Stearns is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in McCreary County, Kentucky, United States.

It is bordered to the north by Whitley City, the county seat, and to the south by Pine Knot.

Kentucky Route 92 passes through the center of Stearns and leads west 29 miles (47 km) to Monticello.

Eastbound KY 92 joins US 27 south to Pine Knot, then turns east to lead to Williamsburg.

[1] The community is drained to the west by tributaries of Roaring Paunch Creek, which continues west to the South Fork of the Cumberland River, while the east side of the community is drained by tributaries of Marsh Creek, which flows north to the main stem of the Cumberland River.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.