Origin
Madisonville, KY
Morning in Madisonville on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madisonville, KY to Owensboro, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
52.4 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madisonville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Owensboro, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling between Madisonville and Owensboro is a straightforward, efficient journey covering 52.4 miles across Western Kentucky. You can easily complete this trip in about 1 hour and 5 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting approximately $8 for fuel covers the expenses for the entire one-way trek. Since both cities are located within the same region, you won't experience drastic shifts in landscape, allowing for a predictable and consistent driving experience. This route is ideal if you prefer a direct path without the need for an overnight stay, providing maximum flexibility for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 69 | 23.5 mi | 25m |
| Audubon Parkway | 13.9 mi | 15m |
| KY 416 | 8 mi | 12m |
| West 4th Street | 2.2 mi | 5m |
| South Main Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| State Highway 416 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Island Ford Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Henderson Road | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 23.5 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madisonville, KY and Owensboro, KY.
1
Start on US 41; KY 70
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto KY 281
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Island Ford Road
3
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
4
Merge onto I 69
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 69
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 140
Toward KY 416: Niagara, Robards
6
Turn right onto KY 416
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
KY 416
7
Continue on KY 136; KY 416
30 ft
·
0 sec
·
KY 136; KY 416
8
Keep slight left at fork onto KY 416
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
KY 416
9
Continue on KY 416; KY 1078
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
KY 416; KY 1078
10
Continue on KY 416
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 416
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
12
Merge onto Audubon Parkway
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Audubon Parkway
13
Continue on Audubon Parkway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Audubon Parkway
Exit 24B
Toward US 60 West: Downtown Owensboro
14
Merge onto US 60
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
Wendell Ford Expressway
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
16
Turn straight onto KY 331
0.6 mi
·
48 sec
·
Henderson Road
17
Continue on West 4th Street
2.2 mi
·
5 min
·
West 4th Street
18
Turn left onto Frederica Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Frederica Street
19
Arrive at destination
Frederica Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.2 miles from Madisonville, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 52.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
6
26 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward KY 416: Niagara, Robards
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 140
Toward KY 416: Niagara, Robards
4
29.2 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
KY 416
Keep slight left at fork onto KY 416
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
49.3 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
52.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
Frederica Street
Turn left onto Frederica Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.19 one way
$16.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.99 | $17.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.08 | $20.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.57 | $23.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.50 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.34 | $3.35 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Owensboro, KY
Morning in Owensboro on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Henderson, KY
26 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 5m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused drive as 89% of your journey takes place on high-speed roads. You will rely primarily on I-69, the Audubon Parkway, and KY-416 to bridge the gap between these two cities. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on I-69, which stretches for 23.5 miles and allows for steady, consistent cruising. Because the route is dominated by interstates and parkways, the drive feels purposeful and quick rather than winding or technical. You can count on a smooth transition from the start in Madisonville to your arrival in Owensboro.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.5 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and Audubon Parkway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in.
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 52.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 2.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 26 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.2 miles (KY 416): 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 Madisonville, KY to Owensboro, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Robards along the way.
Robards
26 mi in
|
~29m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 52.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.5 miles on I 69. 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 Owensboro, 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 2.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 26 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.2 miles (KY 416): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Owensboro, KY before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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