Origin
Bowling Green, KY
Night in Bowling Green on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bowling Green, KY to Beaver Dam, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
43.5 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bowling Green, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Beaver Dam, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip from Bowling Green to Beaver Dam, Kentucky, you are looking at an efficient 43.5-mile drive. Expect to spend about 53 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via I-165, US Highway 231, and the Western Kentucky Parkway. Budgeting roughly $7 for fuel should cover your needs for this short interstate-focused journey. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of Kentucky, the transition between them is seamless and straightforward. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that gets you from point A to point B without any unnecessary complexity.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 165 | 33.6 mi | 35m |
| US Highway 231 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Western Kentucky Parkway | 2 mi | 2m |
| Morgantown Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Old Morgantown Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| College Heights Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| State Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 165
— 33.6 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bowling Green, KY and Beaver Dam, KY.
1
Start on this road
321 ft
·
25 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Chestnut Street
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Chestnut Street
3
Turn right onto East 13th Avenue
480 ft
·
26 sec
·
East 13th Avenue
4
Turn left onto State Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
State Street
5
Turn right onto College Heights Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
College Heights Boulevard
6
Continue on College Heights Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
College Heights Boulevard
7
Continue on Old Morgantown Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Morgantown Road
8
Turn right onto US 231 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Morgantown Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
10
Merge onto I 165
34 mi
·
35 min
·
I 165
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 41B
Toward Paducah
12
Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 75
Toward US 231: Morgantown, Beaver Dam
14
Turn right onto US 231
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
US Highway 231
15
Continue on US 231
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 231
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Bowling Green, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 40 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Chestnut Street
Turn right onto Chestnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East 13th Avenue
Turn right onto East 13th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
State Street
Turn left onto State Street
Navigation decision point
5
37.7 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward Paducah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 41B
Toward Paducah
6
40 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward US 231: Morgantown, Beaver Dam
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 75
Toward US 231: Morgantown, Beaver Dam
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.80 one way
$13.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.47 | $14.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.37 | $16.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.60 | $19.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.57 | $2.09 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.81 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.09 | $2.78 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Beaver Dam, KY
Night in Beaver Dam on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Morgantown, KY
22 mi in
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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
53m 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 highway-focused experience, as 88% of this trip is spent on high-speed roads. The journey features a significant 33.6-mile stretch on I-165, which serves as the backbone of your travel. You will encounter a mix of interstate travel and highway driving, providing a steady pace throughout the entire 53-minute duration. Because the route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, you can anticipate consistent road conditions rather than technical local turns. This is a utilitarian drive designed for speed and directness, ensuring you remain focused on the road ahead for the duration of your 43.5-mile trek.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.6 mi on I 165.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 165 and US Highway 231. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Chestnut Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 43.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East 13th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (State Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
677 ft
410 ft
Total Climb
542 ft
Total Descent
660 ft
Highest Point
677 ft
~7.3 mi in
Elevation Range
267 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bowling Green, KY to Beaver Dam, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Paducah along the way.
Paducah
37.7 mi in
|
~45m
About the Cities
Starting 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 53m. Total distance: 43.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.6 miles on I 165. 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: at 0.1 miles (Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East 13th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (State 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 Beaver Dam, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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