Hopkinsville, KY to Grayson, KY is 305.7 miles and takes about 5h 38m via Western Kentucky Parkway and I-64, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, crossing from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. With 94% highway driving, expect a straightforward trip focused on covering ground efficiently. This route is best suited for travelers prioritizing speed and ease of navigation over frequent stops or scenic detours.
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
152.8 miles from Hopkinsville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Western Kentucky Parkway
98.2 mi
1h 45m
I 64
92.2 mi
1h 39m
Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi
1h 15m
I 169
24.4 mi
26m
New Circle Road
5.7 mi
8m
Versailles Road
4.6 mi
6m
Lexington Road
1.7 mi
2m
I 65
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Western Kentucky Parkway
— 98.2 mi, about 1h 45m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~645 veh/hr typical
· worst 968
Quietest
2 AM
~56 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Hopkinsville, KY and Grayson, 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
0.5 mi·44 sec·McLean Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
5
Merge onto I 169
24 mi·26 min·I 169
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 34AToward Elizabethtown
7
Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway
98 mi·1 hr 45 min·Western Kentucky Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 137BToward I 65 North: Lexington, LouisvilleUse the right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
10
Merge onto I 65
1.4 mi·1 min·I 65
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 93Toward Lexington, BardstownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
71 mi·1 hr 15 min·Bluegrass Parkway
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 60 West: Frankfort
14
Turn right onto US 60
1.7 mi·2 min·Lexington Road
15
Continue on US 60
4.6 mi·6 min·Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road
17
Merge onto KY 4
5.7 mi·8 min·New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto US 27; US 68
1.0 mi·1 min·North Broadway
19
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 South, I 64 East: Knoxville, Ashland
20
Merge onto I 64; I 75
1.6 mi·1 min·I 64; I 75
21
Take the exit onto I 64
17 mi·18 min·I 64
Exit 111Toward I 64 East: Winchester, AshlandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 64
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 172Toward KY 1, KY 7: Grayson, Maysville
24
Turn right onto KY 1; KY 7
0.8 mi·1 min·Carol Malone Boulevard
25
Turn right onto US 60
0.2 mi·14 sec·East Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Arrive at destination
US 60
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 38m estimated drive time, leaving Hopkinsville in the morning should allow you to reach Grayson with plenty of daylight. You'll have one recommended stop, likely for fuel or a quick break, but with most of the drive on the highway, you can be flexible. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you get closer to Grayson, and plan your fill-up accordingly. The biggest stretch on the Western Kentucky Parkway is nearly 100 miles, so ensure you're fueled up before you begin that segment.
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 152.8 miles from Hopkinsville, KY, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.2 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 67 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.8 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grayson, 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 305.7 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 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 Western Kentucky Parkway for about 98.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
$1 to $10
Mt Sterling, Kentucky
Hours: 8 am–9 pm
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
WK Truck Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Beaver Dam Rest Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.1 mi from route
Rest Area I 64 (West Bound)
1.8 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 124.5 and 213.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
124.5 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 137B
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
6
124.8 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
8
126.8 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward Lexington, Bardstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 93
Toward Lexington, Bardstown
6
211.8 mi into trip|~3h 55m in
Turn left toward I 75 South, I 64 East: Knoxville, Ashland
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 South, I 64 East: Knoxville, Ashlan...
8
213.9 mi into trip|~3h 58m in|I 64
Take the exit onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 111
Toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.83 one way
$101.65 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$55.36
$110.73
premium
$5.18
$62.38
$124.76
diesel
$5.35
$64.39
$128.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.7
1
$32.10
$14.67
Efficient EV
76.4
0
$26.75
$12.23
EV Truck/SUV
122.3
1
$42.80
$19.56
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 2, 2026
Origin
Hopkinsville, KY
Afternoon
in Hopkinsville on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
ENE 6 to 13 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 12:00PM CDT until June 2 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Grayson, KY
Afternoon
in Grayson on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
NE 3 to 8 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 12:00PM CDT until June 2 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
3 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
5h 38m 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.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
For over a century people from around the world have come to rural Central Kentucky to honor the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 137
The US Army established Camp Nelson as a fortified supply depot in April 1863. Over the next 3 years, the site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for United States Colored Troops a...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 200.3
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...
21 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 94.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 94% of the 305.7-mile route on major roads like the Western Kentucky Parkway and I-64. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in direction or road type is 98.2 miles on the Western Kentucky Parkway. You'll notice the dense network of exits and entrances typical of interstate driving for most of the trip before transitioning to surface roads closer to Grayson.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.2 mi on Western Kentucky Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Western Kentucky Parkway and I 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 124.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 20 significant decision points across 305.7 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 124.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,026 ft417 ft
Total Climb
1,142 ft
Total Descent
1,044 ft
Highest Point
1,026 ft
~218.4 mi in
Elevation Range
609 ft
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 Grayson, KY, road signs point toward Elizabethtown, Louisville, Lexington, Bardstown and Ashland.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 38m. Total distance: 305.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 38m 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 98.2 miles on Western Kentucky Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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 Grayson, 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 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 124.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Camp Nelson National Monument and Mammoth Cave National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Grayson, KY before the return drive.
