Trip from Hopkinsville, KY to Stanton, KY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 42m

Distance

253.2 mi

407 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 29m ★

6 AM

4h 42m

8 AM

5h 9m

10 AM

4h 52m

12 PM

4h 49m

3 PM

4h 53m

5 PM

5h 8m

8 PM

4h 34m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Hopkinsville, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Stanton, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 253.2-mile journey from Hopkinsville, KY, to Stanton, KY, is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can comfortably be completed in about 4 hours and 42 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Western Kentucky Parkway, Bluegrass Parkway, and I-169, this route is almost entirely on highways, making it an excellent candidate for a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $38, it's an economical option for a quick getaway within the Southeast region. You'll find the drive efficient, with only one recommended stop, allowing you to reach your destination without significant 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

126.6 miles from Hopkinsville, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Western Kentucky Parkway	98.2 mi	1h 45m
Bluegrass Parkway	70.7 mi	1h 15m
I 169	24.4 mi	26m
Mountain Parkway	22.1 mi	23m
I 64	18.2 mi	20m
New Circle Road	5.7 mi	8m
Versailles Road	4.6 mi	6m
Lexington Road	1.7 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Western Kentucky Parkway — 98.2 mi, about 1h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hopkinsville, KY and Stanton, KY.

Start on Bethel Street

301 ft · 17 sec · Bethel Street

Turn right onto US 68; KY 80; KY 109

0.6 mi · 1 min · West 9th Street

Turn left onto US 68; KY 80

0.5 mi · 44 sec · McLean Avenue

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Merge onto I 169

24 mi · 26 min · I 169

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Exit 34A Toward Elizabethtown

Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway

98 mi · 1 hr 45 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Exit 137B Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville Use the right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville

Merge onto I 65

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 65

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 93 Toward Lexington, Bardstown Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

71 mi · 1 hr 15 min · Bluegrass Parkway

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 16 sec

Toward US 60 West: Frankfort

Turn right onto US 60

1.7 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road

Continue on US 60

4.6 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road

Use the left lane.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road

Merge onto KY 4

5.7 mi · 8 min · New Circle Road

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto US 27; US 68

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Broadway

Turn left

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 75 South, I 64 East: Knoxville, Ashland

Merge onto I 64; I 75

1.6 mi · 1 min · I 64; I 75

Take the exit onto I 64

17 mi · 18 min · I 64

Exit 111 Toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto Mountain Parkway

22 mi · 23 min · Mountain Parkway

Toward Mountain Parkway east , Prestonsburg, Campton

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 37 sec

Turn sharp left onto KY 213

0.4 mi · 34 sec · North Main Street

Turn right onto KY 11; KY 15

56 ft · 1 sec · East College Avenue

Arrive at destination

KY 11; KY 15

Trip Plan

Given the 4-hour and 42-minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. To maximize your daylight and avoid potential fatigue, aim for an early morning departure from Hopkinsville. While the drive is efficient, remember the longest stretch without a designated stop is nearly 100 miles, so plan your fuel and restroom breaks accordingly. A good midpoint for a quick stop might be near where the Bluegrass Parkway begins, allowing you to refresh before the final leg.

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 126.6 miles from Hopkinsville, KY, or about 2h 18m 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 56 miles or 1h 1m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 126.6 miles or 2h 18m 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 49m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stanton, 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 253.2 miles and 4h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lebanon Junction, KY

127 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

Morehead, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lebanon Junction, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 126.6 miles from Hopkinsville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Western Kentucky Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · around the midpoint

Las Chalupas Mexican Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset · 2h 21m in / 2h 21m to go 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+12709822244

Visit website

Capris Italian Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

0.9 mi

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

1.1 mi

Best coffee break · home stretch

Screamin Beans Coffee Shop, LLC

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Stanton, Kentucky

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+16064816627

Visit website

Las Chalupas Mexican Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+12709822244

Visit website

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+12707693457

El Acapulco

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+12709822133

Visit website

Screamin Beans Coffee Shop, LLC

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Stanton, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+16064816627

Visit website

Bean Cove

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12709822233

Visit website

The Amsden

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10

Versailles, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+18594232969

Visit website

Shortcrust Coffee and Pastry Bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Final third 4 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10

Bloomfield, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+15028275990

Visit website

Woodhouse Coffee Company

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10

Winchester, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+18599793377

Fresh Coffee, Pastries & More

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

Halfway reset 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10

Bardstown, Kentucky

Hours: 7:30 am–3 pm

+15023316345

Visit website

WK Truck Stop

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Beaver Dam Rest Stop

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.3 mi from route

Service Plaza

1.1 mi from route

Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+12707636175

Visit website

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.

