Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Nov 14, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
44.3 mi
71 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Louisville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabethtown, KY
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a quick excursion from Louisville to Elizabethtown, you are looking at a straightforward 44.8-mile trip that typically takes about 47 minutes. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of Kentucky, the transition is seamless and well-suited for a simple day trip. You won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay for this short distance. With a fuel cost of approximately $7, it is an economical choice for a weekend outing or a quick change of scenery. Because this route involves zero scheduled stops, you have the flexibility to manage your own pace entirely.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 41.1 mi | 46m |
| North Mulberry Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| West Liberty Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Jefferson Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,494 veh/hr typical · worst 4,044
Quietest
2 AM
~411 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 93 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Louisville, KY and Elizabethtown, KY.
Start on West Jefferson Street
Turn left onto South 6th Street
Turn left onto West Liberty Street
Turn right onto South 1st Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto US 62; KY 61
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.1 miles from Louisville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 42.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto West Liberty Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto South 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 65 South: Nashville
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 62, KY 61: Elizabethtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 62: Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.39 one way
$12.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $7.43 | $14.86 |
| premium | $4.69 | $8.19 | $16.37 |
| diesel | $5.98 | $10.42 | $20.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.13 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.88 | $1.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Louisville on Saturday
Local time
2:51 AM
EST
Current temp
63°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Elizabethtown on Saturday
Local time
2:51 AM
EST
Current temp
62°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul, as this route maintains a zero percent highway share. You will navigate through city infrastructure, beginning on South 6th Street before transitioning through West Liberty Street and South 1st Street. Because the route relies on local roads, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience with frequent turns rather than a monotonous cruise. This profile creates a unique, localized feel that keeps you engaged with the road throughout the entire 47-minute duration.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and North Mulberry Street. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Liberty Street.
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 44.3 miles you will encounter 7 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 (West Liberty Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (South 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
570 ft
Total Descent
306 ft
Highest Point
850 ft
~41.1 mi in
Elevation Range
390 ft
Founded 1778
Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky, is known for the Kentucky Derby horserace and as the "gateway to the south" from southern Indiana. It's a lively mid-sized city with an excellent dining scene, ample opportunities for bourbon tasting, and interesting public art. Louisville is also the namesake of the Official Bat of Major League Baseball — the Louisville Slugger.
Top landmarks
Founded 1797
Elizabethtown is a small town in the Kentucky Derby Region. Abraham Lincoln's parents Thomas and Nancy had their daughter Sarah here in 1807 and then Abraham nearby at Sinking Spring Farm in 1809.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 44.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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