If you love Christmas as much as we do, you might want to consider a getaway to these Christmassy towns this winter!|
We’ve listed these Christmas towns near Kentucky in order of distance from Lexington, but depending on your exact location in Kentucky they may be more or less close to you!
Santa Claus, Indiana (2 hr 15 min from Lexington)
It may come as no surprise that a town named after the big red guy himself would be extra special at Christmas time. In fact, the town is home to Christmas fun year round, but really ramps things up in December. There are tons of special events and holiday traditions in Santa Claus during their three-weekend Santa Claus Christmas Celebration. The excitement includes festive shopping experiences, holiday events, and plenty of Christmassy lodging to complete your thematic getaway. Make sure to check out the Santa Claus Museum & Village and pose for a pic in front fo the 22-foot Santa statue. You can also hand cancel your holiday mail with the Santa Claus Post office. Visit Santa Claus, Indiana’s Website to plan your trip and find their event guide for this year’s celebration.
Find hotels for your Santa Claus getaway on Expedia.com. Or, for a bit more room for the whole family, check out Hollow Creek Cabin which sleeps 14, or find other properties in Santa Claus on VRBO.
Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (3.5 hrs from Lexington)
During the winter months, (usually from mid-November to mid-February) Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are draped with more than 5 million sparkling lights during the Winterfest celebration. These incredible light displays are absolutely gorgeous and can be seen for free from your own vehicle. Tons of other Christmassy things are happening all around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge including Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood. We think Gatlinburg is a great getaway for the whole family, check out our favorite family-friendly activities in the Gatlinburg area.
Book a hotel for your Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge getaway on Expedia, or search for a cabin or vacation home rental on VRBO.
Frankenmuth, Michigan (6 hours from Lexington)
Step right into a Bavarian Christmas in Frankenmuth, MI. This town is fun to visit all year long with tons of German eats and beautiful architecture, but the town really shines during the holidays. Enjoy beautifully decorated streets and holiday wonder in every direction. The Frankenmuth Visitor’s Center has a map of all of the fantastic holiday light displays around town. Santa also makes frequent stops throughout Frankenmuth and there are other places where you can stop and write a letter to Santa. They’ve recently added an ice rink at Zehnder Park, right in the heart of downtown for even more holiday fun. Check out the Frankenmuth Visitor’s Bureau Website for more information on all of the festive fun happening in this Christmassy town near Kentucky.
Book a hotel in Frankenmuth on Expedia OR book a vacation home rental in Frankenmuth on VRBO
Helen, Georgia (5 hours, 45 minutes from Lexington)
Helen, Georgia is a veritable winter wonderland with its Bavarian-style architecture and endless Christmas charm. This small town is a year-round destination with abundant scenery and outdoor activities and vineyards in the Blue Ridge Mountains foothills. You’ll feel more like you are spending in the Alps than in the Appalachian mountains with everything from a traditional Christkindlemarkt (German-style Christmas market), and the annual Christmas parade – a family favorite! Each year the town center is decked out in lights, kicked off with the Lighting of the Village festival that starts a full month of Christmassy activities. Visit Helen Georgia’s Visitor Bureau website for more info about everything that is going on this year.
Book a hotel in Helen, Georgia on Expedia or visit VRBO to book a cabin or vacation home.
Dahlonega, Georgia (6 hours from Lexington)
Christmas is a magical time of year in Dahlonega and throughout the surrounding area of Lumpkin County, Georgia. Tucked away in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Dahlonega’s Old Fashioned Christmas celebration runs each year from the day after Thanksgiving until December 31st. The festival kicks off with the Lighting of the Square and a major highlight is the home-town Christmas parade where Santa officially comes to town. The parade is usually held on the first Saturday in December each year. Dahlonega is an attractive destination year round with tons of outdoor activities and hiking trails as well as wineries and historic sites. During Christmas, the whole town sparkles with holiday light and the local shops offer seasonal wares that will take care of your gift list, and your sweet tooth. For the full event schedule and more details, visit the Dahlonega Old Fashioned Christmas website.
Book a hotel on Expedia.com for your Dahlonega Christmas getaway or check out VRBO for great vacation home rentals.
McAdenville, North Carolina (6 hours 15 minutes from Lexington)
You might expect that a town with the nickname “Christmas Town, USA” would be a great town to visit during Christmas, and you wouldn’t be wrong. Throughout December, McAdenville is ripe with Christmas cheer, and the homes are all lit up for the holiday season. If you are in the area, you’ll certainly want to take a drive through some of the decked out neighborhoods. However, there’s plenty to stick around for including a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, a holiday festival with tons of events, and a festive 5K race. For more details and information to plan your Christmas getaway to McAdenville, visit the Town of McAdenville website.
Book a hotel on Expedia.com for your McAdenville Christmas getaway, or check out VRBO for great vacation home rentals.
Branson, Missouri (9 hours from Lexington)
Branson, Missouri is a bit farther away than the rest of the towns on our list, and it’s probably not a realistic drive for a weekend getaway from Central Kentucky, but it’s only 5 hours from much of Western Kentucky, which makes it a great choice for a quick Christmas getaway for some of us! Branson’s Ozark Mountain Christmas festival is a month-long festival with amazing music, twinkling lights and fun family-friendly parades. The Branson Scenic Railway’s Polar Express is a magical highlight for young and old alike. Other highlights include world-class live shows, stunning Christmas light displays, an 8-story Christmas tree, specialty shops and outlet malls for plentiful Christmas shopping and the annual Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade. Visit the Explore Branson website for more information and the full event schedule.
Book a hotel on Expedia.com for your Branson, MO Christmas getaway or check out VRBO for great vacation home rentals.
