Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Florence, KY to Guthrie, KY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 51m
Distance
253.2 mi
408 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 38m
★
6 AM
4h 51m
8 AM
5h 18m
10 AM
5h 1m
12 PM
4h 58m
3 PM
5h 2m
5 PM
5h 17m
8 PM
4h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Florence, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Guthrie, KY
Drones Flown
Trip Overview
Florence, KY to Guthrie, KY is 253.2 miles and takes about 4h 51m via I 65 and I 71, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a predominantly highway experience for most of the drive. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is straightforward for those looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points. It's a practical option for a quick hop across the state.
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
126.6 miles from Florence, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 109.4 mi | 1h 58m |
| I 71 | 78.4 mi | 1h 25m |
| Russellville Road | 17.1 mi | 22m |
| Bowling Green Road | 12.4 mi | 14m |
| Clarksville Road | 11 mi | 16m |
| Henry Watterson Expressway | 10 mi | 13m |
| I 165 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| East Jefferson Davis Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 109.4 mi, about 1h 58m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,316 veh/hr typical · worst 2,886
Quietest
2 AM
~356 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, KY and Guthrie, KY.
1
Start on Main Street
28 ft
·
3 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 42; US 127
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 42; US 127
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on US 42; US 127
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 42; US 127
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 71; I 75
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
I 71; I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto I 71
72 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
I 71
Exit 173
Toward I 71 South: Louisville
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
109 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 20A-B
Toward I 165, KY 9007: Owensboro, Scottsville
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 20B
Toward I 165: Owensboro
15
Merge onto I 165
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 165
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 5
Toward US 68, KY 80: Russellville, Bowling Green
17
Turn left onto US 68; KY 80
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Russellville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 68; KY 80
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Bowling Green Road
19
Continue on US 68; KY 80
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East Jefferson Davis Highway
20
Continue on US 68; KY 80
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
Bowling Green Road
21
Turn left onto KY 3240
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
East 9th Street
22
Continue on Clarksville Road
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Clarksville Road
23
Continue on US 79
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
West 9th Street
24
Continue on US 79
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Clarksville Road
25
Continue on US 79
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
Russellville Road
26
Turn left onto KY 346
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Ewing Street
27
Arrive at destination
US 41
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4h 51m drive, consider an early morning departure from Florence to avoid any potential traffic. Since it's a single-day trip with a manageable 253.2 miles, you can easily complete it in one go. There's one suggested stop, but with flexibility, you can decide if you need another break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 109.4-mile stretch on I 65, as services can be spaced out. Your estimated fuel cost is around $45.
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 126.6 miles from Florence, KY, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.4 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 126.6 miles or 2h 22m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Guthrie, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Florence, 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 Florence, KY
This is one driving day of about 253.2 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Florence, 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 I 65 for about 109.4 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 126.6 miles from Florence, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hart County (Horse County) Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Hart County (Horse County) Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Boone County (Florence) Rest Area Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Mr. Fuel Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
ONE9 Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Oldham County (Crestwood) Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Oldham County (Crestwood) Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Bullitt County Welcome Center
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Boone County (Florence) Welcome Center Southbound
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
TA
0.7 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.7 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.7 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 201.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louis...
7
8.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 71
Take the exit onto I 71 toward I 71 South: Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 173
Toward I 71 South: Louisville
8
90.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m 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
90.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m 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
201.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 165, KY 9007: Owensboro, Scottsville
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 20A-B
Toward I 165, KY 9007: Owensboro, Scottsville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.39 one way
$74.78 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $41.28 | $82.56 |
| premium | $4.72 | $47.01 | $94.02 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $47.81 | $95.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76 | 0 | $26.59 | $12.15 |
| Efficient EV | 63.3 | 0 | $22.16 | $10.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.3 | 1 | $35.45 | $16.20 |
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.
Origin
Florence, KY
Late night in Florence on Sunday
Local time
4:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 6 mph
14% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Guthrie, KY
Late night in Guthrie on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 1 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
67°F
Greensburg, KY
127 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 51m 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.
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 174.7
Park Closure: Green River Ferry Temporarily Out of Service
Park Closure: Elevator for Accessible Tour Out of Service
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...
11 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 139.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 80% of this 253.2-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on the interstate is 109.4 miles on I 65. After that, expect to transition to surface roads like Russellville Road for the remainder of your trip. Given the mostly highway profile, you'll likely notice frequent exits for an extended period, followed by more rural cruising as you get closer to Guthrie.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.4 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 71. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 253.2 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 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles (I 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
928 ft
499 ft
Total Climb
552 ft
Total Descent
930 ft
Highest Point
928 ft
Elevation Range
428 ft
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 Florence, KY and Guthrie, KY, road signs point toward Indianapolis, Louisville, Scottsville and Bowling Green.
Indianapolis
90.6 mi in
|
~1h 42m
Louisville
90.8 mi in
|
~1h 42m
Scottsville
201.3 mi in
|
~3h 43m
Bowling Green
206.4 mi in
|
~3h 49m
About the Cities
Starting in Florence, KY
Full guide →Founded 1830
Florence is a city of 33,000 people (2019) in Kentucky's Northern Ohio River Region, near Cincinnati. Florence is well known in surrounding cities for a water tower visible from I-71/I-75 that reads "Florence Y'all".
Arriving in Guthrie, KY
Full guide →Founded 1867
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 51m. Total distance: 253.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109.4 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 29 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Guthrie, 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. There are 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles (I 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Mammoth Cave National Park and Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Guthrie, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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