Road (4th & River Road)

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Belle of Louisville Riverboats

401 W. River Rd. Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: (502) 574-2992 Fax: (502) 574-3030

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Meeting spaces, belle of louisville, mary m. miller, related deals.

$2.00 off Adult Sightseeing Ticket

Show your badge to receive $2.00 off one adult sightseeing ticket. Not valid on special events.

301 South 4th Street Louisville, Kentucky 40202

1.888.LOUISVILLE (1.888.568.4784)

CATCH THE BOURBON BOAT

"the nation's only boat-based bourbon tour".

Experience the  Kentucky Bourbon Trail ® by boat- a unique way to learn about the Kentucky River’s influence on the history of bourbon.

Come see why early whiskey distillers cherished this river, and decided to build their fortunes on it’s banks. discover the  kentucky bourbon trail ® from a new perspective, w ith kentucky river tours..

"Had a fun family outing to celebrate Father’s Day! Highly recommend a Kentucky River Tour. Captain Allison and Captain Nathan were super knowledgeable and friendly!"

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"A relaxing ride up the Kentucky River, filled with the beautiful sites and interesting information (both historic and current) about the area. Hosted by Captains Allison and Nathan, the tour could not have been more delightful. Best hour off my week. Highly recommend!"

"We did one of their tours today and highly recommend this company. Check it out!"

"My son came in town from Wisconsin and we decided to take the river boat ride. It is probably one of the best things to do in Kentucky. We were all extremely impressed with the way the trip was run and Captain Nathan was very knowledgeable of the events of history. We enjoyed it immensely."

"A beautiful, pleasant, informative trip on the river is such an awesome way to spend the afternoon. Pairs PERFECTLY with a trip to Buffalo Trace!"

"Had a great time on the new Bourbon Tour, Nathan is so knowledgeable about the Kentucky River, tons of fun and educational too."

Kate from Frankfort, Kentucky

"Captains Allison and Nathan are both great! They took us on a beautiful tour of Frankfort's Kentucky River. They showed us lots of points of interest and catered to our 3 year-old's love of turtles by slowing down the boat so she could see them sunbathing. The boat was pristine and had all of the necessary safety equipment. I would highly recommend this adventure!"

"This is our 2nd trip to the Kentucky area and the boat tour was a perfect add to the trip. Extremely informative and just relaxing. Is a great compliment to the bourbon trail and I would highly recommend!! Captain was fun, full of history and great to listen to and we Thank him for adding to our vacation."

"A trip with Captain Nathan and Allison is relaxing and as comfortable as if you were with old friends. Totally enjoyable ride along the lovely Kentucky river with those who know the history and share it’s interesting stories. The boat is quite comfortable and the ride was smooth. Even on a cloudy afternoon they fill it with Kentucky hospitality and charm. Would definitely recommend this delightful tour!"

We're an Official Sponsor of The

701 Wilkinson Blvd, Frankfort, KY 40601

(502) 219-3318

[email protected]

TOURS OFFERED

• Bourbon Themed Tour
• Historic River Tours
• Kentucky River Tour 
• Bourbon Tour
• River Boat Tours
• Buffalo Trace Tours
• Bourbon Trail Tours
• Bourbon Distillery Tour

| Kentucky River Tours | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Website by Creekmore Marketing

