Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Crescent Springs, 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

2h 34m

Distance

135.9 mi

219 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 25m ★
6 AM
2h 35m
8 AM
2h 56m
10 AM
2h 42m
12 PM
2h 40m
3 PM
2h 43m
5 PM
2h 55m
8 PM
2h 29m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Crescent Springs, KY, KY

Crescent Springs, KY

Tom Fisk

county seat of Hardin County, Kentucky, United States

Elizabethtown, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 135.9-mile drive from Crescent Springs, KY to Elizabethtown, KY is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 34 minutes. The route predominantly utilizes local roads, with Anderson Road and Buttermilk Pike leading you to I-71 South for a portion of the journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $21, this drive is quite economical. It's a straightforward trip through the Southeast region of Kentucky, perfect for a leisurely day of travel without the need for an overnight stop. You'll find it's a practical choice for a weekend excursion.

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

67.9 miles from Crescent Springs, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Anderson Road — —
Buttermilk Pike — —
I 71 South — —
I 264 West — —
Henry Watterson Expressway — —
I 65 — —
I 65 South — —
US 62 — —

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Anderson Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Crescent Springs, KY and Elizabethtown, KY.

1

Start on Western Reserve Road

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Western Reserve Road
2

Turn left onto Anderson Road

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Anderson Road
3

Turn right onto Buttermilk Pike

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Buttermilk Pike
4

Take the ramp right toward I 71 South, I 75 South

0.2 mi · 23 sec · I 71 South, I 75 South
5

Merge slight left

13 mi · 14 min
6

Take the exit slight right toward I 71 South: Louisville

72 mi · 1 hr 17 min · I 71 South: Louisville
7

Take the exit slight left toward I 264 West: Watterson Expressway

0.4 mi · 45 sec · I 264 West: Watterson Expressway
8

Continue on Henry Watterson Expressway

10.0 mi · 13 min · Henry Watterson Expressway
9

Take the exit slight right toward I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis

0.2 mi · 15 sec · I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis
10

Keep slight left to continue on I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, Indianapolis

0.2 mi · 15 sec · I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, Indianapolis
11

Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Nashville

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 65 South: Nashville
12

Merge slight left

36 mi · 39 min
13

Take the exit slight right toward US 62, KY 61: Elizabethtown

0.3 mi · 37 sec · US 62, KY 61: Elizabethtown
14

Keep slight right to continue on US 62: Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame

167 ft · 4 sec · US 62: Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame
15

Turn straight onto North Mulberry Street

2.1 mi · 3 min · North Mulberry Street
16

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 34 minutes, you have flexibility in when you depart. Leaving in the morning will allow you to enjoy daylight for the entire 135.9-mile journey and arrive with plenty of time for afternoon activities. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of $21, you won't need extensive planning for refueling or extensive breaks. Pay close attention to local road signage, as the 'turn-heavy' profile means you'll be making several turns. A specific tip for this route: familiarize yourself with Anderson Road and Buttermilk Pike before you go, as they form a significant part of your initial travel.

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 67.9 miles from Crescent Springs, KY, or about 1h 17m into the drive.

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 30 miles or 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 67.9 miles or 1h 17m 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 6m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elizabethtown, KY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Crescent Springs, 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 Crescent Springs, KY

This is one driving day of about 135.9 miles and 2h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Crescent Springs, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Worthington Hills, KY, KY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Worthington Hills, KY

68 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

Warsaw, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Worthington Hills, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67.9 miles from Crescent Springs, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Back Home Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 135.9

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12707692800

Visit website

El Maguey Mexican Restaurant - Brooks

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brooks, Kentucky

0.5 mi

Yum Yum Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Glencoe, Kentucky

0.2 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Heine Brothers Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Louisville, Kentucky

Later in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 97.1

Hours: 5:30 am–7 pm

+15026371060

Visit website

Sunergos Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Louisville, Kentucky

2 mi

Sunergos Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Louisville, Kentucky

2.1 mi

Back Home Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 135.9

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12707692800

Visit website

El Maguey Mexican Restaurant - Brooks

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 106.8

Brooks, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15022771223

Visit website

Yum Yum Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 29.1

Glencoe, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+18596433300

Visit website

Asian Place Chinese Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Fort Mitchell, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+18595788707

Visit website

Con Huevos!

