Kentucky Route 255
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by KYTC | ||||
| Length: | 14.700 mi (23.657 km) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end: |
 KY 252 near Rocky Hill | |||
  US 68 / KY 80 at Bon Ayr US 31W in Park City I-65 at Park City | ||||
| North end: |
 KY 70 in Mammoth Cave National Park. | |||
| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Barren, Edmonson | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Kentucky Route 255 is a south-north highway located in south central Kentucky. It provides access to Interstate 65 and Mammoth Cave National park to residents of southern Barren County.
Route description
KY 255 begins at a junction with KY 252 in Barren County, near the Rocky Hill community. The route is narrow and considerably curvy until coming to a junction with KY 1297 3.3 miles later.
After this junction, the route straightens somewhat, proceeding north for another 3.1 miles before coming to an intersection with the cojoined US 68/KY 80 in the Bon Ayr community.
KY 255 widens somewhat past this point, continuing on for another mile before bridging the Cumberland Parkway via way of an overpass. The route then proceeds north for 0.8 miles before coming to an intersection with KY 1339.
KY 255 then continues north for 2.5 miles before intersecting a CSX railroad track on the eastern edge of Park City. The route then cojoins with US 31W at a point 0.1 miles past the tracks. The two routes remain cojoined for 0.2 miles before splitting in the center of town.
KY 255 branches off an a northern heading, going 0.4 miles before intersecting with Intersate 65 at the Exit 48 interchange. After this intersection, KY 255 continues north, crossing into Edmonson County while entering Mammoth Cave National Park 0.4 miles north of the Interstate. It proceeds north for another 0.9 miles, passing Diamond Caverns before reaching its northern terminus at a junction with KY 70 in the southern part of the park.
Points of interest
The ruins of Bells Tavern are located alongside KY 255 just before its cojoining with US 31W. Built in 1830, it was a favorite stop of wealthy patrons before it burned in 1860. A roadside marker marks the location of the tavern and details some of its history.[1]
Diamond Caverns, the second oldest cave tour operation in the United States, is located just off of KY 255, just north of its intersection with I-65. A roadside marker gives a history of the site.[2]