Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 11m
Distance
172.4 mi
277 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paducah, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabethtown, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Paducah to Elizabethtown covers 172.4 miles across Kentucky, making for a straightforward trip that fits comfortably into a single day. You can expect a total drive time of approximately 3 hours and 11 minutes, which is well-suited for those looking to reach their destination without an overnight stay. Budgeting around $26 for fuel should keep you covered for the journey. Since the route stays entirely within the state, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition across the commonwealth. It is a highly efficient path that prioritizes speed and directness over rural exploration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
86.2 miles from Paducah, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky Parkway | 97.9 mi | 1h 45m |
| I 69 | 38.3 mi | 41m |
| I 24 | 24.6 mi | 26m |
| Clarks River Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Wayne Sullivan Drive | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Kentucky Dam Road | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| South 4th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| US 68 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Paducah, KY and Elizabethtown, KY.
Start on Washington Street
Turn right onto US 60 Business; I 24 Business
Continue on US 60 Business; I 24 Business
Turn left onto US 60; US 62
Turn straight onto US 60; US 62
Turn straight onto US 62
Turn right onto US 68
Turn left
Merge onto I 24
Take the exit onto I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto Western Kentucky Parkway
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 31W Bypass
Enter roundabout onto KY 1136
Continue on KY 1136
Turn left onto US 31W; KY 61
Turn right onto US 31W; KY 61
Turn left
Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W; KY 61
Turn right onto US 62; KY 61
Arrive at destination
Because this drive is easily completed in one day, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Plan for at least one stop to break up the 3-hour journey and keep yourself refreshed. Since the vast majority of your travel occurs on high-speed parkways and interstates, monitor your fuel levels before merging onto the Western Kentucky Parkway to ensure you don't run low during that long 97.9-mile stretch. Keep in mind that traffic patterns can vary, so checking local road conditions before you head out is always a smart move. Taking advantage of the single planned stop will help you arrive in Elizabethtown feeling energized rather than drained.
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.
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 38 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.2 miles or 1h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elizabethtown, KY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Paducah, 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 Paducah, KY
This is one driving day of about 172.4 miles and 3h 11m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 86.2 miles from Paducah, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Western Kentucky Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.9 miles.
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 33.9 and 172.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit onto I 69 toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto Western Kentucky Parkway toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 31W Bypass: Elizabethtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto KY 1136 / New Glendale Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W; KY 61 / West Dixie Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$26.95 one way
$53.91 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.59 | $59.19 |
| premium | $4.89 | $33.18 | $66.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.06 | $76.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.7 | 0 | $18.10 | $8.28 |
| Efficient EV | 43.1 | 0 | $15.08 | $6.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69 | 0 | $24.14 | $11.03 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Night in Paducah on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Elizabethtown on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
77°F
Greenville, KY
86 mi in
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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of your time spent on major routes like I-24, I-69, and the Western Kentucky Parkway. You will experience a very consistent pace behind the wheel, as the infrastructure is designed for steady, long-distance travel. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 97.9-mile stretch on the Western Kentucky Parkway, which provides the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip. Expect a predictable experience that favors high-speed transit rather than technical or winding local roads. It is an ideal route if you prefer a predictable, low-stress environment while cruising between cities.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Western Kentucky Parkway and I 69. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 33.9 miles in near I 69.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 11m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 33.9 miles (I 69): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.2 miles (Western Kentucky Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 170.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Paducah, KY to Elizabethtown, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Princeton along the way.
Princeton
Paducah is a small city on the Ohio River about midway between St. Louis, Missouri and Nashville, Tennessee. The county seat of McCracken County and the largest city in the Jackson Purchase area of western Kentucky, Paducah has a booming riverfront restaurant trade and arts scene in part driven by the city's artist relocation program which offers interest-free housing loans and other subsidies for established artists willing to relocate. Paducah is the hometown of humorist Irvin Cobb and former Vice President Alben Barkley (who served under President Harry S. Truman). Fans of contemporary Christian music will know it as the hometown of Steven Curtis Chapman, one of that genre's most iconic artists.
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 3h 11m. Total distance: 172.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
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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