Campbellsville to Paducah is 211.5 miles and takes about 3 hours 54 minutes via Western Kentucky Parkway and I-69, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, moving from the Southeast region towards the western part of the state. Most of your travel will be on highways, making for a straightforward drive. It's a solid option if you're looking for a direct route between these two points without a lot of fuss.
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
105.8 miles from Campbellsville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Western Kentucky Parkway
99.7 mi
1h 46m
I 69
53.6 mi
57m
Campbellsville Road
13.4 mi
15m
Hodgenville Road
12.3 mi
13m
Lincoln Parkway
12 mi
13m
I 24
9.1 mi
9m
Kentucky Dam Road
2.5 mi
3m
Clarks River Road
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Western Kentucky Parkway
— 99.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Campbellsville, KY and Paducah, KY.
1
Start on US 68
0.3 mi·23 sec·East Broadway Street
2
Continue on US 68; KY 55; KY 70
0.3 mi·21 sec·West Broadway
3
Continue on US 68; KY 55; KY 70
0.5 mi·34 sec·Greensburg Road
4
Turn right onto KY 210
1.2 mi·1 min·Campbellsville Bypass
5
Continue on KY 210
12 mi·13 min·Hodgenville Road
6
Continue on KY 210
13 mi·15 min·Campbellsville Road
7
Turn left onto KY 1618
12 mi·13 min·Lincoln Parkway
8
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
99 mi·1 hr 45 min·Western Kentucky Parkway
9
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
0.8 mi·54 sec·Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit 38A
10
Merge onto I 69
37 mi·40 min·I 69
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
16 mi·17 min·I 69
Exit 68BToward I 24 West, I 69 South: Paducah
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
9.1 mi·9 min·I 24
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 16Toward US 68: Paducah
14
Keep slight right at fork
131 ft·3 sec
Exit 16Toward US 68: Paducah
15
Turn right onto US 68
0.9 mi·1 min·US 68
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 62
2.5 mi·3 min·Kentucky Dam Road
17
Continue on US 60; US 62
2.0 mi·3 min·Clarks River Road
18
Turn right onto US 60 Business; I 24 Business
1.7 mi·2 min·Wayne Sullivan Drive
19
Continue on US 60 Business; I 24 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·South 3rd Street
20
Turn left onto Washington Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Washington Street
21
Arrive at destination
Washington Street
Trip Plan
For this 3 hour 54 minute drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Paducah comfortably. Since it's under 4 hours, you won't need to break it up, but there is one designated stop. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 99.7-mile stretch on the Western Kentucky Parkway where services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost is around $33, so plan accordingly before you set out.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 105.8 miles from Campbellsville, KY, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.7 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 47 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.8 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paducah, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Campbellsville, 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 Campbellsville, KY
This is one driving day of about 211.5 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Campbellsville, 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 99.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 28.1 and 202.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
28.1 mi into trip|~32m in|KY 1618 / Lincoln Parkway
Turn left onto KY 1618 / Lincoln Parkway
Navigation decision point
7
177.1 mi into trip|~3h 13m in|I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 toward I 24 West, I 69 South: Paducah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 68B
Toward I 24 West, I 69 South: Paducah
4
193.2 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|I 24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
202.3 mi into trip|~3h 40m in
Take the exit toward US 68: Paducah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 16
Toward US 68: Paducah
6
202.7 mi into trip|~3h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 68: Paducah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 16
Toward US 68: Paducah
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.07 one way
$66.13 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.30
$72.61
premium
$4.89
$40.70
$81.40
diesel
$5.61
$46.70
$93.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.4
0
$22.21
$10.15
Efficient EV
52.9
0
$18.51
$8.46
EV Truck/SUV
84.6
1
$29.61
$13.54
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Campbellsville, KY
Morning
in Campbellsville on Tuesday
Local time
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paducah, KY
Late night
in Paducah on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Beaver Dam, KY
106 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
17 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
3h 54m 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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 29.2
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...
21 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 65.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 83% of this 211.5-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 99.7 miles along the Western Kentucky Parkway. After that, you'll transition to I-69 and then Campbellsville Road, which will feel like a more local road with more frequent exits. Expect a good amount of rural cruising interspersed with highway driving.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.7 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 28.1 miles in near KY 1618 / Lincoln Parkway.
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 211.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 28.1 miles (KY 1618 / Lincoln Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 177.1 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 193.2 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Paducah is a small city on the Ohio River about midway between St. Louis, Missouri and Nashville, Tennessee. The county seat of McCracken County and the largest city in the Jackson Purchase area of western Kentucky, Paducah has a booming riverfront restaurant trade and arts scene in part driven by the city's artist relocation program which offers interest-free housing loans and other subsidies for established artists willing to relocate. Paducah is the hometown of humorist Irvin Cobb and former Vice President Alben Barkley (who served under President Harry S. Truman). Fans of contemporary Christian music will know it as the hometown of Steven Curtis Chapman, one of that genre's most iconic artists.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 54m. Total distance: 211.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.7 miles on Western Kentucky Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 28.1 miles (KY 1618 / Lincoln Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 177.1 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 193.2 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park and Mammoth Cave National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Paducah, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
