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Trip from Vine Grove, KY to Elizabethtown, KY

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

16m

Distance

12.4 mi

20 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 15m ★
6 AM
0h 17m
8 AM
0h 19m
10 AM
0h 18m
12 PM
0h 17m
3 PM
0h 18m
5 PM
0h 19m
8 PM
0h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Vine Grove, KY, KY

Vine Grove, KY

Joel Zar

county seat of Hardin County, Kentucky, United States

Elizabethtown, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling between Vine Grove and Elizabethtown is a quick, straightforward journey covering just 12.4 miles. You can expect to complete this trip in about 16 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a simple day trip that requires no overnight planning. With fuel costs estimated at only $2, it is an incredibly budget-friendly excursion within the Southeast region. Since the entire route stays within Kentucky, you will notice a consistent regional feel from start to finish. This drive is best viewed as a practical connector rather than a vacation destination, offering a fuss-free way to navigate between these two communities.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Dixie Highway 4.9 mi 6m
Joe Prather Highway 3.4 mi 4m
South Dixie Boulevard 1.8 mi 2m
Highland Avenue 1 mi 1m
West Dixie Avenue 1 mi 1m
West Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
North Mulberry Street <0.1 mi <1m
North Mill Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: North Dixie Highway — 4.9 mi, about 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Vine Grove, KY and Elizabethtown, KY.

1

Start on North Mill Street

47 ft · 7 sec · North Mill Street
2

Turn right onto KY 144; KY 1500

0.2 mi · 24 sec · West Main Street
3

Turn left onto KY 144

1.0 mi · 1 min · Highland Avenue
4

Turn right onto KY 313; KY 361

3.4 mi · 4 min · Joe Prather Highway
5

Turn right onto US 31W

0.4 mi · 24 sec · South Dixie Boulevard
Use the right lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W

0.1 mi · 7 sec · South Dixie Boulevard
7

Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W

1.4 mi · 1 min · South Dixie Boulevard
8

Continue on US 31W

476 ft · 6 sec · North Dixie Highway
9

Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W

4.8 mi · 6 min · North Dixie Highway
10

Continue on US 31W

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Dixie Avenue
11

Turn left onto US 62; KY 61

77 ft · 1 sec · North Mulberry Street
12

Arrive at destination

US 62; KY 61

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 6.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | KY 144; KY 1500 / West Main Street

Turn right onto KY 144; KY 1500 / West Main Street

Navigation decision point

5
4.7 mi into trip | ~6m in | US 31W / South Dixie Boulevard

Turn right onto US 31W / South Dixie Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
4
5 mi into trip | ~6m in | US 31W / South Dixie Boulevard

Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W / South Dixie Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
5.2 mi into trip | ~7m in | US 31W / South Dixie Boulevard

Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W / South Dixie Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
6.6 mi into trip | ~8m in | US 31W / North Dixie Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W / North Dixie Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.94 one way

$3.88 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $2.13 $4.26
premium $4.89 $2.39 $4.77
diesel $5.61 $2.74 $5.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$2

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.7 0 $1.30 $0.60
Efficient EV 3.1 0 $1.09 $0.50
EV Truck/SUV 5 0 $1.74 $0.79

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 12, 2026

Origin

Vine Grove, KY

Morning in Vine Grove on Sunday

Local time

7:32 AM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 14 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 11:11AM EDT by NWS Jackson KY

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 9:33AM EDT by NWS Louisville KY

Destination

Elizabethtown, KY

Morning in Elizabethtown on Sunday

Local time

7:32 AM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 12 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 11:11AM EDT by NWS Jackson KY

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 9:33AM EDT by NWS Louisville KY

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

16m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will navigate via North Dixie Highway, Joe Prather Highway, and South Dixie Boulevard, requiring your full attention as you transition between these local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 4.9-mile segment on North Dixie Highway. Because the route relies entirely on surface streets, the character of the drive changes frequently as you move through local intersections and turns. It is a functional, hands-on experience that keeps you engaged with the road layout throughout the entire 16-minute duration.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.9 mi on North Dixie Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KY 144; KY 1500 / West Main Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 12.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 16m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (KY 144; KY 1500 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (US 31W / South Dixie Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (US 31W / South Dixie Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

858 ft 676 ft

Total Climb

194 ft

Total Descent

151 ft

Highest Point

858 ft

~8.9 mi in

Elevation Range

182 ft

About the Cities

Arriving in Elizabethtown, KY

Full guide →

Elizabethtown is a small town in the Kentucky Derby Region. Abraham Lincoln's parents Thomas and Nancy had their daughter Sarah here in 1807 and then Abraham nearby at Sinking Spring Farm in 1809.

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 16m. Total distance: 12.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 4.9 miles on North Dixie Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Elizabethtown, KY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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: near the start (KY 144; KY 1500 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (US 31W / South Dixie Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (US 31W / South Dixie Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes — Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. 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 Elizabethtown, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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