It later runs through the state capital of Frankfort before continuing north, eventually passing through several Cincinnati suburbs in Northern Kentucky, joining US 42 near Warsaw and US 25 in Florence before crossing the Ohio River via the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge.

After that it briefly runs concurrently westward with KY 90 for 0.59 miles (0.95 km), then heads generally northward and crosses into Russell County, where it goes onto Wolf Creek Dam, which impounds Lake Cumberland, and passes State Resort Park.

It passes through Jamestown with a business route and bypass, and then through Russell Springs, where it has a junction with the Cumberland Parkway.

The highway then traverses Casey, western Lincoln, and Boyle Counties, including the communities of Liberty, Hustonville, and Danville, respectively.

[4] After the capital, US 127 then passes through Owen and Gallatin counties, including the city of Owenton.