Hopkinsville, KY to Mayfield, KY is 83.3 miles and takes about 1h 33m via I 24 and I 69, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, moving between the Southeast region of the state. Expect a mostly highway drive, making it a straightforward option for a quick connection between these two cities. With a duration under two hours and a low fuel cost, it's an easy day trip or a simple leg of a longer journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.7 miles from Hopkinsville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
39.5 mi
42m
I 69
27 mi
28m
Cadiz Road
9.2 mi
11m
Hopkinsville Road
3.6 mi
4m
US 45
1.9 mi
2m
West 7th Street
1.3 mi
2m
West 9th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Bethel Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 39.5 mi, about 42m
Traffic on I-24
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,081 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,771
Quietest
2 AM
~164 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 69 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 Mayfield, KY.
1
Start on Bethel Street
301 ft·20 sec·Bethel Street
2
Turn left onto US 68; KY 80; KY 109
0.3 mi·25 sec·West 9th Street
3
Continue on US 68; KY 80; KY 109
1.3 mi·2 min·West 7th Street
4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 68; KY 80
9.2 mi·11 min·Cadiz Road
5
Continue on US 68; KY 80
3.6 mi·4 min·Hopkinsville Road
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 65Toward US 68, KY 80: Hopkinsville, Cadiz
7
Merge onto I 24
39 mi·42 min·I 24
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
27 mi·28 min·I 69
Exit 25A
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward US 45: Paducah, Mayfield
10
Keep slight left at fork
152 ft·4 sec
11
Merge onto US 45
1.9 mi·2 min·US 45
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto KY 58; KY 80 Business; KY 121 Business
96 ft·2 sec·West Broadway Street
13
Arrive at destination
KY 58; KY 80 Business; KY 121 Business
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 33 minutes, this route offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive well before lunchtime, or leave in the afternoon. Since it's a quick drive, you won't need extensive stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as there are no designated stops mentioned. The fuel cost is estimated at $12, so plan accordingly before you head out. Consider leaving Hopkinsville around mid-morning to avoid any potential rush hour traffic, though this route is generally clear.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.7 miles from Hopkinsville, KY, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.5 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.7 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mayfield, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hopkinsville, KY
This is one driving day of about 83.3 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Hopkinsville, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 24 for about 39.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 81.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 68; KY 80; KY 109 / West 9th Street
Turn left onto US 68; KY 80; KY 109 / West 9th Street
Navigation decision point
8
14.5 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward US 68, KY 80: Hopkinsville, Cadiz
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 65
Toward US 68, KY 80: Hopkinsville, Cadiz
5
54.3 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|I 69
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 25A
5
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 45: Paducah, Mayfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 45: Paducah, Mayfield
6
81.4 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|US 45
Merge onto US 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.91 one way
$25.83 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$14.16
$28.32
premium
$4.93
$16.16
$32.32
diesel
$5.60
$18.36
$36.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25
0
$8.75
$4.00
Efficient EV
20.8
0
$7.29
$3.33
EV Truck/SUV
33.3
0
$11.66
$5.33
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Sep 2, 2026
Origin
Hopkinsville, KY
Afternoon
in Hopkinsville on Saturday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Clear
SSW 2 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued September 1 at 5:56PM EDT by NWS Jackson KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 4:46PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Destination
Mayfield, KY
Afternoon
in Mayfield on Saturday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Clear
S 2 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued September 1 at 5:56PM EDT by NWS Jackson KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 4:46PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
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
1 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 33m 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.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
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...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 14.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 82% of the route on interstates. You'll experience a longest stretch of 39.5 miles on I 24 before transitioning to other roads. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur after this long interstate segment. Expect a consistent cruising speed for most of the trip.
82% 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: 39.5 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and I 69. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 68; KY 80; KY 109 / West 9th Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 68; KY 80; KY 109 / West 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.3 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
536 ft364 ft
Total Climb
335 ft
Total Descent
395 ft
Highest Point
536 ft
Elevation Range
172 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 Hopkinsville, KY to Mayfield, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Cadiz along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 83.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.5 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Mayfield, KY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: at 0.1 miles (US 68; KY 80; KY 109 / West 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.3 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — 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 Mayfield, KY before heading back.
