Origin
Hodgenville, KY
Morning in Hodgenville on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hodgenville, KY to Louisville, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
55.1 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hodgenville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Louisville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hodgenville, KY to Louisville, KY is 55.1 miles and takes about 1h 5m via I 65 and Lincoln Parkway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, one-day trip connecting two points within Kentucky's Southeast region. The drive is primarily on highways, making it an efficient option for getting from one city to the other. Expect a quick journey that requires minimal planning, perfect for a short hop or an addition to a longer itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 43.6 mi | 48m |
| Lincoln Parkway | 9 mi | 10m |
| West Main Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| West Muhammad Ali Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South 5th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Brook Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Western Kentucky Parkway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Jefferson Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 43.6 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hodgenville, KY and Louisville, KY.
1
Start on US 31E; KY 84; KY 210
17 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Enter roundabout onto West Main Street
182 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on West Main Street
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
West Main Street
4
Turn right onto KY 61
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Lincoln Parkway
5
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
362 ft
·
4 sec
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137B
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
7
Merge onto I 65
44 mi
·
48 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 136B
Toward Brook Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on South Brook Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
South Brook Street
10
Turn left onto West Muhammad Ali Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Muhammad Ali Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn right onto South 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
South 5th Street
12
Turn left onto West Jefferson Street
221 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Jefferson Street
13
Arrive at destination
West Jefferson Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.5 miles from Hodgenville, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 54.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Main Street
Enter roundabout onto West Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
9.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 137B
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
5
10.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
54.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward Brook Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 136B
Toward Brook Street
5
54.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
West Muhammad Ali Boulevard
Turn left onto West Muhammad Ali Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.61 one way
$17.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.46 | $18.92 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.60 | $21.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.17 | $24.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.79 | $2.64 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22 | 0 | $7.71 | $3.53 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Louisville, KY
Morning in Louisville on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°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
2 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
1h 5m 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 route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey utilizing major roads like I 65 and the Lincoln Parkway. You'll experience a longest stretch of 43.6 miles on I 65, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. The character is predominantly that of a fast-paced interstate, designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely sightseeing. As you approach Louisville, the highway environment will continue, maintaining a predictable driving experience.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.6 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Lincoln Parkway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Main Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 5m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Louisville, KY
Full guide →Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky, is known for the Kentucky Derby horserace and as the "gateway to the south" from southern Indiana. It's a lively mid-sized city with an excellent dining scene, ample opportunities for bourbon tasting, and interesting public art. Louisville is also the namesake of the Official Bat of Major League Baseball — the Louisville Slugger.
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 1h 5m. Total distance: 55.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.6 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (West Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Louisville, 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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