Origin
Bowling Green, KY
Morning in Bowling Green on Sunday
Local time
11:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bowling Green, KY to Elizabethtown, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
71.1 mi
114 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bowling Green, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabethtown, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Bowling Green and Elizabethtown, this 71-mile journey is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 1 hour and 8 minutes. Because the distance is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You can expect to spend roughly $11 on fuel for the duration of the drive. Navigating through the Southeast, the route relies on local streets like Chestnut Street, East 7th Avenue, and Fairview Avenue rather than major interstates. It is a practical, no-nonsense option for those moving between these two Kentucky cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Interstate Highway 65 | 64.6 mi | 1h 9m |
| East Dixie Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Fairview Avenue | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Cemetery Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Chestnut Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East 7th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Western Kentucky Parkway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Dixie Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Interstate Highway 65
— 64.6 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bowling Green, KY and Elizabethtown, KY.
1
Start on this road
321 ft
·
28 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Chestnut Street
3
Turn right onto KY 234
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
East 7th Avenue
4
Continue on KY 234
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Fairview Avenue
5
Continue on KY 234
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Cemetery Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
7
Merge onto I 65
65 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
Interstate Highway 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 91 A-B
Toward Western Kentucky Parkway West, KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 91A
Toward US 31W, KY 61: Hodgenville
10
Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
11
Turn sharp left onto US 31W; KY 61
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
East Dixie Avenue
12
Turn right onto US 31W; KY 61
134 ft
·
2 sec
·
US 31W; KY 61
13
Turn left
118 ft
·
2 sec
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W; KY 61
446 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Dixie Avenue
15
Turn right onto US 62; KY 61
77 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Mulberry Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 62; KY 61
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.5 miles from Bowling Green, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Interstate Highway 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.6 miles.
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 3.8 and 71 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 65 / Interstate Highway 65
Merge onto I 65 / Interstate Highway 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
68.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward Western Kentucky Parkway West, KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 91 A-B
Toward Western Kentucky Parkway West, KY 61 Sou...
7
68.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 31W, KY 61: Hodgenville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 91A
Toward US 31W, KY 61: Hodgenville
5
69.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
US 31W; KY 61 / East Dixie Avenue
Turn sharp left onto US 31W; KY 61 / East Dixie Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
71 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
US 31W; KY 61 / West Dixie Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W; KY 61 / West Dixie Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.12 one way
$22.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.20 | $24.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.68 | $27.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.70 | $31.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.47 | $3.41 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.22 | $2.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.95 | $4.55 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Elizabethtown, KY
Afternoon in Elizabethtown on Sunday
Local time
12:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 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
1h 20m 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. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, requiring you to navigate through various local roads rather than cruising at high speeds. Because the path relies on city-level infrastructure, you will find yourself dealing with more frequent turns and transitions. It is a hands-on driving experience that demands your attention from start to finish. Without long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, the personality of this drive is defined by its localized, practical nature.
91% 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: 64.6 mi on Interstate Highway 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Interstate Highway 65 and East Dixie Avenue. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near I 65 / Interstate Highway 65.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 71.1 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 3.8 miles (I 65 / Interstate Highway 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 68.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Arriving in Elizabethtown, KY
Full guide →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.
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 1h 20m. Total distance: 71.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.6 miles on Interstate Highway 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Elizabethtown, KY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 3.8 miles (I 65 / Interstate Highway 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 68.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elizabethtown, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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