Origin
Elizabethtown, KY
Late night in Elizabethtown on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elizabethtown, KY to Saint Matthews, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
46.8 mi
75 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 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabethtown, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Matthews, KY
Jo Kassis
Trip Overview
Elizabethtown, KY to Saint Matthews, KY is 46.8 miles and takes about 57m via I 65, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Kentucky, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a short, direct route primarily on interstate highways. Given its brevity, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion with minimal planning required.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 35.2 mi | 38m |
| Henry Watterson Expressway | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| North Mulberry Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Breckenridge Lane | 2 mi | 4m |
| Frankfort Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Lexington Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Shelbyville Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 35.2 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabethtown, KY and Saint Matthews, KY.
1
Start on US 62; KY 61
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Mulberry Street
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
3
Merge onto I 65
35 mi
·
38 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 131-A
Toward I 264: Watterson Expressway, Airport
Use the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 131A
Toward I 264 East: Watterson Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 264
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Henry Watterson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 18
Toward KY 1932: Breckenridge Lane
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward KY 1932 North: Breckenridge Lane
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward KY 1932 North: Breckenridge Lane
Use the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto KY 1932
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Breckenridge Lane
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Shelbyville Road
261 ft
·
9 sec
·
Shelbyville Road
Use the left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Lexington Road
307 ft
·
16 sec
·
Lexington Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn sharp left onto Frankfort Avenue
427 ft
·
12 sec
·
Frankfort Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Shelbyville Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 23.4 miles from Elizabethtown, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 37.6 and 46.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
37.6 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward I 264: Watterson Expressway, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 131-A
Toward I 264: Watterson Expressway, Airport
8
38.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 264 East: Watterson Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 131A
Toward I 264 East: Watterson Expressway
7
43.9 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward KY 1932: Breckenridge Lane
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 18
Toward KY 1932: Breckenridge Lane
8
44.4 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward KY 1932 North: Breckenridge Lane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward KY 1932 North: Breckenridge Lane
7
46.7 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
Lexington Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Lexington Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.32 one way
$14.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.03 | $16.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.01 | $18.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.33 | $20.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.55 | $3.00 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Saint Matthews, KY
Late night in Saint Matthews on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°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
26 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
57m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 85% of the route on interstates. You'll experience a longest stretch of 35.2 miles on I 65. The transition from the interstate to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination. Expect a fairly continuous flow of traffic and numerous exits as you get closer to Saint Matthews.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.2 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 37.6 miles in.
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 11 decision points packed into just 46.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 37.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Elizabethtown, KY to Saint Matthews, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Airport
37.6 mi in
|
~42m
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 57m. Total distance: 46.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.2 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 Saint Matthews, 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 37.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Matthews, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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