This 150.3-mile journey from Hendron, KY to Bowling Green, KY is a straightforward day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $23, it's an economical option for exploring within the Southeast region of Kentucky. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Felix Avenue, Old Mayfield Road, and Elmdale Road, offering a more connected feel to the landscape rather than a high-speed interstate experience. Given its manageable length and the absence of a significant highway share, this drive is best suited for a single day of travel, allowing for a relaxed pace and flexibility.
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
69.8 miles from Hendron, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
58 mi
1h 2m
Russellville Road
38.7 mi
46m
Bowling Green Road
12.4 mi
14m
Cadiz Road
9.2 mi
11m
Jefferson Davis Highway
5.2 mi
5m
Hopkinsville Road
3.8 mi
4m
East Jefferson Davis Highway
3.2 mi
3m
West 7th Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 58 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hendron, KY and Bowling Green, KY.
1
Start on At Massa Drive
305 ft·14 sec·At Massa Drive
2
Turn right onto Felix Avenue
0.1 mi·30 sec·Felix Avenue
3
Turn left onto KY 994
0.5 mi·57 sec·Old Mayfield Road
4
Turn left onto Elmdale Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Elmdale Road
5
Turn right
0.4 mi·1 min
6
Turn left onto US 45
0.3 mi·45 sec·Lone Oak Road
7
Turn left
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward Nashville
8
Merge onto I 24
58 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 24
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 65Toward US 68, KY 80: Cadiz, Hopkinsville
10
Turn left onto US 68; KY 80
3.8 mi·4 min·Hopkinsville Road
11
Continue on US 68; KY 80
9.2 mi·11 min·Cadiz Road
12
Continue on US 68; KY 80
1.3 mi·2 min·West 7th Street
13
Turn straight onto US 68; KY 80; KY 109
0.9 mi·1 min·West 9th Street
14
Turn left onto US 68; KY 80
1.3 mi·1 min·McLean Avenue
15
Continue on US 68; KY 80
8.9 mi·10 min·Russellville Road
16
Continue on US 68; KY 80
5.2 mi·5 min·Jefferson Davis Highway
17
Continue on US 68; KY 80
19 mi·22 min·Russellville Road
18
Continue on US 68 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·West 4th Street
19
At end of road, turn right onto US 68 Business; KY 3519
231 ft·7 sec·West 4th Street
20
Turn left onto US 68 Business; KY 3519
72 ft·1 sec·South Main Street
21
Turn right onto US 68 Business
0.6 mi·55 sec·East 4th Street
22
Turn right onto US 68 Business
373 ft·6 sec·Franklin Street
23
Continue on US 68 Business
0.2 mi·19 sec·Franklin Road
24
Continue on US 68 Business
0.1 mi·12 sec·Franklin Street
25
Continue on US 68 Business
0.6 mi·51 sec·Bowling Green Road
26
Continue on US 68; KY 80
3.2 mi·3 min·East Jefferson Davis Highway
27
Continue on US 68; KY 80
12 mi·13 min·Bowling Green Road
28
Continue on US 68; KY 80
11 mi·13 min·Russellville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Turn left onto US 68 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·University Boulevard
30
Continue on US 68 Business
0.5 mi·48 sec·Kentucky Street
31
Turn right onto East 12th Avenue
469 ft·18 sec·East 12th Avenue
32
Turn left onto Center Street
217 ft·8 sec·Center Street
33
Turn right onto East 12th Avenue
0.2 mi·33 sec·East 12th Avenue
34
At end of road, turn left onto State Street
406 ft·13 sec·State Street
35
Turn uturn
183 ft·15 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
This 150.3-mile drive is perfectly manageable in a single day, so you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits you. Consider an early departure to maximize daylight and enjoy the local roads at a comfortable pace. While there are no designated stops mentioned, keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you navigate the local roads, with an estimated cost of $23. A practical tip for this turn-heavy route is to ensure your navigation is set up before you depart Hendron, as frequently changing roads like Felix Avenue, Old Mayfield Road, and Elmdale Road require focused attention.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.8 miles from Hendron, KY, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58 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 31 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.8 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bowling Green, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hendron, 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 Hendron, KY
This is one driving day of about 139.6 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Hendron, 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 24 for about 58 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 139.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.4 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left toward Nashville
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward Nashville
6
60.5 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 68, KY 80: Cadiz, Hopkinsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 65
Toward US 68, KY 80: Cadiz, Hopkinsville
5
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|US 68 Business; KY 3519 / West 4th Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 68 Business; KY 3519 / West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
5
139.3 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|Center Street
Turn left onto Center Street
Navigation decision point
8
139.6 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.82 one way
$43.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.96
$47.93
premium
$4.89
$26.86
$53.73
diesel
$5.61
$30.82
$61.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.9
0
$14.66
$6.70
Efficient EV
34.9
0
$12.21
$5.58
EV Truck/SUV
55.8
0
$19.54
$8.93
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Hendron, KY
Night
in Hendron on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bowling Green, KY
Night
in Bowling Green on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
20 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
2h 47m 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.
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...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 139.6
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
30 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 62.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share. You'll be navigating through the heart of Kentucky's local scenery, primarily on roads such as Felix Avenue, Old Mayfield Road, and Elmdale Road. While there isn't a longest uninterrupted stretch to note due to the nature of these local roads, the drive's character is defined by frequent turns and a consistent engagement with the surrounding terrain. This means you'll be actively steering and adjusting your speed more often than on a typical highway, making for a hands-on driving experience.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 47m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 60.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.6 miles (US 68 Business; KY 3519 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point.
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 Hendron, KY to Bowling Green, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Hopkinsville along the way.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 60.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.6 miles (US 68 Business; KY 3519 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Mammoth Cave National Park and Fort Donelson National Battlefield. 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 Bowling Green, KY before heading back.
