Origin
London, KY
Late night in London on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from London, KY to Owensboro, KY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 7m
Distance
216.3 mi
348 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 55m
★
6 AM
4h 8m
8 AM
4h 34m
10 AM
4h 17m
12 PM
4h 14m
3 PM
4h 18m
5 PM
4h 33m
8 PM
4h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
London, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Owensboro, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
London, KY to Owensboro, KY is 216.3 miles and takes about 4h 7m via Cumberland Parkway, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive, making it a good option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. With a recommended single day, you can expect a fairly direct journey with minimal fuss.
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
108.2 miles from London, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland Parkway | 86.2 mi | 1h 32m |
| I 165 | 62.3 mi | 1h 6m |
| Hal Rogers Parkway | 35 mi | 42m |
| I 65 | 16.5 mi | 17m |
| Veterans Memorial Lane | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Fairview Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East Parrish Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Cumberland Parkway
— 86.2 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between London, KY and Owensboro, KY.
1
Start on East 5th Street
133 ft
·
9 sec
·
East 5th Street
2
Turn right onto US 25; KY 80
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
3
Turn left onto KY 80
35 mi
·
42 min
·
Hal Rogers Parkway
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto KY 914
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
KY 914
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward Bowling Green
6
Merge onto Cumberland Parkway
86 mi
·
1 hr 32 min
·
Cumberland Parkway
7
Continue on Cumberland Parkway
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
Cumberland Parkway
Exit 1B
Toward I 65 South: Bowling Green
8
Continue on Cumberland Expressway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Cumberland Expressway
9
Merge onto I 65
17 mi
·
17 min
·
I 65
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward KY 234: Bowling Green
11
Turn right onto KY 234
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Cemetery Road
12
Continue on KY 234
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Fairview Avenue
13
Continue on KY 234
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Avenue
14
Continue on US 68; KY 80
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Veterans Memorial Lane
15
Turn right onto US 231
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Morgantown Road
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
17
Merge onto I 165
62 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 165
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 70A
Toward US 60 East, US 231 North: Hawesville
19
Merge onto US 60; US 231
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Wendell Ford Expressway
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 18
Toward KY 54
21
Turn left onto KY 54
260 ft
·
6 sec
·
Leitchfield Road
22
Continue on KY 54
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Parrish Avenue
23
Turn right onto Leitchfield Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Leitchfield Road
24
Turn left onto East 5th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Street
25
Turn right onto Frederica Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Frederica Street
26
Arrive at destination
Frederica Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, leaving in the morning from London, KY, allows ample time to reach Owensboro, KY, well before evening. With only one recommended stop, you can plan for a quick break or refuel as needed, but the longest stretch of 86.2 miles means you won't need to stop too frequently. The $34 fuel cost is a good estimate, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing, especially as highway segments can sometimes have fewer services. This is a drive best suited for a single, efficient travel day.
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 108.2 miles from London, KY, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.2 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 48 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.2 miles or 2h 2m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Owensboro, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving London, 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 London, KY
This is one driving day of about 216.3 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from London, 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 86.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 108.2 miles from London, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Cumberland Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.2 miles.
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 185 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 213 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 25; KY 80 / North Main Street
Turn right onto US 25; KY 80 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
KY 80 / Hal Rogers Parkway
Turn left onto KY 80 / Hal Rogers Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
36.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Bowling Green
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Bowling Green
7
211.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 60 East, US 231 North: Hawesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 70A
Toward US 60 East, US 231 North: Hawesville
5
213 mi into trip
|
~4h in
Take the exit toward KY 54
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 18
Toward KY 54
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.82 one way
$67.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $37.13 | $74.26 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.62 | $83.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.76 | $95.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.9 | 0 | $22.71 | $10.38 |
| Efficient EV | 54.1 | 0 | $18.93 | $8.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.5 | 1 | $30.28 | $13.84 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Owensboro, KY
Late night in Owensboro on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Glasgow, KY
108 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
1 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 7m 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.
Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
The US won a significant victory early in the Civil War at the Battle of Mill Springs. Explore the rolling fields of Kentucky where the battle took place and learn about that state's strategic importa...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 45.5
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 129
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 93% of it utilizing major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on the Cumberland Parkway and I-165, experiencing a fairly continuous stretch of 86.2 miles on the Cumberland Parkway. Expect a smooth, consistent pace for the majority of your journey, allowing for steady progress towards Owensboro. The character is largely that of a functional, highway-focused transit.
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: 86.2 mi on Cumberland Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Cumberland Parkway and I 165. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 25; KY 80 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 216.3 miles you will encounter 18 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: near the start (US 25; KY 80 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (KY 80 / Hal Rogers Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 36.9 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.
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 London, KY to Owensboro, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Bowling Green along the way.
Bowling Green
36.9 mi in
|
~45m
About the Cities
Starting in London, KY
Full guide →London is a small city in Kentucky's Daniel Boone Country.
Arriving in Owensboro, KY
Full guide →Owensboro is a town on the banks of the Ohio River in Kentucky's Western Coal Fields. It bills itself as the Barbecue Capital of the World and has had some interesting figures call it home over the years, such as Beulah Annan, whose story inspired the play and movie Chicago; Florence Henderson, aka Carol Brady of The Brady Bunch; NASCAR great Darrell Waltrip (as well as his brother Michael, also a longtime NASCAR driver); and Johnny Depp. On a darker note, it was also the site of the last public hanging in the United States, the subject being an African American, in 1936.
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 7m. Total distance: 216.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m 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 86.2 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 Owensboro, 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: near the start (US 25; KY 80 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (KY 80 / Hal Rogers Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 36.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument and Mammoth Cave National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Owensboro, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Owensboro, KY
More trips to Owensboro, KY
Explore more options from London, KY or browse trips ending in Owensboro, KY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KY road trips.