Pine Knot, KY to Owensboro, KY is 216.2 miles and takes about 4h 6m via Cumberland Parkway and I-165, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within Kentucky, transitioning from the southeastern part of the state to the western side. Given that 92% of the route is on highways, expect a relatively straightforward drive with minimal time spent on slower surface roads. It's a manageable one-day trip, perfect for getting from one point to another efficiently without needing an overnight stop.
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
108.1 miles from Pine Knot, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Cumberland Parkway
86.2 mi
1h 32m
I 165
62.3 mi
1h 6m
US Route 27
26.4 mi
30m
I 65
16.5 mi
17m
KY 914
6 mi
7m
Main Street
3.9 mi
4m
Veterans Memorial Lane
3.7 mi
5m
Fairview Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Cumberland Parkway
— 86.2 mi, about 1h 32m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,085 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,781
Quietest
2 AM
~362 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 78 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 Pine Knot, KY and Owensboro, KY.
1
Start on Railroad Drive
61 ft·7 sec·Railroad Drive
2
Turn left onto Old US 27 Loop No5
0.2 mi·48 sec·Old US 27 Loop No5
3
Turn right onto Cal Hill Spur
0.2 mi·41 sec·Cal Hill Spur
4
Turn left onto US 27
26 mi·30 min·US Route 27
5
Continue on US 27; KY 90
3.9 mi·4 min·Main Street
6
Turn left onto KY 914
6.0 mi·7 min·KY 914
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward Bowling Green
8
Merge onto Cumberland Parkway
86 mi·1 hr 32 min·Cumberland Parkway
9
Continue on Cumberland Parkway
0.3 mi·19 sec·Cumberland Parkway
Exit 1BToward I 65 South: Bowling Green
10
Continue on Cumberland Expressway
0.7 mi·1 min·Cumberland Expressway
11
Merge onto I 65
17 mi·17 min·I 65
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward KY 234: Bowling Green
13
Turn right onto KY 234
1.0 mi·1 min·Cemetery Road
14
Continue on KY 234
1.6 mi·2 min·Fairview Avenue
15
Continue on KY 234
0.8 mi·1 min·East 6th Avenue
16
Continue on US 68; KY 80
3.7 mi·5 min·Veterans Memorial Lane
17
Turn right onto US 231
1.0 mi·1 min·Morgantown Road
18
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
19
Merge onto I 165
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 165
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 70AToward US 60 East, US 231 North: Hawesville
21
Merge onto US 60; US 231
0.8 mi·53 sec·Wendell Ford Expressway
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 18Toward KY 54
23
Turn left onto KY 54
260 ft·6 sec·Leitchfield Road
24
Continue on KY 54
1.3 mi·2 min·East Parrish Avenue
25
Turn right onto Leitchfield Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Leitchfield Road
26
Turn left onto East 5th Street
0.8 mi·1 min·East 5th Street
27
Turn right onto Frederica Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Frederica Street
28
Arrive at destination
Frederica Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, consider leaving in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid any potential rush hour traffic in Owensboro. Since it's a single-day trip with a reasonable duration, you have the flexibility to depart a bit later if needed. You'll cover 216.2 miles with an estimated fuel cost of $34, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Pine Knot. The longest stretch without a major road change is 86.2 miles on the Cumberland Parkway, so plan your refueling and rest stops accordingly, perhaps before or after this segment.
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 108.1 miles from Pine Knot, KY, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.2 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 48 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.1 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Owensboro, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pine Knot, 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 Pine Knot, KY
This is one driving day of about 216.2 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Pine Knot, 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 Cumberland Parkway for about 86.2 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 212.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Old US 27 Loop No5
Turn left onto Old US 27 Loop No5
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Cal Hill Spur
Turn right onto Cal Hill Spur
Navigation decision point
5
36.8 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Bowling Green
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Bowling Green
7
211.7 mi into trip|~3h 57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 60 East, US 231 North: Hawesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 70A
Toward US 60 East, US 231 North: Hawesville
5
212.8 mi into trip|~3h 59m in
Take the exit toward KY 54
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 18
Toward KY 54
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.06 one way
$72.13 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$39.20
$78.39
premium
$5.26
$44.76
$89.53
diesel
$6.18
$52.59
$105.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.9
0
$22.70
$10.38
Efficient EV
54.1
0
$18.92
$8.65
EV Truck/SUV
86.5
1
$30.27
$13.84
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Pine Knot, KY
Morning
in Pine Knot on Tuesday
Local time
8:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
NW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Owensboro, KY
Morning
in Owensboro on Tuesday
Local time
7:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
WNW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
43°F
Greensburg, KY
108 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
4h 6m 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.
Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
The US won a significant victory early in the Civil War at the Battle of Mill Springs. Explore the rolling fields of Kentucky where the battle took place and learn about that state's strategic importa...
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 126.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 92% of the 216.2 miles on high-speed roads like the Cumberland Parkway and I-165. You'll experience a long stretch of 86.2 miles on the Cumberland Parkway before transitioning to I-165. The highway profile means you'll encounter a steady flow of traffic and frequent, but well-spaced, exits as you cruise across the state.
92% 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: 86.2 mi on Cumberland Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Cumberland Parkway and I 165. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Old US 27 Loop No5.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 216.2 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Old US 27 Loop No5): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Cal Hill Spur): Navigation decision point; at 36.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,418 ft394 ft
Total Climb
527 ft
Total Descent
1,550 ft
Highest Point
1,418 ft
Elevation Range
1,023 ft
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 Pine Knot, KY to Owensboro, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Bowling Green along the way.
Owensboro is a town on the banks of the Ohio River in Kentucky's Western Coal Fields. It bills itself as the Barbecue Capital of the World and has had some interesting figures call it home over the years, such as Beulah Annan, whose story inspired the play and movie Chicago; Florence Henderson, aka Carol Brady of The Brady Bunch; NASCAR great Darrell Waltrip (as well as his brother Michael, also a longtime NASCAR driver); and Johnny Depp. On a darker note, it was also the site of the last public hanging in the United States, the subject being an African American, in 1936.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 216.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.2 miles on Cumberland 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 Owensboro, 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: near the start (Old US 27 Loop No5): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Cal Hill Spur): Navigation decision point; at 36.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument and Mammoth Cave National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Owensboro, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
