Henderson, KY to Somerset, KY is 209.6 miles and takes about 3h 57m via Cumberland Parkway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays entirely within Kentucky, moving you from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. With 94% of the drive on highways, expect a straightforward trip focused on covering ground efficiently. Given the relatively short duration, this is a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed departure and arrival.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
104.8 miles from Henderson, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Cumberland Parkway
85.6 mi
1h 31m
I 165
62.4 mi
1h 6m
Audubon Parkway
23.2 mi
24m
I 65
14.5 mi
15m
Wendell Ford Expressway
6.2 mi
7m
Louisville Road
2.8 mi
4m
KY 80
2.6 mi
4m
Morgantown Road
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Cumberland Parkway
— 85.6 mi, about 1h 31m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,100 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,634
Quietest
2 AM
~357 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 26 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 Henderson, KY and Somerset, KY.
1
Start on this road
98 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
213 ft·9 sec·Washington Street
3
Turn right onto US 60; US 41 Alt
0.3 mi·39 sec·South Green Street
4
Turn right onto KY 351
1.2 mi·1 min·2nd Street
5
Keep slight left at fork onto KY 351
0.1 mi·9 sec·2nd Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
7
Merge onto I 69; US 41
0.8 mi·52 sec·I 69; US 41
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 12Toward Owensboro
9
Continue on Audubon Parkway
23 mi·24 min·Audubon Parkway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·34 sec
Exit 24AToward US 60 East: Hawesville
11
Merge onto US 60
6.2 mi·7 min·Wendell Ford Expressway
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 17Toward I 165 South: Bowling Green
13
Continue on I 165
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 165
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
15
Turn left onto US 231
1.8 mi·2 min·Morgantown Road
16
Turn left onto Old Morgantown Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Old Morgantown Road
17
Turn left onto US 68 Business
361 ft·8 sec·University Boulevard
18
Continue on US 68 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·Kentucky Street
19
Continue on US 31W; US 68; KY 80
2.8 mi·4 min·Louisville Road
20
Turn right onto KY 446
0.7 mi·1 min·KY 446
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
22
Merge onto I 65
14 mi·15 min·I 65
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Somerset, Glasgow
24
Merge onto Cumberland Parkway
86 mi·1 hr 31 min·Cumberland Parkway
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 86Toward KY 914: Somerset, Burnside
26
Continue on KY 914
0.4 mi·33 sec·KY 914
27
Turn left onto KY 80
2.6 mi·4 min·KY 80
Use the left lane.
28
Turn right onto KY 2300
361 ft·8 sec·Clifty Street
29
At end of road, turn left onto KY 80 Business
0.3 mi·32 sec·Ogden Street
30
Continue on KY 80 Business
0.2 mi·25 sec·Ohio Street
31
Continue on KY 80 Business
352 ft·7 sec·Columbia Street
32
Continue on KY 80 Business
0.2 mi·22 sec·West Mount Vernon Street
33
At end of road, turn right onto KY 80 BUS; KY 1247
92 ft·7 sec·South Main Street
34
Turn left onto KY 80 Business
126 ft·2 sec·KY 80 Business
35
Arrive at destination
KY 80 Business
Trip Plan
Aim to depart Henderson, KY in the morning to make the most of the daylight and arrive in Somerset, KY with plenty of time. With a total drive time under 4 hours, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day without needing an overnight stop. Factor in the estimated $33 fuel cost for your planning. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 85.6-mile stretch on the Cumberland Parkway, as services might be less frequent in that section.
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 104.8 miles from Henderson, KY, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.6 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 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.8 miles or 2h 2m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Somerset, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Henderson, 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 Henderson, KY
This is one driving day of about 209.6 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Henderson, 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 85.6 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 209.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.7 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward Owensboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 12
Toward Owensboro
5
26.5 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward US 60 East: Hawesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 24A
Toward US 60 East: Hawesville
5
33.1 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward I 165 South: Bowling Green
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 17
Toward I 165 South: Bowling Green
6
205.3 mi into trip|~3h 50m in
Take the exit toward KY 914: Somerset, Burnside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 86
Toward KY 914: Somerset, Burnside
6
209.5 mi into trip|~3h 57m in|KY 80 BUS; KY 1247 / South Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto KY 80 BUS; KY 1247 / South Main Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.85 one way
$69.70 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$37.96
$75.92
premium
$5.18
$42.77
$85.54
diesel
$5.35
$44.15
$88.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.9
0
$22.01
$10.06
Efficient EV
52.4
0
$18.34
$8.38
EV Truck/SUV
83.8
1
$29.34
$13.41
Gas CO2
73 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Henderson, KY
Afternoon
in Henderson on Wednesday
Local time
4:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
S 1 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 5:10AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:38AM CDT until June 3 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Somerset, KY
Evening
in Somerset on Wednesday
Local time
5:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
N 0 to 6 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 5:10AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:38AM CDT until June 3 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
17 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
3h 57m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 202.3
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 115.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 94% of the 209.6 miles on major roads like Cumberland Parkway and I 165. You'll experience a long stretch of 85.6 miles on the Cumberland Parkway without needing to exit. The transition to surface roads will occur towards the end of your drive, marking the shift from high-speed cruising to more local travel.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.6 mi on Cumberland Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Cumberland Parkway and I 165. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 24 significant decision points across 209.6 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 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 26.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 33.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,048 ft400 ft
Total Climb
954 ft
Total Descent
385 ft
Highest Point
1,048 ft
~194.6 mi in
Elevation Range
648 ft
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 Henderson, KY to Somerset, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Glasgow along the way.
Henderson is a city in Kentucky's Western Coal Fields. It is the seat of Henderson County and is located across the Ohio River from Evansville, Indiana.
Somerset is a city in Kentucky's Southern Lakes region. It is the main gateway to Lake Cumberland, a large man-made lake that is a major draw for water recreation of all types.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 209.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.6 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 Somerset, 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 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 26.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 33.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument and Mammoth Cave National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Somerset, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
