Origin
Owensboro, KY
Night in Owensboro on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Owensboro, KY to Central City, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
44m
Distance
35.3 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Owensboro, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Central City, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick, straightforward connection between Owensboro and Central City, this 35.3-mile journey is an ideal choice. Expect to spend about 44 minutes behind the wheel, making it a perfect candidate for a stress-free day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via US 431, Frederica Street, and KY 1031 to complete the trek. With a fuel budget of just $5, this is a highly economical route that keeps your travel costs minimal. Since both towns reside within the Southeast region of Kentucky, you will find consistent terrain throughout the drive. This path is best suited for travelers who prioritize efficiency over a long, winding adventure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 431 | 24 mi | 27m |
| Frederica Street | 8.5 mi | 13m |
| KY 1031 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| East Broad Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 431
— 24 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Owensboro, KY and Central City, KY.
1
Start on Frederica Street
8.5 mi
·
13 min
·
Frederica Street
2
Continue on US 431
24 mi
·
27 min
·
US 431
3
Turn left onto KY 1031
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
KY 1031
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto East Broad Street
75 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Broad Street
5
Arrive at destination
East Broad Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
2 of 22 decision points cluster between mile 32.5 and 35.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
32.5 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
KY 1031
Turn left onto KY 1031
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
35.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
East Broad Street
Turn left onto East Broad Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.52 one way
$11.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.06 | $12.12 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.79 | $13.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.79 | $15.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.09 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Central City, KY
Night in Central City on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
44m 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?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 76% of your time spent on main thoroughfares. You should prepare for a consistent pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 24 miles while traveling on US 431. The road transitions smoothly from the local streets of Owensboro onto the more open, high-speed sections of the highway. Because the route is relatively short, you will not encounter the fatigue associated with long-haul interstate driving. Expect a predictable experience that allows you to maintain a steady speed as you move between these two Kentucky hubs.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
5 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24 mi on US 431.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 431 and Frederica Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 32.5 miles in near KY 1031.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Owensboro, KY to Central City, KY is easy. At 44m with 76% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 32.5 miles (KY 1031): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles (East Broad Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 35.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24 miles on US 431. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 32.5 miles (KY 1031): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles (East Broad Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Central City, 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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