If you are planning to travel from Hopkinsville to Brodhead, expect a journey covering 206.8 miles across the Southeast region of Kentucky. You should budget approximately 3 hours and 57 minutes of driving time, making this a manageable excursion for a single day. With an estimated fuel cost of $31, the trip is quite economical for solo travelers or small groups. Because this route avoids major interstates entirely, it functions best as a focused day trip rather than a multi-day expedition. You will navigate via local thoroughfares like West 9th Street, McLean Avenue, and Russellville Road to reach your destination. Consider this path if you prefer a direct, purposeful drive through the heart of the state.
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
103.4 miles from Hopkinsville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Cumberland Parkway
85.6 mi
1h 31m
Russellville Road
35.9 mi
42m
Interstate Highway 65
21.7 mi
23m
KY 461
15.2 mi
17m
Bowling Green Road
12.4 mi
14m
KY 80
10.7 mi
14m
Jefferson Davis Highway
5.2 mi
5m
I 165
4.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Cumberland Parkway
— 85.6 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hopkinsville, KY and Brodhead, KY.
1
Start on Bethel Street
301 ft·17 sec·Bethel Street
2
Turn right onto US 68; KY 80; KY 109
0.6 mi·1 min·West 9th Street
3
Turn left onto US 68; KY 80
1.3 mi·1 min·McLean Avenue
4
Continue on US 68; KY 80
8.9 mi·10 min·Russellville Road
5
Continue on US 68; KY 80
5.2 mi·5 min·Jefferson Davis Highway
6
Continue on US 68; KY 80
19 mi·22 min·Russellville Road
7
Continue on US 68 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·West 4th Street
8
At end of road, turn right onto US 68 Business; KY 3519
231 ft·7 sec·West 4th Street
9
Turn left onto US 68 Business; KY 3519
72 ft·1 sec·South Main Street
10
Turn right onto US 68 Business
0.6 mi·55 sec·East 4th Street
11
Turn right onto US 68 Business
373 ft·6 sec·Franklin Street
12
Continue on US 68 Business
0.2 mi·19 sec·Franklin Road
13
Continue on US 68 Business
0.1 mi·12 sec·Franklin Street
14
Continue on US 68 Business
0.6 mi·51 sec·Bowling Green Road
15
Continue on US 68; KY 80
3.2 mi·3 min·East Jefferson Davis Highway
16
Continue on US 68; KY 80
12 mi·13 min·Bowling Green Road
17
Continue on US 68; KY 80
8.0 mi·9 min·Russellville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 165 South
19
Merge onto I 165
4.8 mi·5 min·I 165
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Exit 1AToward I 65 North: Louisville
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·53 sec
Toward I 65 North: Louisville
22
Merge onto I 65
22 mi·23 min·Interstate Highway 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
11 mi·14 min·KY 80
Use the left lane.
28
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
29
Turn straight onto KY 461
15 mi·17 min·KY 461
30
Turn left onto US 150
4.5 mi·5 min·US 150
31
Turn right onto KY 2250
1.0 mi·1 min·South Main Street
32
Turn right onto KY 1505
0.1 mi·21 sec·Boone Way
33
Turn left onto Sycamore Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Sycamore Street
34
Arrive at destination
Sycamore Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 57 minute duration, try to time your departure to avoid local traffic congestion that can accumulate on smaller thoroughfares. You should plan for at least one stop during your trek to stretch your legs and refresh, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can be more taxing than a straight highway shot. Keep your gas gauge in mind, as the $31 fuel estimate assumes a steady pace, and local roads may lead to more frequent acceleration and deceleration. Because this is a shorter drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your schedule based on your personal comfort levels. Prioritize keeping your navigation system updated, as relying on local roads like McLean Avenue requires staying alert for frequent turns.
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 103.4 miles from Hopkinsville, KY, or about 1h 59m 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 45 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.4 miles or 1h 59m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brodhead, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hopkinsville, 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 Hopkinsville, KY
This is one driving day of about 206.8 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Hopkinsville, 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.3 and 173.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
35.3 mi into trip|~42m 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
65 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1A
Toward I 65 North: Louisville
5
65.4 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 North: Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 65 North: Louisville
5
66.1 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|I 65 / Interstate Highway 65
Merge onto I 65 / Interstate Highway 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
173.9 mi into trip|~3h 15m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.33 one way
$64.66 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$35.50
$71.00
premium
$4.89
$39.80
$79.59
diesel
$5.61
$45.66
$91.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62
0
$21.71
$9.93
Efficient EV
51.7
0
$18.10
$8.27
EV Truck/SUV
82.7
1
$28.95
$13.24
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Hopkinsville, KY
Morning
in Hopkinsville on Sunday
Local time
9:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brodhead, KY
Morning
in Brodhead on Sunday
Local time
10:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Glasgow, KY
103 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
3h 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Since this route maintains a 0% highway share, you will stay off high-speed interstates and remain on local roads for the entirety of the 206.8-mile trip. The journey offers a distinct change of pace from standard highway cruising, requiring you to navigate frequent turns and transitions between smaller corridors. Expect a consistent, hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local road network from start to finish. Without long, monotonous stretches of open pavement, the road character remains dynamic and varied throughout the duration of your travel.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 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?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Cumberland Parkway and Russellville Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.3 miles in near US 68 Business; KY 3519 / West 4th Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 206.8 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 35.3 miles (US 68 Business; KY 3519 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 65 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 65.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hopkinsville, KY and Brodhead, KY, road signs point toward Somerset, Glasgow and Burnside.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 206.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Brodhead, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 35.3 miles (US 68 Business; KY 3519 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 65 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 65.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Brodhead, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
