Origin
Elizabethtown, KY
Afternoon in Elizabethtown on Sunday
Local time
4:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elizabethtown, KY to Central City, KY
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
80.9 mi
130 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabethtown, KY
Vietnam Hidden Light
Central City, KY
Mike Fox
Trip Overview
The drive from Elizabethtown, KY to Central City, KY covers 80.9 miles and takes about 1h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Mulberry Street, Elizabethtown Bypass, Leitchfield for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.29 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
40.5 miles from Elizabethtown, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 28m drive with frequent turns across 80.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Mulberry Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Elizabethtown, KY to Central City, KY is easy. At 1h 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Elizabethtown, KY to Central City, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Mulberry Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Elizabethtown Bypass | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Leitchfield | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Western Kentucky Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 431 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 2nd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Broad Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Mulberry Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabethtown, KY and Central City, KY.
1
Start on North Mulberry Street
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
North Mulberry Street
2
Turn left
92 ft
·
3 sec
3
Turn slight right onto South Mulberry Street
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
South Mulberry Street
4
Take the ramp slight right
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
5
Merge slight left onto Elizabethtown Bypass
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
Elizabethtown Bypass
6
Take the exit slight right toward Leitchfield, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Leitchfield, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
7
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
78 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 431, KY 70: Central City, Drakesboro
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
US 431, KY 70: Central City, Drakesboro
9
Turn left onto South 2nd Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South 2nd Street
10
Turn right onto East Broad Street
75 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Broad Street
11
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.5 miles from Elizabethtown, KY, or about 44m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.5 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Central City, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elizabethtown, 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 Elizabethtown, KY
This is one driving day of about 80.9 miles and 1h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Elizabethtown, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.5 mi from Elizabethtown, KY · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.5 miles from Elizabethtown, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Central City, KY
The final approach into Central City, KY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Central City, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.29 one way
$24.58 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $13.55 | $27.09 |
| premium | $4.80 | $15.27 | $30.54 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.97 | $35.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.49 | $3.88 |
| Efficient EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.08 | $3.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.33 | $5.18 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Central City, KY
Afternoon in Central City on Sunday
Local time
3:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
1h 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Elizabethtown, KY to Central City, KY covers 80.9 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Mulberry Street, Elizabethtown Bypass, Leitchfield. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.5 miles from Elizabethtown, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.29 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Elizabethtown, KY to Central City, KY is easy. At 1h 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Elizabethtown, KY to Central City, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Elizabethtown, KY to Central City, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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