Origin
Russellville, KY
Late night in Russellville on Sunday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Russellville, KY to Owensboro, 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 26m
Distance
72 mi
116 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Russellville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Owensboro, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Russellville to Owensboro, this 72-mile journey is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 26 minutes to complete. Because the travel time is so manageable, you can easily tackle this route as a simple day trip without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for your Kentucky travels. You will navigate primarily via US 431, North Main Street, and KY 1031 as you transition between these two Southeast locations. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive designed for efficiency rather than sightseeing, perfect for those looking to reach their destination reliably.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 431 | 69.6 mi | 1h 22m |
| North Main Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| KY 1031 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| US 68 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East 4th Street | <0.1 mi | — |
| Frederica Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 431
— 69.6 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Russellville, KY and Owensboro, KY.
1
Start on US 68 Business
27 ft
·
0 sec
·
East 4th Street
2
Turn right onto US 68 Business; KY 3519
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 68; KY 80
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 68; KY 80
4
Turn right onto US 431
37 mi
·
42 min
·
US 431
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on KY 1031
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
KY 1031
6
Turn right onto US 431
32 mi
·
40 min
·
US 431
Use the right lane.
7
Arrive at destination
Frederica 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 miles from Russellville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 431 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.6 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
2 of 22 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 39.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 431
Turn right onto US 431
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
39.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
US 431
Turn right onto US 431
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.26 one way
$22.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.36 | $24.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.86 | $27.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.90 | $31.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.08 | $4.61 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Owensboro, KY
Late night in Owensboro on Sunday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 26m 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?
Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience, as 98% of this route consists of high-speed transit. The majority of your time behind the wheel will be spent on US 431, which accounts for a single, uninterrupted stretch of 69.6 miles. Because nearly the entire trip stays on main thoroughfares, you can anticipate consistent speeds and a very predictable driving environment. There are no planned stops along the way, allowing you to maintain a steady pace from start to finish. You will find this to be a highly efficient, highway-focused drive that prioritizes direct travel over winding backroads.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.6 mi on US 431.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 431 and North Main Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near US 431.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Russellville, KY to Owensboro, KY is easy. At 1h 26m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (US 431): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.5 miles (US 431): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 72 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.6 miles on US 431. 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 1.9 miles (US 431): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.5 miles (US 431): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Owensboro, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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