Origin
Paducah, KY
Morning in Paducah on Sunday
Local time
9:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Paducah, KY to Hopkinsville, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
72.8 mi
117 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paducah, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Hopkinsville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Paducah to Hopkinsville is 73 miles and takes about 1 hour 25 minutes via I-24 and Cadiz Road, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Kentucky, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It’s a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's well-suited for a single-day excursion. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the interstate, making it an efficient way to cover the 73 miles between these two cities. Consider this trip if you need a quick and direct connection between Paducah and Hopkinsville without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 48.5 mi | 51m |
| Cadiz Road | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| Hopkinsville Road | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| 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 |
| West 7th Street | 1.3 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 Hopkinsville, 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 65
Toward 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
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
West 9th Street
15
Turn right onto Bethel Street
301 ft
·
13 sec
·
Bethel Street
16
Arrive at destination
Bethel Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.4 miles from Paducah, 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 0.2 and 72.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 60 Business; I 24 Business / South 4th Street
Turn right onto US 60 Business; I 24 Business / South 4th Street
Navigation decision point
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
72.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
Bethel Street
Turn right onto Bethel Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.38 one way
$22.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.50 | $24.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.01 | $28.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.07 | $32.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.64 | $3.49 |
| Efficient EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.37 | $2.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.1 | 0 | $10.19 | $4.66 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (64% 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
Hopkinsville, KY
Morning in Hopkinsville on Sunday
Local time
9:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
8 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
1h 25m 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 predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 68% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-24. You'll experience a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 48.5 miles on I-24, offering a consistent pace. The journey begins with interstate travel, transitioning to roads like Cadiz Road and Hopkinsville Road, which may offer a slightly different driving feel as you approach your destination. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes efficiency over winding scenic byways.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 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?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and Cadiz Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 60 Business; I 24 Business / South 4th Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Paducah, KY to Hopkinsville, KY is easy. At 1h 25m with 68% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 60 Business; I 24 Business / South 4th Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
About the Cities
Starting in Paducah, KY
Full guide →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.
Arriving in Hopkinsville, KY
Full guide →Hopkinsville , often nicknamed "Hoptown" by locals, is a town located in Kentucky's Western Waterlands.
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 1h 25m. Total distance: 72.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Straightforward navigation.
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. 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 0.2 miles (US 60 Business; I 24 Business / South 4th Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
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 Hopkinsville, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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