Origin
Crittenden, KY
Morning in Crittenden on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Crittenden, KY to Hopkinsville, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 42m
Distance
254.9 mi
410 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 29m
★
6 AM
4h 43m
8 AM
5h 10m
10 AM
4h 52m
12 PM
4h 50m
3 PM
4h 54m
5 PM
5h 9m
8 PM
4h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Crittenden, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Hopkinsville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 254.9-mile drive from Crittenden, KY to Hopkinsville, KY is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 42 minutes. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with a 98% highway share, making it a straightforward journey. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $39. As both locations are in the Southeast region, you'll remain within Kentucky for the entirety of your travels. This route is a solid option if you're looking for an efficient, highway-focused trip without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
127.5 miles from Crittenden, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky Parkway | 98 mi | 1h 45m |
| I 71 | 71.1 mi | 1h 16m |
| I 65 | 38.7 mi | 42m |
| I 169 | 24.7 mi | 26m |
| Henry Watterson Expressway | 10 mi | 13m |
| I 75 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| East 9th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| McLean Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Western Kentucky Parkway
— 98 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crittenden, KY and Hopkinsville, KY.
1
Start on US 25; KY 491
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn left onto KY 491
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Violet Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 75 North: Cincinnati
4
Merge onto I 75
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 173
Toward I 71 South: Louisville
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on I 71
71 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 5
Toward I 264 West: Watterson Expressway
Use the slight left lane.
8
Continue on I 264
10.0 mi
·
13 min
·
Henry Watterson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 12
Toward I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, Indianapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 65 South: Nashville
12
Merge onto I 65
39 mi
·
42 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 91C-A
Toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 91C-B
Toward US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward Paducah, Elizabethtown
16
Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway
98 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 38B
Toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville
Use the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 169
281 ft
·
3 sec
·
I 169
19
Continue on I 169
25 mi
·
26 min
·
I 169
Exit 106A
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 9
Toward US 68, KY 80
21
Keep slight right at fork
184 ft
·
4 sec
Exit 9
Toward US 68, KY 80
22
Turn straight onto US 68; KY 80
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
McLean Avenue
23
Turn right onto US 41; KY 109
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 9th Street
24
Turn left onto Bethel Street
301 ft
·
13 sec
·
Bethel Street
25
Arrive at destination
Bethel Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour 42 minute duration, starting your journey from Crittenden in the morning will allow you to reach Hopkinsville with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop and a high highway share, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you approach the 98-mile stretch on the Western Kentucky Parkway, as services can be more spread out on longer highway segments. Planning for a single fuel stop around the halfway point is a good strategy to ensure you stay topped up.
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 127.5 miles from Crittenden, KY, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98 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 56 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.5 miles or 2h 23m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hopkinsville, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Crittenden, 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 Crittenden, KY
This is one driving day of about 254.9 miles and 4h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Crittenden, 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 98 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 127.5 miles from Crittenden, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Western Kentucky Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 89.7 and 253.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
89.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m 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
89.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m 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
129.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m in
Take the exit toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
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 91C-A
Toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Wes...
8
129.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 91C-B
Toward US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western...
8
253.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 68, KY 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 9
Toward US 68, KY 80
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.85 one way
$79.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $43.75 | $87.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $49.05 | $98.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.28 | $112.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.5 | 0 | $26.76 | $12.24 |
| Efficient EV | 63.7 | 0 | $22.30 | $10.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 102 | 1 | $35.69 | $16.31 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Hopkinsville, KY
Morning in Hopkinsville on Sunday
Local time
9:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 42m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
13 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 131.8
View on nps.gov
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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 158.2
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 highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 98% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter stretches on I-71 and I-65 before transitioning to the Western Kentucky Parkway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 98 miles on the Western Kentucky Parkway, offering a consistent driving pace. This profile suggests a fairly direct and uninterrupted journey, prioritizing forward momentum over winding scenic byways.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98 mi on Western Kentucky Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Western Kentucky Parkway and I 71. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 89.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 254.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 89.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Crittenden, KY and Hopkinsville, KY, road signs point toward Indianapolis, Louisville, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West and Elizabethtown.
Indianapolis
89.7 mi in
|
~1h 41m
Louisville
89.8 mi in
|
~1h 41m
Paducah
129.7 mi in
|
~2h 26m
Western Kentucky Parkway West
129.9 mi in
|
~2h 26m
Elizabethtown
130.2 mi in
|
~2h 27m
About the Cities
Arriving in Hopkinsville, KY
Full guide →Hopkinsville , often nicknamed "Hoptown" by locals, is a town located in Kentucky's Western Waterlands.
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 4h 42m. Total distance: 254.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98 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.
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 Hopkinsville, KY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 89.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Hopkinsville, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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