Origin
Elizabethtown, KY
Late night in Elizabethtown on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elizabethtown, KY to Central City, 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 28m
Distance
80.9 mi
130 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabethtown, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Central City, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 80.9-mile drive from Elizabethtown, KY, to Central City, KY, is a manageable 1 hour and 28 minutes, making it an ideal one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with a fuel cost estimated at $12. The route stays within the Southeast region, offering a straightforward journey through Kentucky. Given its short duration and straightforward profile, this trip is perfect for a spontaneous excursion or a relaxed day of travel without the need for an overnight stay. Plan for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged without being overwhelming.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky Parkway | 77.9 mi | 1h 23m |
| South 2nd Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Elizabethtown Bypass | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| North Mulberry Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Mulberry Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Broad Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Western Kentucky Parkway
— 77.9 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabethtown, KY and Central City, KY.
1
Start on US 62; KY 61
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
North Mulberry Street
2
Turn left
92 ft
·
2 sec
3
Turn slight right onto US 62
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
South Mulberry Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
5
Merge onto US 31W Bypass
0.6 mi
·
37 sec
·
Elizabethtown Bypass
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Leitchfield, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
7
Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway
78 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 58
Toward US 431, KY 70: Central City, Drakesboro
9
Turn left onto US 431; KY 70
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South 2nd Street
10
Turn right onto East Broad Street
75 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Broad Street
11
Arrive at destination
East Broad Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.5 miles from Elizabethtown, 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 77.9 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 79.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.5 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
3
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 31W Bypass / Elizabethtown Bypass
Merge onto US 31W Bypass / Elizabethtown Bypass
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit toward Leitchfield, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Leitchfield, Paducah, Western Kentucky P...
6
79.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward US 431, KY 70: Central City, Drakesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 58
Toward US 431, KY 70: Central City, Drakesboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.65 one way
$25.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.89 | $27.77 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.57 | $31.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.86 | $35.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.49 | $3.88 |
| Efficient EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.08 | $3.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.33 | $5.18 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Central City, KY
Night in Central City on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
25 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
1h 28m 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' experience for the entire 80.9 miles, as this route has a 0% highway share. This means you'll be on a variety of local roads like South Mulberry Street and Leitchfield, rather than high-speed interstates. The drive is characterized by frequent turns and changes in direction, keeping your attention focused. Since there's no 'longest stretch' specified as particularly long, anticipate a continuous engagement with the local road network throughout the 1 hour and 28 minute journey.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.9 mi on Western Kentucky Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Western Kentucky Parkway and South 2nd Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Elizabethtown, KY to Central City, KY is easy. At 1h 28m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 31W Bypass / Elizabethtown Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining.
About the Cities
Starting 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 28m. Total distance: 80.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.9 miles on Western Kentucky Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 31W Bypass / Elizabethtown Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Central City, 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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