Origin
Buechel, KY
Late night in Buechel on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buechel, 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
53m
Distance
44.3 mi
71 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 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
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.
Buechel, KY
Stepan Vrany
Elizabethtown, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 44.3-mile drive from Buechel, Kentucky, to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, will take you about 53 minutes. It's a straightforward, one-day trip, perfect for a quick journey between these two Southeast Kentucky locations. You'll primarily navigate Bardstown Road and the Henry Watterson Expressway before merging onto I-65. With a fuel cost estimated at $7, this route is budget-friendly. The drive is characterized by frequent turns, making it a more engaging local experience than a simple highway cruise. You won't need to break this up overnight; it's easily manageable in a single stretch.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 36 mi | 39m |
| Henry Watterson Expressway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| North Mulberry Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Bardstown Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Six Mile Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 36 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buechel, KY and Elizabethtown, KY.
1
Start on Six Mile Lane
185 ft
·
8 sec
·
Six Mile Lane
2
Turn right onto KY 2251
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bardstown Road
3
Continue on US 31E; US 150
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Bardstown Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Use the slight left lane.
5
Merge onto I 264
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Henry Watterson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 12
Toward I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, Indianapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 65 South: Nashville
9
Merge onto I 65
36 mi
·
39 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 94
Toward US 62, KY 61: Elizabethtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
166 ft
·
4 sec
Toward US 62: Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto US 62; KY 61
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Mulberry Street
13
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
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 22.1 miles from Buechel, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 42.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 264 / Henry Watterson Expressway
Merge onto I 264 / Henry Watterson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis
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 12
Toward I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis
9
4.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, Indianapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, In...
8
41.9 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward US 62, KY 61: Elizabethtown
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 94
Toward US 62, KY 61: Elizabethtown
8
42.2 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 62: Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 62: Kentucky High School Basketball H...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.93 one way
$13.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.60 | $15.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.53 | $17.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.78 | $19.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 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 | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.13 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.88 | $1.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
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
Elizabethtown, KY
Late night in Elizabethtown on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
30 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
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 turn-heavy local drive for the majority of this 44.3-mile journey. While you will utilize I-65 for a portion, the overall profile is more akin to navigating city streets and connecting local roads. There's no significant highway share to speak of, meaning you'll be managing traffic signals and varying speed limits frequently. The longest uninterrupted stretch will depend on your exact path through the local network, but be prepared for a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. This route demands your attention with its constant need for navigation adjustments.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Henry Watterson Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near I 264 / Henry Watterson Expressway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 44.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (I 264 / Henry Watterson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Buechel, KY and Elizabethtown, KY, road signs point toward Indianapolis and Louisville.
Indianapolis
4.5 mi in
|
~7m
Louisville
4.7 mi in
|
~7m
About the Cities
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 53m. Total distance: 44.3 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 (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36 miles on I 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 1.8 miles (I 264 / Henry Watterson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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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