The drive from Paducah, KY to Union, KY covers 299.1 miles and takes about 5h 36m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Western Kentucky Parkway, I 71, I 69 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.2 miles on Western Kentucky Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
149.6 miles from Paducah, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Western Kentucky Parkway
99.2 mi
1h 46m
I 71
66.4 mi
1h 11m
I 69
38.3 mi
41m
I 65
37.9 mi
41m
I 24
24.6 mi
26m
Henry Watterson Expressway
10 mi
13m
US 42
7.5 mi
10m
Verona-Mudlick Road
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Western Kentucky Parkway
— 99.2 mi, about 1h 46m
Traffic on I-264
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,647 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,495
Quietest
2 AM
~427 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 99 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paducah, KY and Union, 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
99 mi·1 hr 46 min·Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit 106BToward ElizabethtownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 137BToward I 65 North: Lexington, LouisvilleUse the right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
15
Merge onto I 65
38 mi·41 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi·58 sec
Exit 131-AToward I 264: Watterson Expressway, AirportUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 131AToward I 264 East: Watterson ExpresswayUse the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 264
10 mi·13 min·Henry Watterson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 23AToward I 71 North: CincinnatiUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 71
66 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 72Toward KY 14: VeronaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn left onto KY 14
2.3 mi·4 min·Verona-Mudlick Road
23
At end of road, turn right onto US 42; US 127
7.5 mi·10 min·US 42; US 127
24
Turn left onto Old Union Road
0.4 mi·52 sec·Old Union Road
Use the left lane.
25
Enter roundabout onto Old Union Road
103 ft·1 sec·Old Union Road
26
Continue on Old Union Road
369 ft·12 sec·Old Union Road
27
Turn right onto Union School Road
148 ft·6 sec·Union School Road
28
Arrive at destination
Union School Road
Trip Plan
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 149.6 miles from Paducah, KY, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 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 66 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.6 miles or 2h 45m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union, 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 299.1 miles and 5h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 99.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 149.6 miles from Paducah, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Western Kentucky Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.2 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 72.2 and 221.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
171.4 mi into trip|~3h 8m 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
8
210.2 mi into trip|~3h 51m in
Take the exit toward I 264: Watterson Expressway, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 131-A
Toward I 264: Watterson Expressway, Airport
8
210.9 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 264 East: Watterson Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 131A
Toward I 264 East: Watterson Expressway
8
221.7 mi into trip|~4h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 71 North: Cincinnati
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 23A
Toward I 71 North: Cincinnati
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.37 one way
$92.74 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$50.85
$101.69
premium
$4.93
$58.03
$116.06
diesel
$5.60
$65.93
$131.86
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: 104.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.7
1
$31.41
$14.36
Efficient EV
74.8
0
$26.17
$11.96
EV Truck/SUV
119.6
1
$41.87
$19.14
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Forecast as of Sep 4, 2026
Origin
Paducah, KY
Late night
in Paducah on Saturday
Local time
12:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Clear
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 4 at 1:49AM EDT until September 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued September 4 at 12:42AM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Union, KY
Late night
in Union on Saturday
Local time
1:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
S 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 4 at 1:49AM EDT until September 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued September 4 at 12:42AM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
68°F
Morgantown, KY
150 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
1 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 36m 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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 175.4
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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 144.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
299.1 mi in 5h 36m, mostly highway — 99.2 mi of that is on Western Kentucky Parkway.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.2 mi on Western Kentucky Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Western Kentucky Parkway and I 71. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 72.2 miles in near Western Kentucky Parkway.
Driving Effort10/10
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 21 significant decision points across 299.1 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 72.2 miles (Western Kentucky Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 171.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 210.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
837 ft340 ft
Total Climb
1,109 ft
Total Descent
612 ft
Highest Point
837 ft
~299.1 mi in
Elevation Range
497 ft
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 Union, KY, road signs point toward Princeton, Elizabethtown, Louisville and Airport.
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.
Top landmarks
•Lloyd Tilghman Memorial — sculpture
•Masonic Temple — masonic temple in Paducah, Kentucky
•Paducah Freight House — railway station in Paducah, the United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 36m. Total distance: 299.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.2 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.
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 Union, 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 72.2 miles (Western Kentucky Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 171.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 210.2 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 and Mammoth Cave National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Union, KY before the return drive.
