Origin
Owensboro, KY
Night in Owensboro on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Owensboro, KY to Morgantown, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
47.9 mi
77 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Owensboro, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Morgantown, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Owensboro to Morgantown is 47.9 miles and takes about 58 minutes via I 165, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip keeps you within Kentucky's Southeast region for its entirety. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it an easy option for a quick journey between these two cities. It's a practical route for a quick hop without much fuss, ideal if you're looking for a simple connection between destinations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 165 | 35.8 mi | 38m |
| Beaver Dam Road | 6.9 mi | 10m |
| New Hartford Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Frederica Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| West 18th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Wendell Ford Expressway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Triplett Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 165
— 35.8 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Owensboro, KY and Morgantown, KY.
1
Start on Frederica Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Frederica Street
2
Turn left onto West 18th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 18th Street
3
Turn right onto KY 2155
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Triplett Street
4
Turn straight onto KY 2155
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
New Hartford Road
5
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
6
Merge onto US 60; US 231
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
Wendell Ford Expressway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 17
Toward I 165 South: Bowling Green
8
Continue on I 165
36 mi
·
38 min
·
I 165
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 33
Toward US 231: Morgantown, Cromwell
10
Turn left onto US 231
6.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Beaver Dam Road
11
Turn left onto North Main Street
105 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Main Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24 miles from Owensboro, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 40.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West 18th Street
Turn left onto West 18th Street
Navigation decision point
3
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
KY 2155 / Triplett Street
Turn right onto KY 2155 / Triplett Street
Navigation decision point
3
3.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward I 165 South: Bowling Green
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 17
Toward I 165 South: Bowling Green
6
40.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward US 231: Morgantown, Cromwell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 33
Toward US 231: Morgantown, Cromwell
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.49 one way
$14.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.22 | $16.44 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.22 | $18.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.58 | $21.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.03 | $2.30 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.19 | $1.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.71 | $3.07 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Morgantown, KY
Night in Morgantown on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Beaver Dam, KY
24 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
23 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
58m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 76% of the journey utilizing faster roads. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 35.8 miles on I 165, offering a consistent pace. The route transitions from New Hartford Road and Beaver Dam Road onto I 165, providing a clear shift in driving character. Expect a smooth ride for the majority of your travel, with minimal distractions on the main highway.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.8 mi on I 165.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 165 and Beaver Dam Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near West 18th Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Owensboro, KY to Morgantown, KY is easy. At 58m with 76% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (West 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (KY 2155 / Triplett Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point.
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 Owensboro, KY to Morgantown, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Cromwell along the way.
Cromwell
40.7 mi in
|
~47m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 47.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m 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 35.8 miles on I 165. 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 1.1 miles (West 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (KY 2155 / Triplett Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Morgantown, 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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