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 87.3

Louisville, Kentucky

Hours: 7:30 am–2 pm

+15023843744

Visit website

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 106.8

Shepherdsville, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+15029554008

Visit website

Slim Chickens

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour Inexpensiv mile 135.9

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Hours: 10:30 am–11 pm

+12705060980

Visit website

Osteria Italian Seafood

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour Moderately mile 87.3

Louisville, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15024235822

Visit website

Heine Brothers Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 97.1

Louisville, Kentucky

Hours: 5:30 am–7 pm

+15026371060

Visit website

Sunergos Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 97.1

Louisville, Kentucky

Hours: 6:30 am–7 pm

+15026341243

Visit website

Sunergos Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 97.1

Louisville, Kentucky

Hours: 6:30 am–7 pm

+15023682820

Visit website

Heine Brothers Coffee - Chenoweth Lane

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87.3

St Matthews, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+15028935103

Visit website

Sunergos Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87.3

Louisville, Kentucky

Hours: 6:30 am–7 pm

+15029364313

Visit website

Sunergos Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 97.1

Louisville, Kentucky

Hours: 6:30 am–7 pm

+15029199676

Visit website

Bean Cove

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 135.9

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12709822233

Visit website

Reality Tuesday Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Park Hills, Kentucky

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+18592614939

Visit website

Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 135.9

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+12707636175

Visit website

Louisville Zoo

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 97.1

Louisville, Kentucky

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+15024592181

Visit website

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 97.1

Louisville, Kentucky

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18777758443

Visit website

Muhammad Ali Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 97.1

Louisville, Kentucky

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+15025849254

Visit website

Flame Run

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 97.1

Louisville, Kentucky

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+15025845353

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.25 one way

$42.49 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $23.33 $46.66
premium $4.89 $26.15 $52.31
diesel $5.61 $30.01 $60.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.5 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 40.8 0 $14.27 $6.52
Efficient EV 34 0 $11.89 $5.44
EV Truck/SUV 54.4 0 $19.03 $8.70

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Crescent Springs, KY

Late night in Crescent Springs on Sunday

Local time

12:24 AM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Elizabethtown, KY

Late night in Elizabethtown on Sunday

Local time

12:24 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°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

2 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for much of this route, as indicated by the 0% highway share. While I-71 South is incorporated, the majority of your time will be spent navigating local roads. There isn't a defined longest uninterrupted stretch provided, suggesting frequent intersections and changes in scenery. This road profile means you'll be actively engaged with the driving, making it feel more like a tour through communities rather than a high-speed transit. The character is consistently local throughout the 135.9 miles.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Anderson Road.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Crescent Springs, KY to Elizabethtown, KY is easy. At 2h 34m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Crescent Springs, KY to Elizabethtown, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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 2h 34m. Total distance: 135.9 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 (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Crescent Springs, KY to Elizabethtown, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Elizabethtown, KY

Ashland, KY 208 mi · 3h 53m Hendron, KY 174.5 mi · 3h 12m Reidland, KY 165.5 mi · 3h Alexandria, KY 140.3 mi · 2h 50m

More from Crescent Springs, KY

Bowling Green, KY 205.7 mi · 3h 51m Ironville, KY 154.4 mi · 3h 9m Independence, KY 10.5 mi · 19m

More trips to Elizabethtown, KY

Meads, KY 196.5 mi Grayson, KY 181.5 mi Paducah, KY 172.4 mi Benton, KY 164.5 mi Cold Spring, KY 144.8 mi Dayton, KY 144.6 mi
Escape planner: Crescent Springs, KY Scenic drives in KY

Explore more options from Crescent Springs, KY or browse trips ending in Elizabethtown, KY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KY road trips.