The Old Taylor Tour

• Entry/Admission - Buffalo Trace Distillery
• Entry/Admission - Frankfort
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Buffalo Trace Distillery, 113 Great Buffalo Trce, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA Gift Shop
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Buffalo Trace Distillery 113 Great Buffalo Trce, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA Gift Shop See address & details
• 1 Buffalo Trace Distillery Stop: 2 hours - Admission included See details
• 2 "The Bourbon Boat" Kentucky River Tours Stop: 2 hours - Admission included See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• reneej465 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great time on the Kentucky River! Nathan was our captain for the afternoon. He shared great facts about the history of the river and the area. He was fun and nice! Read more Written November 16, 2023
• amyrV2638CH 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Do it! Very laid back atmosphere, beautiful setting, interesting information, complete with a delicious bourbon ball. This was our favorite experience in Frankfort! Read more Written November 4, 2023
• H1300YYannettem 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Historical tour Captain Nathan was extremely knowledgeable on all the history! It was a lot of fun for the last tour of the year. My husband and I really enjoyed it! The crew even supplied water and bottled KY ginger ale and bourbon chocolate balls. Read more Written October 30, 2023
• FiggTree 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fall colors and great friends! Great experience to learn about how the River was part of the bourbon trail. The guides were great. The leaves changing color made the experience even better!! A beautiful ride with great friends- great way to spend an afternoon and finish with the Old Taylor tour at BT! Read more Written October 28, 2023
• debralockergriffin 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Perfect Autumn Day History, bourbon balls and the Kentucky River - great combination! My friends and I enjoyed the tour on Friday afternoon in late October. Will definitely do it again. Read more Written October 28, 2023
• leebL7255RO 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Beautiful Fall Tour Lovely tour with excellent narration. Informative about Kentucky history and bourbon. Boat is clean. Has restrooms. Nice views from seats. Read more Written October 28, 2023
• Steve K 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Good trip! Very informative and enjoyable! Loved cruising on the river and learning about bourbon. The Buffalo Trace distillery was great too!! Read more Written October 24, 2023
• 214GJ 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great tour!! So glad we booked this tour! Captains Allison and Nathan were great. Nathan was our tour guide and we learned so much about local history and bourbon history. Highly recommend this company. We were kept updated and informed on our tour and everything we needed to do leading up to our boat ride. Followed it up with the Old Taylor Tour at Buffalo Trace distillery. Great day! Read more Written October 23, 2023
• kpautz 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A wonderful primer of bourbon and central Kentucky Frankfort, Kentucky, is full of bourbon-based history, and adept raconteur Captain Nathan made the most of it, filling us with facts and anecdotes on the 90-minute Bourbon History Tour. The double-decker tour boat is comfortable and quiet, and the stretch of the Kentucky River we travelled was beautiful on a warm autumn afternoon. I'm a local, and don't really care that much about bourbon (gasp), but I loved every minute of the tour. Read more Written October 21, 2023
• JKravitz 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great experience, well worth it!!! Very informative lecture on the river. Family run business that really cares about giving an excellent experience. Lively presentation that gave us a "warm Kentucky hug" Read more Written October 21, 2023
• 966leannc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent So relaxing and informative! We loved it!!! I would highly recommend it!! They had bathrooms on board and offered water or ginger ale, also we got a bourbon ball! Read more Written October 19, 2023
• Canewood116 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Kentucky's Best! I booked this boat ride and tasting for my husband's birthday. He loved it and it exceeded my expectations! Captain Nathan was a wonderful tour guide, giving lots of information about Kentucky and the history of bourbon. The boat ride was gorgeous and such a wonderful view of Frankfort and the Ky river. We were offered bourbon balls and Ale 8 One to drink while cruising along. Once we docked, we headed up to Buffalo Trace, just down the street. We did a fun tasting there and then headed to the gift shop to purchase what we liked. It was a great day. I also recommend lunch at Jim's Seafood before the riverboat cruise. A wonderful afternoon in Kentucky! Read more Written October 13, 2023
• S5181NVvictoriad 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A must do when in Frankfort We all had a great experience. We suggest everyone going to Buffalo Trace do it via the KY Bourbon Boat Tour. You’ll have a great trip up and down the river and the history of bourbon, Frankfort and Kentucky will be shared and new friends will be made Read more Written October 12, 2023
• U2706CIcherylj 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles We would do it again. The tour was well worth the price and we would definitely do it again. We recommend this tour for anyone who wants to enjoy the peace and quiet of traveling down the river and learning the local history. Read more Written October 9, 2023
• chrispV7037NG 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful time on the River Tour Captain Nathan has a plethora of knowledge about Bourbon and the great Commonwealth of Kentucky. My husband & I had a wonderful time! We learned a lot, saw some beautiful views you can only see from the Kentucky River, LOVED the sample of Ruth's candy and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I highly recommend this tour to everyone! And bring you cooler - there are bathrooms on the boat! Read more Written October 7, 2023

More to explore in Frankfort

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

The Old Taylor Tour provided by Kentucky River Tours

Midweek Lunch Excursion

Quick Details

• Hour Glass Duration: 5 hours
• Cruise Ship Trip Distance: 75 miles

Great food, stories & scenery on this lunch cruise

Come enjoy a five-hour scenic cruise departing Madison and heading downriver toward Louisville for a great lunch stop at Captain’s Quarters Riverside Grill.

Experience a beautiful section of the Ohio River that can’t be seen from a road, spot Bald Eagles, pass by historic town sites and cruise under the new Lewis & Clark Bridge.

Your Captain will share amazing river stories along the way. A great way to have a wonderful lunch and a truly unique river experience.

(MEAL COST NOT INCLUDED)

Related Jet Boat Tours

• Cruise Ship 155 miles
• Hour Glass 2 days

2 Day Kentucky River Adventure

The 155 mile round trip two-day Kentucky River Adventure is the ultimate river experience and so much fun. Not another river tour like it anywhere.

• Cruise Ship 40 miles
• Hour Glass 2 hours

Scenic River Tour

Cruise along a beautiful section of the Ohio River on this scenic 40 mile 2 hour jet boat tour.  Your Captain and crew will point out Bald Eagles, areas of historic interest and share amazing river stories.