Bardstown has four clear seasons. Summers are hot, with July averaging a high of 86.6°F. Winters are cool rather than harsh, with January averaging 43°F in the afternoon and 26°F at night. September and October are the sweet spot: mild, relatively dry and ideal for walking between distillery buildings. Rain is spread through the year, about 51.6 inches in all, with May the wettest month. Snow is modest, about 12 inches a season, mostly in January and February.
Bardstown average weather by month
These are NOAA’s official 1991-2020 climate normals for the Bardstown 5E weather station, about 5 miles east of downtown at roughly 780 feet elevation.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Rain and melted snow (in.) | Snow (in.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43.3 | 26.1 | 3.71 | 4.2 |
| February | 48.1 | 29.1 | 3.86 | 3.7 |
| March | 57.4 | 36.5 | 4.92 | 1.3 |
| April | 68.7 | 46.0 | 4.71 | 0.0 |
| May | 76.5 | 55.4 | 5.46 | 0.0 |
| June | 83.6 | 62.9 | 4.94 | 0.0 |
| July | 86.6 | 66.3 | 4.54 | 0.0 |
| August | 86.2 | 64.5 | 3.65 | 0.0 |
| September | 80.7 | 58.0 | 3.90 | 0.0 |
| October | 69.5 | 47.1 | 3.71 | 0.0 |
| November | 56.6 | 37.2 | 3.70 | 0.2 |
| December | 46.5 | 30.1 | 4.51 | 2.5 |
| Year | 67.0 | 46.6 | 51.61 | 11.9 |
Normals are 30-year averages, not forecasts. Any given week can run well above or below them, so check a forecast a few days before you go.
Winter: December to February
Winter days hover in the mid-40s, with nights just below freezing. January is the coldest month and the snowiest, averaging 4.2 inches, and February adds another 3.7. Totals are modest, but back roads to the county distilleries are narrow and hilly, so give yourself extra time after a storm.
What it means for a trip: pack a warm coat, gloves and shoes with grip. Rickhouses can be cold in winter, and a warehouse tour can feel chillier than the parking lot. The upside is quiet tasting rooms, easy dinner reservations and Christmas lights around Court Square in December. See winter in Bardstown for what’s open.
Spring: March to May
Spring warms fast, from 57°F highs in March to 77°F in May. It’s also the wettest season. March brings 4.92 inches of rain, April 4.71 and May 5.46, the most of any month. Plan every spring day with an indoor fallback.
Pack layers and a rain shell. April and May mornings can start in the 40s and 50s and end in the 70s. Spring green makes it a lovely time for Bernheim Forest and the grounds at My Old Kentucky Home, and a rainy afternoon is the perfect excuse for the museums; the rainy day guide has a list.
Summer: June to August
Summer is warm to hot. Highs average 83.6°F in June and about 86°F in July and August, with nights in the low to mid-60s. August is the driest of the summer months at 3.65 inches.
The heat shapes the day. Book outdoor-heavy tours in the morning, carry water between tastings, and keep hydrated if you’re sampling bourbon, since heat and alcohol combine badly. The Stephen Foster Story and the summer concert series play the outdoor amphitheater at 8 p.m., when it’s still warm; bring a hat, water and bug spray. Free Friday concerts at Bardstown Community Park run 7 to 9 p.m., so bring a lawn chair. See summer in Bardstown.
Fall: September to November
Fall is the reason so many people pick Bardstown. September averages 80.7°F and October 69.5°F, and both come in under 4 inches of rain. Nights cool quickly in October, down to about 47°F, so a jacket earns its place in your bag. November turns crisp, with highs in the upper 50s and lows in the upper 30s.
Kentucky Bourbon Festival weekend in mid-September can still be warm. The festival is rain or shine, mostly outdoors, and limits bags to clear totes or small clutches, so sunscreen and a hat go in your pockets. October’s Arts & Crafts Festival and the late-October ghost tours at Federal Hill fall on the coolest evenings of the season.
Month by month in one line
- January is the coldest (43/26°F) and snowiest month; the mansion runs Wednesday to Sunday and the Civil War museums are closed.
- February stays cold (48/29°F) with about 3.7 inches of snow, and the town is at its quietest.
- March warms to 57°F by day but brings nearly 5 inches of rain; the Civil War museum complex reopens on March 1.
- April hits a pleasant 69°F, and the farmers market opens in the middle of the month.
- May averages 77°F and is the wettest month, with 5.46 inches; Derby season events run at My Old Kentucky Home.
- June climbs to 84°F, and the Stephen Foster Story opens its outdoor season.
- July is the hottest month, 86.6°F by day and 66°F at night, with fireworks after the show on July 4.
- August stays near 86°F but dries out to 3.65 inches of rain; the free Friday concerts wrap up late in the month.
- September cools to 81°F with under 4 inches of rain, just in time for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival.
- October is the pick of the year at 70/47°F, with the Arts & Crafts Festival and lantern-lit ghost tours.
- November drops to 57/37°F and turns festive with Light Up Bardstown the Friday after Thanksgiving.
- December averages 47/30°F with about 2.5 inches of snow and a Christmas parade on the first Thursday.
What to pack for distillery tours
Whatever the month, a few things apply at every stop:
- Closed-toe shoes with grip. Log Still requires them for its outdoor sections with stairs, and warehouse floors can be uneven.
- A layer you can carry. Tours move between outdoor paths, warm stillhouses and warehouses that follow the season.
- Your government photo ID. Tastings are 21 and over everywhere, and staff check.
- A water bottle, especially from June to September.
- A compact umbrella from March to June.
Weather and your itinerary
The weather affects which days work best. On a hot July day, stack indoor stops such as the Getz Museum, the Basilica and the Civil War museums in the afternoon. On a wet spring day, a distillery tour is still fine, but a long walking tour of the historic district is not. In fall, put your outdoor plans (Bernheim’s Forest Giants trail, the Federal Hill grounds, a walk around Court Square) on the driest day in the forecast.
Outdoor events handle bad weather differently, so know the rules before you buy. The Kentucky Bourbon Festival is rain or shine with no refunds. The free Friday concerts at Bardstown Community Park also go ahead rain or shine, per Visit Bardstown. Stephen Foster Story tickets are non-refundable, though the box office allows exchanges, so call (502) 348-5971 if a storm rolls in on your night. The Bardstown Ghost Trek runs weather permitting, so confirm with the guide on a wet evening. Distillery tours carry on in most weather, and some walk you outdoors between buildings, so bring the umbrella.
For month-by-month events, see the events calendar. For the bigger question of when to come at all, weighing crowds and prices against the weather, read the best time to visit guide.
