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Henderson, KY Road Trips

Sitting in the Southeast, Henderson, KY is a local road trip base with 12 trip routes mapped and ready to explore. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 210-mile quick runs to 226-mile cross-state drives. Most routes from Henderson, KY head east, giving the route network a clear directional lean.

city in and county seat of Henderson County, Kentucky, United States

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Trip Routes

12

Longest Drive

340 mi

Pikeville, KY

Quickest Drive

3h 57m

Somerset, KY

Plan Around Henderson, KY

Trips from Henderson, KY

Driving from Henderson, KY

Expect an average of 220 miles and about 4h 12m behind the wheel when leaving Henderson, KY. There is a healthy spread of short hops, medium drives, and longer road trips to pick from. The longest mapped route runs 226 miles (4h 23m), while the shortest is just 210 miles.

Popular Destinations

Drivers leaving Henderson, KY most often head toward Newport, KY (226.3 mi, 4h 20m), Fort Wright, KY (222.6 mi, 4h 12m), Berea, KY (221.7 mi, 4h 23m), Edgewood, KY (219.6 mi, 4h 10m), and Somerset, KY (209.6 mi, 3h 57m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.

Planning & Costs

Regular gas in KY currently averages around $3.77 per gallon. For the typical 220-mile trip from Henderson, KY, budget about $33 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.

Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring. Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 5 mapped routes leaving Henderson, KY and 7 routes heading into Henderson, KY, covering 12 total connections. Distances range from 210 to 226 miles.

The longest mapped route from Henderson, KY covers 226 miles and takes approximately 4h 23m. Shorter options start at just 210 miles.

The average route from Henderson, KY runs about 220 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 12m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.

At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 220-mile trip from Henderson, KY costs roughly $33 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.

The most popular road trip destinations from Henderson, KY include Newport, KY, Fort Wright, KY, Berea, KY and Edgewood, KY. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.

Henderson, KY by the Numbers

Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Population

27,994

Median Income

$47,176

Median Home Value

$151,400

Median Age

40.3

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.

Henderson, KY at a Glance

Founded

1797

Elevation

407 ft

Area

18 mi²

Sister Cities

Henderson

Notable People from Henderson, KY

A sampling of people born in Henderson, KY.

Husband E. Kimmel

Husband E. Kimmel

1882–1968

United States admiral (1882-1968)

Steve Bardo

Steve Bardo

1968

American basketball player

John J. Becker

1886–1961

American composer of contemporary classical music (1886–1961)

Young E. Allison

Young E. Allison

1853–1932

American writer (1853–1932)

Misti Dawn

Misti Dawn

1986

American pornographic actress and video game industry professional

Henry Dixon Allen

Henry Dixon Allen

1854–1924

U.S. Representative (1854-1924)

Ann Rutledge

Ann Rutledge

1813–1835

First love of Abraham Lincoln (1813-1835)

Rosa Henderson

1896–1968

American vaudeville, jazz and blues singer (1896-1968)

Darrell A. Posey

1947–2001

American scientist (1947–2001)

City data from Wikidata (Q734134), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.

Traveler Guide to Henderson, KY

Henderson is a city in Kentucky's Western Coal Fields. It is the seat of Henderson County and is located across the Ohio River from Evansville, Indiana.

1 John James Audubon State Park, 3100 US Hwy 41 North, ☏ +1 270 826-2247, [email protected]. A state park dedicated to the painter and naturalist John James Audubon. Between 1810 and 1819, the artist owned and lived on property located within the park. The park features a museum, cabins, campground, hiking trails, and a golf course. Henderson County Public Library (HCPL), 101 South Main St, ☏ +1 (270) 826-3712. (updated Jul 2025)

1 Ellis Park, 3300 US 41, ☏ +1 812 425-1456, [email protected]. One of Kentucky's thoroughbred horse racing tracks. The track runs live races from July - September. Simulcast racing is available year round. Note: The track is on the north side of the Ohio River, but is still in Kentucky. The border between Indiana and Kentucky was set in colonial times, when the future site of Ellis Park was south of the river. W.C. Handy Blues & Barbeque Festival. A week long festival held in early June which honors W.C. Handy, the "Father of the Blues", who lived in the area during the 1890s. The festival features blues and zydeco music along with the regional barbecue.

1 Homer's Barbecue, 128 Second St, ☏ +1 (270) 869-2214. (updated Jul 2025)

Both Henderson and Henderson County are wet. They allow package alcohol sales, bars, and drinks to be sold in restaurants. 1 Metzgers Tavern, 1000 Powell St., ☏ +1 270 826-9461. 2 Rookies Sports Bar, 117 2nd St., ☏ +1 270 826-1106. 4PM-10PM Monday-Saturday.

1 L&N Bed & Breakfast, 319 N Main St, ☏ +1 270 831-1100. 2 John James Audubon State Park, 3100 US Hwy 41 North, ☏ +1 270 826-2247. The park has 5 one bedroom cottages as well as a 2 bedroom cottage. The cottages feature a full kitchen, a fireplace, and are available year round. The campground features 66 electric and 21 primitive sites. Amenities include shower houses and a playground. The campground is open April through October. 3 Comfort Inn, 2820 US 41 North, ☏ +1 270 827-8191. 4 Holiday Inn Express, 2826 US 41 North, ☏ +1 270 869-0533, toll-free: +1-800-315-2621. 5 Ramada Henderson/Evansville, 2044 US 41 North, ☏ +1 270 826-6600. 6 Sleep Inn, 2224 US 41 N., ☏ +1 270 830-6500. 7 Sugar Creek Inn, 2077 US Hwy. 41 North, ☏ +1 270 827-0127. 8 Envi Boutique Hotel, 2030 US Hwy. 41 North, ☏ +1 270-693-7118. The breakfast room features a piano. Enjoy the huge outdoor pool, or relax in a jacuzzi suite.

Henderson lies at the intersection of US highways 41 and 60. US 41 provides access from the north and south, while US 60 can be used to access the city from the east and west. Two of Kentucky's parkways terminate in Henderson. The Audubon Parkway provides access from Owensboro to the east and the former Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway, now signed exclusively as Interstate 69, provides access from Hopkinsville to the south. When completed, I-69 will run through Henderson providing access from the north and south. Two regional airports are nearby in Evansville and Owensboro. The nearest international airports are located just over a 2 hours drive in either Louisville or Nashville, Tennessee.

Travel tips adapted from Henderson (Kentucky) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.

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