Origin
Bowling Green, KY
Night in Bowling Green on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bowling Green, KY to Benton, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 34m
Distance
129.2 mi
208 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 24m
★
6 AM
2h 35m
8 AM
2h 55m
10 AM
2h 42m
12 PM
2h 40m
3 PM
2h 43m
5 PM
2h 54m
8 PM
2h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bowling Green, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Benton, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on a journey from Bowling Green, KY, to Benton, KY, covers 129.2 miles and is estimated to take around 2 hours and 34 minutes. This route is best suited for a single-day trip, making it an easy addition to any Southeast region exploration. With a fuel cost estimated at $20, it's an economical drive. The journey primarily utilizes local roads like Chestnut Street, East 13th Avenue, and State Street, offering a more connected feel to the communities you pass through. This drive is a straightforward option for getting between these two Kentucky locations.
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
64.6 miles from Bowling Green, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 39.5 mi | 42m |
| US 68 | 26.4 mi | 31m |
| Bowling Green Road | 12.4 mi | 14m |
| Hopkinsville Road | 11.6 mi | 13m |
| Russellville Road | 10.8 mi | 13m |
| Cadiz Road | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| I 69 | 8.9 mi | 9m |
| East Jefferson Davis Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 39.5 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bowling Green, KY and Benton, 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 Avenue of Champions
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue of Champions
7
Continue on US 68 Business; US 231 Business
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Russellville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 68; KY 80
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Bowling Green Road
9
Continue on US 68; KY 80
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East Jefferson Davis Highway
10
Continue on US 68; KY 80
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
Bowling Green Road
11
Continue on US 68 Business
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Franklin Street
12
Continue on US 68 Business
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Franklin Road
13
Continue on US 68 Business
373 ft
·
6 sec
·
Franklin Street
14
Continue on US 68 Business
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
East 4th Street
15
Turn right onto US 68 Business; KY 3519
129 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Main Street
16
Turn left onto US 68 Business; KY 3519
227 ft
·
5 sec
·
West 4th Street
17
Continue on US 68 Business
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
West 4th Street
18
Continue on US 68 Business
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Hopkinsville Road
19
Continue on US 68; KY 80
26 mi
·
31 min
·
US 68; KY 80
20
Turn right onto US 41; KY 109
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East 9th Street
21
Continue on US 68; KY 80; KY 109
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West 7th Street
22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 68; KY 80
9.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Cadiz Road
23
Continue on US 68; KY 80
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Hopkinsville Road
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 65
Toward US 68, KY 80: Hopkinsville, Cadiz
25
Merge onto I 24
39 mi
·
42 min
·
I 24
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
I 69
Exit 25A
27
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 43
Toward KY 348: Benton, Symsonia
28
Turn left onto KY 348
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Symsonia Road
29
Continue on KY 348
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
West 5th Street
30
Turn right onto US 641; KY 58
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Main Street
31
Turn left onto KY 58; KY 408
136 ft
·
2 sec
·
East 12th Street
32
Arrive at destination
KY 58; KY 408
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 34-minute duration for this 129.2-mile drive, it's comfortably manageable as a single-day excursion. Plan to depart in the morning to allow ample time for any unexpected delays or to enjoy the local scenery along Chestnut Street and East 13th Avenue. With an estimated fuel cost of $20, ensure your tank is full before leaving Bowling Green, as the 0% highway share suggests you'll be in more populated areas with potentially more frequent stops. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means keeping an eye on navigation and local signage is key, especially when transitioning onto State Street.
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 64.6 miles from Bowling Green, KY, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.5 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 28 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.6 miles or 1h 20m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benton, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bowling Green, 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 Bowling Green, KY
This is one driving day of about 129.2 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Bowling Green, 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 I 24 for about 39.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.6 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 127.4 — 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
8
78.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward US 68, KY 80: Hopkinsville, Cadiz
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 65
Toward US 68, KY 80: Hopkinsville, Cadiz
6
127.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward KY 348: Benton, Symsonia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 43
Toward KY 348: Benton, Symsonia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.20 one way
$40.40 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.18 | $44.36 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.86 | $49.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.53 | $57.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.8 | 0 | $13.57 | $6.20 |
| Efficient EV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.30 | $5.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.7 | 0 | $18.09 | $8.27 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Benton, KY
Night in Benton on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
18 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 34m 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.
Mammoth Cave National Park
National Park
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...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
29 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 80.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 129.2-mile trip, with a highway share of 0%. This means you'll be navigating through towns and rural areas for the entirety of the 2-hour and 34-minute duration. Since there are no significant highway stretches, the longest uninterrupted driving period will be relatively short, requiring constant attention to local road conditions and turns. The character of the drive is consistently focused on local roadways, so be prepared for frequent adjustments in speed and direction as you traverse the landscape.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.5 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 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 129.2 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 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.
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 Benton, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Cadiz along the way.
Cadiz
78.7 mi in
|
~1h 38m
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 2h 34m. Total distance: 129.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.5 miles on I 24. 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 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 and Fort Donelson National Battlefield. 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 Benton, 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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