It provides access to Interstate 65 and Mammoth Cave National park to residents of southern Barren County.

After this junction, the route straightens somewhat, proceeding north for another 3.1 miles (5.0 km) before coming to an intersection with the concurrently running US 68/KY 80 in the Bon Ayr community.

KY 255 widens somewhat past this point, continuing on for another mile before bridging the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway via way of an overpass.

KY 255 previously passed the ruins of Bells Tavern, and then intersected US 31W (Second Street) after a railroad crossing until 2012, when it was re-routed to go over the tracks via a new bridge on the west side of town.

It proceeds north for another 0.9 miles, passing Diamond Caverns before entering the far eastern portion of Edmonson County and reaching its first intersection with KY 70 in the southern part of the park near the site of a former town named Chaumont.

[8] 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.