Origin
Auburn, KY
Night in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn, KY to Bowling Green, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
25m
Distance
18.3 mi
30 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, KY
Dominik Gryzbon
Bowling Green, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Auburn to Bowling Green, you are in for a quick 18.3-mile trip that typically takes just 25 minutes. This journey stays entirely within the Southeast region of Kentucky, making it an effortless day trip that requires no overnight planning. With a fuel budget of approximately $3, it is a highly economical route for those needing to commute or visit the city. You will navigate primarily via Russellville Road, Bowling Green Road, and University Boulevard to reach your destination. Because this is a short, straightforward connection, it is best suited for a quick excursion rather than a multi-day getaway.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Russellville Road | 10.8 mi | 13m |
| Bowling Green Road | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| University Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Kentucky Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East 12th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| State Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Center Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Russellville Road
— 10.8 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, KY and Bowling Green, KY.
1
Start on Pearl Street
215 ft
·
15 sec
·
Pearl Street
2
Turn left
476 ft
·
36 sec
3
Turn right onto Caldwell Street
197 ft
·
13 sec
·
Caldwell Street
4
Turn left onto US 68 Business
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
East Main Street
5
Continue on US 68 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bowling Green Road
6
Continue on US 68; KY 80
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Bowling Green Road
7
Continue on US 68; KY 80
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Russellville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 68 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
University Boulevard
9
Continue on US 68 Business
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Kentucky Street
10
Turn right onto East 12th Avenue
469 ft
·
18 sec
·
East 12th Avenue
11
Turn left onto Center Street
217 ft
·
8 sec
·
Center Street
12
Turn right onto East 12th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
East 12th Avenue
13
At end of road, turn left onto State Street
406 ft
·
13 sec
·
State Street
14
Turn uturn
183 ft
·
15 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 18.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Caldwell Street
Turn right onto Caldwell Street
Navigation decision point
5
18 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
Center Street
Turn left onto Center Street
Navigation decision point
5
18.2 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
State Street
At end of road, turn left onto State Street
Navigation decision point
8
18.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.86 one way
$5.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.14 | $6.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.52 | $7.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.04 | $8.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.60 | $0.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.56 | $1.17 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Bowling Green, KY
Night in Bowling Green on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
25m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than a monotonous interstate haul. You will spend 0% of your time on major highways, as the route relies exclusively on local roads. The longest uninterrupted section is a 10.8-mile stretch on Russellville Road, which serves as the backbone of your journey. As you transition between these local roads, the pace remains steady but requires your full attention due to the frequent turns. It is a practical, no-frills drive that rewards steady navigation over high-speed cruising.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.8 mi on Russellville Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 25m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Caldwell Street): Navigation decision point; at 18 miles (Center Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Bowling Green, KY
Full guide →Bowling Green is the third-largest city in Kentucky, with nearly 60,000 residents. Bowling Green is the hub of activity in the Caves and Lakes region.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 18.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.8 miles on Russellville Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Caldwell Street): Navigation decision point; at 18 miles (Center Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Mammoth Cave National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bowling Green, KY before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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