If you want to immerse yourself in Biblical lore which dwarfs even the Statue of Liberty, walk through world-class artistic exhibits, and experience exhilaration on ropes courses to camel rides… We’re way ahead of you!
My family visited the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum and now we have the perfect itinerary to help you plan your own journey. Read on to discover the best route for the trip, kid-friendly pit stops, one hotel with the very best view, and practical tips for taking on these attractions with children of all ages.
Plan Your Route for Maximum Fun
When we mapped out the route from the Upstate of South Carolina to Williamstown, Kentucky, we quickly realized that, as a seven to eight hour trip, this was no small drive. So, we decided to dedicate an entire day to travel in both directions—no rush, no regrets.
We chose the I-40 route through Knoxville, TN, and it ended up being the perfect halfway stop. If you’re heading that way, definitely bookmark Visit Knoxville’s awesome guide on Things To Do in Knoxville with Kids! There are so many options, you’ll have a hard time choosing just one activity for your road trip.
About an hour north of Knoxville, you’ll find a quirky and delicious bonus stop that you have to make either on your way up or back: the Harland Sanders Café and Museum in Corbin, KY. It’s an actual KFC with a walk-through museum built into it, showcasing the life and business ventures of Colonel Sanders himself.
Discover wall-to-wall promotional items from KFC across the decades, a towering safe containing the “secret recipe,” and a life-size Colonel Sanders statue just begging for a selfie! Plus, the cleanest and prettiest restrooms you will ever see in a fast-food restaurant.
A Hotel View That’s Worth the Wait
We chose to stay at the Hampton Inn and Suites – Williamstown Ark Encounter, and if you’re going, we highly recommend it. Ask for a room on one of the top floors with a view of the ark—it’s not visible from the road, and this will give you an advance glance of what’s sure to be the highlight of your trip!
The hotel was spotless, which is huge for me. I’m not exactly a neat freak at home, but when I’m traveling with my kids, the last thing I want to worry about is someone else’s mess. The staff were also genuinely kind and helpful, smoothing the stay for us as we faced all the little challenges that come with little travelers…Quarters for the laundry? Yes, I’d be needing some of those!
The complimentary coffee bar and breakfast was a great way to start each day. With tables, booths, and high chairs, we always found a corner that easily accommodated our large family. There was no shortage of options for our picky eaters, either: We found yogurt, fresh fruit, a variety of cereals, hot breakfast buffet, and two different batters for DIY waffles.
If you are looking for dinner options around the hotel, El Jalisco Mexican Restaurant is the most popular place right in town. If that’s not your taste, though, you can find a much wider array of excellent options about 20-30 minutes north in Cincinnati, OH.
Creation Museum: Start at the Beginning
Even though I’ve just convinced you to stay at the hotel by the Ark Encounter, I really recommend heading to the Creation Museum on your first full day. While you can visit the attractions in either order, visiting the Creation Museum first will take you through Biblical history from the beginning, laying the foundation for everything you’ll then experience at the Ark Encounter.
It’s a roughly 40-minute drive away in Petersburg, KY, and you can easily spend an entire day there. Your kids will immediately experience jaw-dropping wonder as your family enters through the hall of dinosaurs and dragon legends, only to round the corner and be faced with a giant woolly mammoth skeleton!
From the lobby, you’ll go through the rest of the museum in a linear walk-through experience: from Eden, to the Fall, to the Flood, ending in a modern-day café and gift shop.
Off the café area, there are a few additional exhibits zeroing in on other potential topics of interest, including the Fearfully & Wonderfully Made exhibit, which highlights prenatal development with detailed models.
Sensitive Content: As you exit the Flood exhibit, you walk through a sobering hallway depicting some dark moments in human history. These displays are not avoidable, so you may want to cover sensitive children’s eyes. The Fearfully & Wonderfully Made exhibit directly addresses pregnancy loss, but can be easily avoided. Plan to skip that one if the topic is too sensitive for your family.
Eat and Explore Even More!
Once you’ve worked your way back to the main lobby of the museum, there is a much larger gift shop and the main restaurant, Noah’s Café. This is an excellent lunch spot, with cafeteria-style food and lots of options. Indoor seating fills up fast, but we found a table on the porch easily.
Outside the museum, there is even more! We found a pleasant walking trail around a small pond with a gazebo on the far side. In the warmer months, the garden around the pond blooms with vibrant flowers. The playground was a great stopping place, too, with a towering slide, zipline, and toddler areas.
