This 184.1-mile journey from Paducah to Radcliff, Kentucky, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $28, this drive offers a straightforward passage through the Southeast region. It's a local, turn-heavy experience rather than an interstate cruise. This route is best suited for those who prefer a more connected-to-the-landscape drive, allowing for flexibility and a closer look at the communities you pass through. Given its manageable duration, it's an ideal day trip without the need for an overnight stay.
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
91.6 miles from Paducah, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Western Kentucky Parkway
95.8 mi
1h 42m
I 69
38.3 mi
41m
I 24
24.6 mi
26m
Patriot Parkway
6.3 mi
9m
Ring Road
3.3 mi
4m
South Logsdon Parkway
2 mi
4m
South Ring Road
1.8 mi
2m
Clarks River Road
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Western Kentucky Parkway
— 95.8 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paducah, KY and Radcliff, 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
25 mi·26 min·I 24
10
Take the exit onto I 69
38 mi·41 min·I 69
Exit 42Toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton
11
Keep slight right at fork onto Western Kentucky Parkway
0.3 mi·22 sec·Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit 106A-BToward I 169 South: HopkinsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
95 mi·1 hr 42 min·Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit 106BToward Elizabethtown
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward KY 3005 (Ring Road), Elizabethtown, Fort Knox
14
Turn left onto KY 3005
1.8 mi·2 min·South Ring Road
15
Continue on KY 3005
3.3 mi·4 min·Ring Road
16
Turn left onto KY 361
6.3 mi·9 min·Patriot Parkway
17
Turn left onto KY 313; KY 361
1.1 mi·1 min·Joe Prather Highway
18
Turn right onto KY 1646
2.0 mi·4 min·South Logsdon Parkway
19
Continue on KY 1646
504 ft·10 sec·North Logsdon Parkway
20
Turn right onto Elm Road
0.4 mi·54 sec·Elm Road
21
Arrive at destination
Elm Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 2-hour and 55-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Paducah to avoid any potential local traffic. Since this is a turn-heavy route with no significant highway stretches, plan for your single stop to be a chance to stretch your legs and refuel, perhaps around the halfway point. The estimated fuel cost of $28 is manageable, but it's always wise to have a bit extra. Keep an eye on your GPS, as the numerous turns on roads like Clarks River Road will be key to staying on track for Radcliff.
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 91.6 miles from Paducah, KY, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.8 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 40 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.6 miles or 1h 43m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Radcliff, 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 183.3 miles and 3h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 Western Kentucky Parkway for about 95.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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 168.3 — 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
33.9 mi into trip|~40m in|I 69
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
Exit 42
Toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton
8
72.2 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|Western Kentucky Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Western Kentucky Parkway toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 106A-B
Toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville
5
168 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward KY 3005 (Ring Road), Elizabethtown, Fort Knox
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KY 3005 (Ring Road), Elizabethtown, Fort...
4
168.3 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|KY 3005 / South Ring Road
Turn left onto KY 3005 / South Ring Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.66 one way
$57.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.46
$62.93
premium
$4.89
$35.27
$70.55
diesel
$5.61
$40.47
$80.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55
0
$19.25
$8.80
Efficient EV
45.8
0
$16.04
$7.33
EV Truck/SUV
73.3
0
$25.66
$11.73
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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 15, 2026
Origin
Paducah, KY
Late night
in Paducah on Sunday
Local time
2:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Radcliff, KY
Late night
in Radcliff on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Greenville, KY
92 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
28 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
3h 28m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 184.1-mile trip, as the highway share is 0%. You won't encounter long, uninterrupted stretches of highway here; instead, the route emphasizes navigating local roads like South 4th Street and Wayne Sullivan Drive. The character of the drive remains consistent, focusing on a more direct, community-level connection throughout the journey from Paducah to Radcliff. This profile means you'll be actively engaged with the driving, making frequent turns and adjustments.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.8 mi on Western Kentucky Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 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 3h 28m 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 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Paducah, KY and Radcliff, KY, road signs point toward Princeton, Elizabethtown and Fort Knox.
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.
The longest stretch is about 95.8 miles on Western Kentucky 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.
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 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Radcliff, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
