Origin
Owensboro, KY
Evening in Owensboro on Saturday
Local time
8:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Owensboro, KY to Paintsville, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 29m
Distance
292.7 mi
471 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 16m
★
6 AM
5h 30m
8 AM
5h 56m
10 AM
5h 39m
12 PM
5h 36m
3 PM
5h 40m
5 PM
5h 55m
8 PM
5h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Owensboro, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Paintsville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Owensboro to Paintsville is 292.7 miles and takes about 5h 29m via Mountain Parkway, Bluegrass Parkway, and Western Kentucky Parkway, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Kentucky, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a highway-focused journey that's efficient for getting from point A to point B. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a straightforward trip if you're looking to cover ground without extensive detours.
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
146.4 miles from Owensboro, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 42m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Parkway | 76.7 mi | 1h 22m |
| Bluegrass Parkway | 70.7 mi | 1h 15m |
| Western Kentucky Parkway | 60.1 mi | 1h 4m |
| I 165 | 28.8 mi | 30m |
| I 64 | 18.2 mi | 20m |
| New Paintsville Road | 12.1 mi | 13m |
| New Circle Road | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| Versailles Road | 4.6 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Mountain Parkway
— 76.7 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Owensboro, KY and Paintsville, 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
29 mi
·
30 min
·
I 165
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 41A
Toward Elizabethtown
10
Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway
60 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 137B
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Use the right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
13
Merge onto I 65
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 65
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 93
Toward Lexington, Bardstown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
71 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
Bluegrass Parkway
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward US 60 West: Frankfort
17
Turn right onto US 60
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Road
18
Continue on US 60
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road
20
Merge onto KY 4
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto US 27; US 68
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broadway
22
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 75 South, I 64 East: Knoxville, Ashland
23
Merge onto I 64; I 75
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 64; I 75
24
Take the exit onto I 64
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 64
Exit 111
Toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto Mountain Parkway
77 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
Mountain Parkway
Toward Mountain Parkway east , Prestonsburg, Campton
26
Turn left onto US 460
0.9 mi
·
58 sec
·
Rock House Road
27
Continue on US 460
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
Wheeler Branch Road
28
Continue on US 460
12 mi
·
13 min
·
New Paintsville Road
29
Continue on KY 40
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
KY 40
30
Keep slight left at fork onto KY 40
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
3rd Street
31
Turn right onto Court Street
495 ft
·
21 sec
·
Court Street
32
Arrive at destination
Court Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 29m estimated drive time, starting in the morning will comfortably allow you to reach Paintsville within daylight hours. While this is a one-day trip, consider breaking up the 292.7 miles if you prefer a more relaxed pace, though only one stop is typically needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $46, and plan your fill-up accordingly, especially before heading into longer stretches like the 76.7 miles on the Mountain Parkway. Flexibility is on your side with this direct route.
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 146.4 miles from Owensboro, KY, or about 2h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.7 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 64 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.4 miles or 2h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paintsville, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Owensboro, 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 Owensboro, KY
This is one driving day of about 292.7 miles and 5h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Owensboro, 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 Mountain Parkway for about 76.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
146 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 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 146.4 miles from Owensboro, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Mountain Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.7 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 235 decision points cluster between mile 94.1 and 183.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
94.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 137B
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
6
94.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
8
96.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward Lexington, Bardstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 93
Toward Lexington, Bardstown
6
181.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 25m in
Turn left toward I 75 South, I 64 East: Knoxville, Ashland
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 South, I 64 East: Knoxville, Ashlan...
8
183.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 28m in
|
I 64
Take the exit onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 111
Toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.76 one way
$91.52 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
102 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $50.24 | $100.49 |
| premium | $4.89 | $56.33 | $112.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.62 | $129.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.8 | 1 | $30.73 | $14.05 |
| Efficient EV | 73.2 | 0 | $25.61 | $11.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 117.1 | 1 | $40.98 | $18.73 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Paintsville, KY
Night in Paintsville on Saturday
Local time
9:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
21 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
5h 29m 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.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
For over a century people from around the world have come to rural Central Kentucky to honor the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 100.9
View on nps.gov
Camp Nelson National Monument
National Monument
The US Army established Camp Nelson as a fortified supply depot in April 1863. Over the next 3 years, the site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for United States Colored Troops a...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 171.6
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 70.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is largely a highway-focused drive, with 88% of the route utilizing major parkways. You'll experience extended stretches of efficient travel, including a longest continuous segment of 76.7 miles on the Mountain Parkway. The character of the road is predominantly that of a well-maintained parkway system, designed for steady progress rather than winding scenic exploration. Expect consistent speeds and limited local road interaction for the majority of your journey.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.7 mi on Mountain Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Mountain Parkway and Bluegrass Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 94.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 292.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 94.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Owensboro, KY and Paintsville, KY, road signs point toward Elizabethtown, Louisville, Lexington, Bardstown, Ashland and Mountain Parkway East - among others.
Elizabethtown
33.7 mi in
|
~39m
Louisville
94.1 mi in
|
~1h 45m
Lexington
96.4 mi in
|
~1h 48m
Bardstown
96.4 mi in
|
~1h 48m
Ashland
181.4 mi in
|
~3h 25m
Mountain Parkway East
200.1 mi in
|
~3h 47m
|
via Mountain Parkway
Prestonsburg
200.1 mi in
|
~3h 47m
|
via Mountain Parkway
Campton
200.1 mi in
|
~3h 47m
|
via Mountain Parkway
About the Cities
Arriving in Paintsville, KY
Full guide →Paintsville is a city in the Kentucky Appalachians. It's one of those eastern Kentucky towns that is feeling the effects of the downturn in the coal industry.
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 5h 29m. Total distance: 292.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.7 miles on Mountain 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 Paintsville, 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: at 94.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Camp Nelson National Monument and Mammoth Cave National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Paintsville, KY before the return drive.
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.
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