Georgetown, KY to Tompkinsville, KY is 210.5 miles and takes about 4h 19m via Cumberland Parkway and Hal Rogers Parkway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Kentucky, traversing the Southeast region from start to finish. Given its mostly highway profile and manageable duration, it's a straightforward trip, ideal for a single day of travel. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained parkways, making for a smooth and efficient transit between these two points.
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
105.2 miles from Georgetown, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Cumberland Parkway
56.1 mi
1h
Hal Rogers Parkway
34.5 mi
41m
US 25E
34.4 mi
42m
US 119
29 mi
32m
KY 38
19.6 mi
34m
North Main Street
11.9 mi
16m
I 75
11.3 mi
12m
KY 163
9.3 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Cumberland Parkway
— 56.1 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Georgetown, KY and Tompkinsville, KY.
1
Start on KY 38
20 mi·34 min·KY 38
2
Enter roundabout onto KY 38
89 ft·1 sec·KY 38
3
Continue on KY 38
345 ft·10 sec·KY 38
4
Turn right onto US 421
1.1 mi·2 min·US 421
5
Turn left onto US 119
29 mi·32 min·US 119
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 25E
34 mi·42 min·US 25E
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·24 sec
Toward I 75 North: Lexington
8
Merge onto I 75
11 mi·12 min·I 75
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward KY 80: Somerset, London
10
Keep slight left at fork
232 ft·9 sec
11
Turn left onto KY 80
35 mi·41 min·Hal Rogers Parkway
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto KY 914
0.4 mi·34 sec·KY 914
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward Bowling Green
14
Merge onto Cumberland Parkway
56 mi·1 hr·Cumberland Parkway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward US 68: Edmonton, Greensburg
16
Turn left onto US 68
350 ft·4 sec·Greensburg Road
17
Continue on US 68
1.1 mi·1 min·Greensburg Street
18
Turn straight
207 ft·3 sec
19
Turn slight right onto US 68; KY 80
12 mi·16 min·North Main Street
20
Continue on KY 163
9.3 mi·11 min·KY 163
21
Turn right onto KY 63
61 ft·1 sec·West 4th Street
22
Arrive at destination
KY 63
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour, 19-minute drive, consider leaving Georgetown in the morning to give yourself ample daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you can be flexible with stops, but it’s wise to plan at least one break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto US 25E, as services might be less frequent than on the parkways. The fuel cost is estimated at $33, so factor that into your budget. A good strategy is to fill up before leaving Georgetown and then again before reaching Tompkinsville.
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 105.2 miles from Georgetown, KY, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.1 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 46 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.2 miles or 2h 16m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tompkinsville, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Georgetown, 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 Georgetown, KY
This is one driving day of about 210.5 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Georgetown, 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 Cumberland Parkway for about 56.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 95.8 and 187.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
95.8 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward KY 80: Somerset, London
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KY 80: Somerset, London
5
95.9 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
96 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|KY 80 / Hal Rogers Parkway
Turn left onto KY 80 / Hal Rogers Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
130.9 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Bowling Green
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Bowling Green
5
187.7 mi into trip|~3h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 68: Edmonton, Greensburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 68: Edmonton, Greensburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.98 one way
$65.97 round trip
$3.98/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.55
$37.67
$75.35
premium
$4.98
$41.28
$82.56
diesel
$6.12
$50.72
$101.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.2
0
$22.10
$10.10
Efficient EV
52.6
0
$18.42
$8.42
EV Truck/SUV
84.2
1
$29.47
$13.47
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Georgetown, KY
Morning
in Georgetown on Saturday
Local time
9:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Patchy Fog then Chance Rain Showers
W 6 to 13 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tompkinsville, KY
Morning
in Tompkinsville on Saturday
Local time
8:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Isolated Rain Showers
NW 7 to 13 mph23% chanceLive forecast
46°F
Williamsburg, KY
105 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
9 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
4h 19m 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.
Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
The US won a significant victory early in the Civil War at the Battle of Mill Springs. Explore the rolling fields of Kentucky where the battle took place and learn about that state's strategic importa...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 137.9
Cumberland Gap was the first great gateway to the west. Come follow the path of bison, Native Americans, longhunters, and pioneers. Walk where 300,000 people crossed the Appalachians to settle America...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 43.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 93% of this route on highways, you'll experience a predominantly high-speed drive. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 56.1 miles on the Cumberland Parkway. Expect to transition from the parkways to US 25E, which will likely involve more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you approach your destination. The bulk of your travel time will be spent cruising on these main arteries.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.1 mi on Cumberland Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Cumberland Parkway and Hal Rogers Parkway. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 95.8 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 210.5 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 95.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 96 miles (KY 80 / Hal Rogers Parkway): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,609 ft818 ft
Total Climb
419 ft
Total Descent
1,108 ft
Highest Point
1,609 ft
Elevation Range
791 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Georgetown, KY and Tompkinsville, KY, road signs point toward London, Bowling Green and Greensburg.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 210.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.1 miles on Cumberland Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Tompkinsville, 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 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 95.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 96 miles (KY 80 / Hal Rogers Parkway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Tompkinsville, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