And of course our kids loved the petting zoo, complete with goats, pigs, alpacas, and donkeys! We caught a live animal show, and I found the Plants of the Bible Conservatory fascinating, especially the several live specimens presented as possibilities for the infamous “crown of thorns.”
The planetarium and seasonal butterfly house round out the whole experience. You’ll find your day at the Creation Museum igniting your curiosity, challenging your convictions, and leaving you with memories of hands-on fun!
All Aboard the Ark Encounter!
After a day at the Creation Museum, you will be prepped and ready to experience the Ark Encounter. You might think you’re going to see more of the same, but oh boy, did they take things to the next level!
You can follow a walking path directly from the hotel into the Ark Encounter parking lot, or drive over to it. From there, you’ll take a short bus ride from the parking lot to the attraction.
Parent Tip: Pack with the bus ride in mind, so you aren’t struggling to juggle kids and your stuff as you board and disembark! We stuffed everything in a couple of backpacks, carried the kids, and brought a collapsible wagon. Once we got off the bus, the kids rode in the wagon with our bags, making the rest of the day easy.
Once on foot, you’ll pass through a large rainbow archway…and the ark comes suddenly into view! It. Is. MASSIVE. Almost too big to photograph. It’s one of the most jaw-dropping moments of the trip. Don’t get out your camera just yet, though! The best photo op will be just ahead: Plan to pose next to the pond, with the giant ark right behind you.
As you enter the ark, it gets gradually darker, and storm sounds play overhead. It’s intentionally dramatic, and one of my kids did get a little scared when the “thunder” rumbled loudly. This first level is something like a mock zoo, with signs explaining how animals and food could have been stored and managed on the ark.
As you go farther up, there are several micro-exhibits branching off the main decks. You can explore these at your leisure, and easily avoid any that don’t interest your family. Spooky Animal Encounters is a standout exhibit for kids, where they can crawl through a tunnel, play with funhouse mirrors, and see nocturnal animals under blacklights.
Sensitive Content: The Pre-Flood World exhibit depicts human violence in a manner that could be upsetting for sensitive children. None of this exhibit is visible from outside, and it is easy to avoid for those who would rather skip it.
Popular photo spots in the ark include the giant set of doors, the middle of each deck with the towering columns behind you, and the striking Noahic Covenant sculpture towards the very end of the walk-through. There are gift shops on multiple levels of the ark, with the largest at the bottom on your way out.
Get Outdoors for Dining and More
Directly opposite the exit, you’ll spot what might be the top restaurant at the Ark Encounter: Emzara’s Buffet. There were so many delicious options, including desserts. We could’ve eaten there for lunch and dinner without ever tasting the same food twice! People tend to pack into the tables on the main floor, but the best seats in the house are on the second-floor balcony with a stunning view of the huge ark overhead!
After dining, we tackled the outdoor fun. There was an even bigger and better playground, complete once again with towering slide, zipline, and even a kid-sized labyrinth of rainbow panels. Farther in, you’ll find the Ararat Ridge Zoo, which features a petting zoo, kangaroo walkabout, and camel rides.
These animal encounters were the perfect end to two days packed with back-to-back adventure. We could hardly believe we managed to get it all in, and we made sure to get some of the fantastic coffee table books from the gift shops to look back on the experience!
The Message Behind the Museums
Both the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum are attractions built by Answers in Genesis, a faith-based nonprofit advocating for a literal interpretation of the Bible. Both the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum end in a Gospel presentation, encouraging visitors to consider or further explore Christianity as a faith.
These museums offer an impressive and enjoyable experience no matter your faith background, but parents will want to be aware that this messaging is a core component of each experience.
Ready to Hit the Road?
Whether you’re seeking a deeper dive into Biblical tradition, preparing for an epic educational adventure, or just planning to marvel at the sheer scale of these attractions… This road trip from the Carolinas to Kentucky is guaranteed to be utterly unique and unforgettable.
With an open mind and a spirit of adventure, your family can make memories that are as meaningful as they are fun.
Happy travels!
Sarah Burnett is a family-focused journalist, wife, and mother in South Carolina. After a decade in family services, she left the traditional workforce to reorient her daily life around homeschooling, homesteading, and helping others do the same. It was a leap of faith inspired by Matthew 6:33, and she’s found that verse fulfilled beyond all expectations. She now writes primarily on local businesses, attractions, and travel destinations, making it easier for other families to navigate life with freedom and enjoyment.
