This 164.5-mile drive from Benton, KY to Elizabethtown, KY is an ideal day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 59 minutes to complete. With a fuel cost estimated at $25, it's an economical journey. You'll be navigating local roads for the entirety of this trip, indicated by a 0% highway share. The route is characterized by frequent turns, making it more engaging than a typical highway cruise. Given its manageable length and local road focus, this trip is best enjoyed with a single stop, allowing for a relaxed pace. It's a straightforward journey within the Southeast region, connecting two points in Kentucky.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
82.3 miles from Benton, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Western Kentucky Parkway
97.9 mi
1h 45m
I 69
62.6 mi
1h 8m
East Dixie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
New Glendale Road
0.8 mi
1m
East 5th Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Poplar Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Symsonia Road
0.2 mi
<1m
West Dixie Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Western Kentucky Parkway
— 97.9 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, KY and Elizabethtown, KY.
1
Start on KY 58; KY 408
125 ft·8 sec·East 12th Street
2
Turn left onto US 641; KY 58; KY 408
0.5 mi·43 sec·Poplar Street
3
Continue on US 641; KY 58
0.6 mi·55 sec·East 5th Street
4
Continue on KY 348
0.2 mi·20 sec·Symsonia Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
6
Merge onto I 69
7.7 mi·8 min·I 69
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
17 mi·17 min·I 69
Toward I 24 East, I 69 North: Nashville, Henderson
8
Take the exit onto I 69
38 mi·41 min·I 69
Exit 42Toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton
9
Keep slight right at fork onto Western Kentucky Parkway
0.3 mi·22 sec·Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit 106A-BToward I 169 South: HopkinsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
98 mi·1 hr 44 min·Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit 106BToward Elizabethtown
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 136Toward US 31W Bypass: ElizabethtownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto US 31W Bypass
400 ft·6 sec·Elizabethtown Bypass
13
Enter roundabout onto KY 1136
154 ft·2 sec·New Glendale Road
14
Continue on KY 1136
0.7 mi·1 min·New Glendale Road
15
Turn left onto US 31W; KY 61
0.8 mi·1 min·East Dixie Avenue
16
Turn right onto US 31W; KY 61
134 ft·2 sec·US 31W; KY 61
17
Turn left
118 ft·2 sec
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W; KY 61
446 ft·11 sec·West Dixie Avenue
19
Turn right onto US 62; KY 61
77 ft·1 sec·North Mulberry Street
20
Arrive at destination
US 62; KY 61
Trip Plan
For this 2 hour and 59 minute drive, starting your journey in the morning will allow you to take advantage of the daylight and the flexibility of a single-day trip. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $25, you can easily manage your time and budget. Since this route involves numerous turns, paying close attention to your GPS or navigation system is crucial to avoid missing any key directions. A good tip is to familiarize yourself with the main roads, such as Poplar Street, East 5th Street, and Symsonia Road, before you depart to ensure a smoother experience.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 82.3 miles from Benton, KY, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 36 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.3 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elizabethtown, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Benton, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Benton, KY
This is one driving day of about 164.5 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Benton, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Western Kentucky Parkway for about 97.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.4 and 162.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.4 mi into trip|~11m in|I 69
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69 toward I 24 East, I 69 North: Nashville, Henderson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 24 East, I 69 North: Nashville, Hender...
6
26.1 mi into trip|~29m in|I 69
Take the exit onto I 69 toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton
8
64.3 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|Western Kentucky Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Western Kentucky Parkway toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 106A-B
Toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville
7
162.3 mi into trip|~2h 56m in
Take the exit toward US 31W Bypass: Elizabethtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 136
Toward US 31W Bypass: Elizabethtown
5
162.8 mi into trip|~2h 57m in|KY 1136 / New Glendale Road
Enter roundabout onto KY 1136 / New Glendale Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.72 one way
$51.44 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.24
$56.47
premium
$4.89
$31.66
$63.31
diesel
$5.61
$36.32
$72.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.4
0
$17.27
$7.90
Efficient EV
41.1
0
$14.39
$6.58
EV Truck/SUV
65.8
0
$23.03
$10.53
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Benton, KY
Late night
in Benton on Sunday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elizabethtown, KY
Late night
in Elizabethtown on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Greenville, KY
82 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
2h 59m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
For over a century people from around the world have come to rural Central Kentucky to honor the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 164.5
Rolling hills, deep river valleys, and the world's longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, e...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 136.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the full 164.5 miles between Benton and Elizabethtown. With a 0% highway share, this route emphasizes navigating through communities and on familiar roads rather than high-speed travel. The absence of a 'longest stretch' metric suggests a continuous series of turns and road changes, meaning you'll be actively steering and adjusting your speed frequently. This drive's personality is less about covering ground quickly and more about the experience of local travel, requiring your attention at every intersection and curve.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.9 mi on Western Kentucky Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Western Kentucky Parkway and I 69. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.4 miles in near I 69.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 164.5 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.1 miles (I 69): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.3 miles (Western Kentucky Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Benton, KY and Elizabethtown, KY, road signs point toward Henderson and Princeton.
Elizabethtown is a small town in the Kentucky Derby Region. Abraham Lincoln's parents Thomas and Nancy had their daughter Sarah here in 1807 and then Abraham nearby at Sinking Spring Farm in 1809.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 164.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97.9 miles on Western Kentucky Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.1 miles (I 69): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.3 miles (Western Kentucky Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park and 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 Elizabethtown, KY before heading back.