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

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

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

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...

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

$42.10 one way

$84.19 round trip

$4.22/gal 25.4 MPG avg 89 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.60	$45.86	$91.71
premium	$5.18	$51.67	$103.33
diesel	$5.35	$53.33	$106.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 88.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	76	0	$26.59	$12.15
Efficient EV	63.3	0	$22.16	$10.13
EV Truck/SUV	101.3	1	$35.45	$16.20

Gas CO2

89 kg

EV CO2

30 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 1, 2026

Origin

Hopkinsville, KY

Afternoon in Hopkinsville on Wednesday

Local time

2:10 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Partly Cloudy

0 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:38AM CDT until June 3 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Destination

Stanton, KY

Afternoon in Stanton on Wednesday

Local time

3:10 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Chance Rain Showers

ENE 1 mph 8% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:38AM CDT until June 3 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

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

4h 42m 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...

10 mi from route ~26 min detour Free near mile 131

View on nps.gov

Camp Nelson National Monument

National Monument

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 ~42 min detour Free near mile 200.8

View on nps.gov

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...

20 mi from route ~50 min detour Free near mile 96

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a largely highway-focused experience on this trip, with 93% of the drive taking place on major roadways. The personality of this route is defined by its efficiency, featuring a longest uninterrupted stretch of 98.2 miles on the Western Kentucky Parkway. This means you'll encounter consistent speeds and minimal traffic interruptions for significant portions of your drive. The transition between the Western Kentucky Parkway, Bluegrass Parkway, and I-169 is seamless, maintaining a high-speed character throughout.

93% 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 Bluegrass Parkway. 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 Effort 10/10

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 253.2 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

Mostly flat terrain

1,056 ft 417 ft

Total Climb

975 ft

Total Descent

834 ft

Highest Point

1,056 ft

~235.1 mi in

Elevation Range

639 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 Stanton, KY, road signs point toward Elizabethtown, Louisville, Lexington, Bardstown, Ashland and Mountain Parkway East - among others.

Elizabethtown

25.8 mi in | ~28m

Louisville

124.5 mi in | ~2h 15m

Lexington

126.8 mi in | ~2h 18m

Bardstown

126.8 mi in | ~2h 18m

Ashland

211.8 mi in | ~3h 55m

Mountain Parkway East

230.5 mi in | ~4h 17m | via Mountain Parkway

Prestonsburg

230.5 mi in | ~4h 17m | via Mountain Parkway

Campton

230.5 mi in | ~4h 17m | via Mountain Parkway

About the Cities

Starting in Hopkinsville, KY

Full guide →

Founded 1796

Hopkinsville , often nicknamed "Hoptown" by locals, is a town located in Kentucky's Western Waterlands.

Arriving in Stanton, KY

Full guide →

Founded 1854

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 4h 42m. Total distance: 253.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). 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 5 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 Stanton, 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 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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.

Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Stanton, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Hopkinsville, KY to Stanton, KY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Las Chalupas Mexican Restaurant

Screamin Beans Coffee Shop, LLC

Las Chalupas Mexican Restaurant

Capris Italian Restaurant

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Back Home Restaurant

Culver’s

Slim Chickens

Green Bamboo Chinese Restaurant

El Acapulco

Screamin Beans Coffee Shop, LLC

Bean Cove

The Amsden

Shortcrust Coffee and Pastry Bar

Woodhouse Coffee Company

Fresh Coffee, Pastries & More

WK Truck Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Beaver Dam Rest Stop

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Hopkinsville, KY

Stanton, KY

1 hour later

4 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 42m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

Camp Nelson National Monument

Mammoth Cave National Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Hopkinsville, KY

Arriving in Stanton, KY

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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