Traveling from Paducah to Franklin covers 129.1 miles across the Southeast region of Kentucky. You should plan for a drive time of approximately 2 hours and 39 minutes, making this a very manageable single-day trip. With a fuel budget of about $20, it is an economical route for a quick getaway. Because this path relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you will experience a more personal, turn-heavy drive through the local landscape. It is the perfect distance if you want to reach your destination without feeling exhausted by a long day behind the wheel.
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
64.6 miles from Paducah, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
48.5 mi
51m
Russellville Road
36 mi
45m
Franklin Road
10.4 mi
15m
Cadiz Road
9.2 mi
11m
Jefferson Davis Highway
5.2 mi
5m
Hopkinsville Road
3.8 mi
4m
Clarks River Road
1.8 mi
2m
Wayne Sullivan Drive
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 48.5 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paducah, KY and Franklin, KY.
1
Start on Washington Street
0.2 mi·48 sec·Washington Street
2
Turn right onto US 60 Business; I 24 Business
1.5 mi·2 min·South 4th Street
3
Continue on US 60 Business; I 24 Business
1.7 mi·2 min·Wayne Sullivan Drive
4
Turn left onto US 60; US 62
1.8 mi·2 min·Clarks River Road
5
Turn straight onto US 60; US 62
1.0 mi·1 min·Reidland Road
6
Turn straight onto US 62
1.7 mi·1 min·Kentucky Dam Road
7
Turn right onto US 68
1.1 mi·1 min·US 68
8
Turn left
0.4 mi·50 sec
9
Merge onto I 24
49 mi·51 min·I 24
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 65Toward US 68, KY 80: Cadiz, Hopkinsville
11
Turn left onto US 68; KY 80
3.8 mi·4 min·Hopkinsville Road
12
Continue on US 68; KY 80
9.2 mi·11 min·Cadiz Road
13
Continue on US 68; KY 80
1.3 mi·2 min·West 7th Street
14
Turn straight onto US 68; KY 80; KY 109
0.9 mi·1 min·West 9th Street
15
Turn left onto US 68; KY 80
1.3 mi·1 min·McLean Avenue
16
Continue on US 68; KY 80
8.9 mi·10 min·Russellville Road
17
Continue on US 68; KY 80
5.2 mi·5 min·Jefferson Davis Highway
18
Continue on US 68; KY 80
19 mi·22 min·Russellville Road
19
Continue on US 68 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·West 4th Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 68 Business; KY 3519
231 ft·7 sec·West 4th Street
21
Turn left onto US 68 Business; KY 3519
72 ft·1 sec·South Main Street
22
Turn right onto US 68 Business
0.6 mi·55 sec·East 4th Street
23
Turn right onto US 68 Business
373 ft·6 sec·Franklin Street
24
Continue on US 68 Business
0.2 mi·19 sec·Franklin Road
25
Continue on US 68 Business
0.2 mi·15 sec·Franklin Street
26
Turn right onto KY 100
10 mi·15 min·Franklin Road
27
Continue on KY 100
0.3 mi·26 sec·Middletown Circle
28
Turn straight onto KY 100
8.2 mi·12 min·Russellville Road
29
Continue on KY 100
1.4 mi·2 min·West Cedar Street
30
Turn left onto North Water Street
99 ft·4 sec·North Water Street
31
Arrive at destination
North Water Street
Trip Plan
Since the total duration is under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to leave when it best suits your plans. With only one recommended stop, you can easily pace yourself to stretch your legs without worrying about a rigid itinerary. Keep in mind that because this route avoids highways, you should account for slower speeds and increased turning compared to interstate travel. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to ensure your navigation is set before departing, as the reliance on local roads like Clarks River Road means you will be making more turns than a standard highway trip. Budget your $20 for fuel accordingly and enjoy the direct, local connection between Paducah and Franklin.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.6 miles from Paducah, KY, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.5 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.6 miles or 1h 14m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Franklin, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 129.1 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Paducah, 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 I 24 for about 48.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway reset
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
$1 to $10
Cadiz, Kentucky
Hours: 6 am–5 pm
+12703505763
The Sunflower Treats & Coffee
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Halfway reset
3.6 mi from route
~9 min detour
$1 to $10
Cadiz, Kentucky
Hours: 6:30 am–4:30 pm
+12705401951
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.9 and 108 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
7.9 mi into trip|~11m in|US 68
Turn right onto US 68
Navigation decision point
6
57.9 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward US 68, KY 80: Cadiz, Hopkinsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 65
Toward US 68, KY 80: Cadiz, Hopkinsville
4
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|US 68; KY 80 / Hopkinsville Road
Turn left onto US 68; KY 80 / Hopkinsville Road
Navigation decision point
5
108 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|US 68 Business; KY 3519 / West 4th Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 68 Business; KY 3519 / West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
4
108 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|US 68 Business; KY 3519 / South Main Street
Turn left onto US 68 Business; KY 3519 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.18 one way
$40.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.16
$44.32
premium
$4.89
$24.84
$49.69
diesel
$5.61
$28.50
$57.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.7
0
$13.56
$6.20
Efficient EV
32.3
0
$11.30
$5.16
EV Truck/SUV
51.6
0
$18.07
$8.26
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Paducah, KY
Late night
in Paducah on Tuesday
Local time
4:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, KY
Late night
in Franklin on Tuesday
Local time
4:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
19 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
2h 39m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 57.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a departure from the typical interstate grind, as this 129.1-mile journey features zero highway percentage. Your path is defined by local navigation, utilizing South 4th Street, Wayne Sullivan Drive, and Clarks River Road to connect the two cities. This is a technical, turn-heavy drive that demands your full attention compared to the mindless cruising found on major expressways. The road’s personality is steady and grounded, keeping you close to the local landscape for the entire 2-hour and 39-minute duration. You will find that the route remains consistently focused on local roads, providing a hands-on driving experience from start to finish.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.5 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 7.9 miles in near US 68.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 39m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.9 miles (US 68): Navigation decision point; at 57.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.2 miles (US 68; KY 80 / Hopkinsville Road): Navigation decision point.
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 Paducah, KY to Franklin, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Hopkinsville along the way.
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.
Franklin is a city in Kentucky's Caves and Lakes region. In the mid-2000s, the community of Franklin was honored as one of the "50 Best Small Southern Towns."
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.5 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.9 miles (US 68): Navigation decision point; at 57.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.2 miles (US 68; KY 80 / Hopkinsville Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Fort Donelson National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Franklin, KY before heading back.
