Drive Time
3h 57m
Distance
213.8 mi
344 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
Photo: Vietnam Hidden Light
The drive from Fern Creek, KY to Paducah, KY covers 213.8 miles and takes about 3h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Fern Creek Road, Jefferson Street, Bardstown Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.47 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
106.9 miles from Fern Creek, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 57m drive with frequent turns across 213.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 57m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fern Creek, KY to Paducah, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fern Creek Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Jefferson Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bardstown Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 265 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 265 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gene Snyder Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 65 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| KY 61 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Fern Creek, KY and Paducah, KY.
Start on Fern Creek Road
Continue on Fern Creek Road
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Turn left onto Bardstown Road
Take the ramp slight right toward I 265, KY 841: Gene Snyder Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on I 265 West, KY 841 West
Merge slight left onto Gene Snyder Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 65 South: Nashville
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
Keep slight right to continue on US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
Keep slight left to continue on Paducah, Elizabethtown
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
Merge slight left
Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 69 South: Paducah
Keep slight right
Take the exit slight right toward US 68: Paducah
Keep slight right to continue on US 68: Paducah
Turn right
At the end of the road, turn left onto Kentucky Dam Road
Continue on Clarks River Road
Turn right onto Wayne Sullivan Drive
Continue on South 3rd Street
Turn left onto Washington Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.9 miles or 1h 58m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paducah, KY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Fern Creek, 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 Fern Creek, KY
This is one driving day of about 213.8 miles and 3h 57m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 106.9 mi from Fern Creek, KY · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
107 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 106.9 miles from Fern Creek, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Paducah, 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 Paducah, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$32.47 one way
$64.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $35.80 | $71.60 |
| premium | $4.80 | $40.36 | $80.72 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $47.50 | $95.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.1 | 0 | $22.45 | $10.26 |
| Efficient EV | 53.5 | 0 | $18.71 | $8.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 85.5 | 1 | $29.93 | $13.68 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Fern Creek on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Night in Paducah on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
65°F
Nashville, TN
107 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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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