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Trip from Florence, KY to Oak Grove, KY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 1m

Distance

271 mi

436 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 48m ★
6 AM
5h 1m
8 AM
5h 28m
10 AM
5h 10m
12 PM
5h 8m
3 PM
5h 12m
5 PM
5h 27m
8 PM
4h 53m

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

city in Boone County, Kentucky, United States

Florence, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Oak Grove, KY, KY

Oak Grove, KY

Skyler Ewing

Trip Overview

The drive from Florence, KY to Oak Grove, KY covers 271 miles and takes about 5h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 71 South, I 264 West, Henry Watterson Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.37 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

135.5 miles from Florence, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .

About the Cities

Starting in Florence, KY

Full guide →

Florence is a city of 33,000 people (2019) in Kentucky's Northern Ohio River Region, near Cincinnati. Florence is well known in surrounding cities for a water tower visible from I-71/I-75 that reads "Florence Y'all".

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 5h 1m. Total distance: 271 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 1m drive with frequent turns across 271 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 71 South 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 1m 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 Florence, KY to Oak Grove, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 71 South
I 264 West
Henry Watterson Expressway
I 65
I 65 South
KY 61 South
US 31W
Paducah

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: I 71 South — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Florence, KY and Oak Grove, KY.

1

Start on Main Street

26 ft · 3 sec · Main Street
2

Turn right

1.1 mi · 1 min
3

Continue straight

0.2 mi · 27 sec
4

Turn left onto I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville

0.4 mi · 53 sec · I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville
5

Merge slight left

6.9 mi · 7 min
6

Take the exit slight right toward I 71 South: Louisville

72 mi · 1 hr 17 min · I 71 South: Louisville
7

Take the exit slight left toward I 264 West: Watterson Expressway

0.4 mi · 45 sec · I 264 West: Watterson Expressway
8

Continue on Henry Watterson Expressway

10.0 mi · 13 min · Henry Watterson Expressway
9

Take the exit slight right toward I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis

0.2 mi · 15 sec · I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis
10

Keep slight left to continue on I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, Indianapolis

0.2 mi · 15 sec · I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, Indianapolis
11

Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Nashville

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 65 South: Nashville
12

Merge slight left

39 mi · 42 min
13

Take the exit slight right toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway

0.2 mi · 26 sec · KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
14

Keep slight right to continue on US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West

0.2 mi · 32 sec · US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
15

Keep slight left to continue on Paducah, Elizabethtown

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Paducah, Elizabethtown
16

Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

98 mi · 1 hr 45 min · Western Kentucky Parkway
17

Take the exit slight right toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville

0.4 mi · 45 sec · I 169 South: Hopkinsville
18

Merge slight left

282 ft · 3 sec
19

Continue straight

34 mi · 35 min
20

Keep slight left to continue on I 24 East: Nashville

1.3 mi · 1 min · I 24 East: Nashville
21

Merge slight left

3.2 mi · 3 min
22

Take the exit slight right toward US 41 Alternate: Hopkinsville, Fort Campbell

0.4 mi · 56 sec · US 41 Alternate: Hopkinsville, Fort Campbell
23

Keep slight right

0.1 mi · 15 sec
24

Turn straight onto Fort Campbell Boulevard

2.5 mi · 3 min · Fort Campbell Boulevard
25

Turn left onto Thompsonville Lane

108 ft · 3 sec · Thompsonville Lane
26

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 135.5 miles from Florence, KY, or about 2h 30m 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 60 miles or 1h 6m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 135.5 miles or 2h 30m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 6m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oak Grove, KY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Florence, 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 Florence, KY

This is one driving day of about 271 miles and 5h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Florence, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 135.5 mi from Florence, KY · 2h 30m into the drive

county seat of Hardin County, Kentucky, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Elizabethtown, KY

136 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

Jeffersonville, IN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elizabethtown, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 135.5 miles from Florence, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Oak Grove, KY

The final approach into Oak Grove, 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 Oak Grove, 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

$42.37 one way

$84.74 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 95 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $46.52 $93.04
premium $4.89 $52.15 $104.30
diesel $5.61 $59.83 $119.67

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 94.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 81.3 1 $28.46 $13.01
Efficient EV 67.8 0 $23.71 $10.84
EV Truck/SUV 108.4 1 $37.94 $17.34

Gas CO2

95 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 15, 2026

Origin

Florence, KY

Afternoon in Florence on Saturday

Local time

12:08 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Oak Grove, KY

Morning in Oak Grove on Saturday

Local time

11:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

54°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

19 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 1m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Florence, KY to Oak Grove, KY covers 271 miles and takes about 5h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 71 South, I 264 West, Henry Watterson Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 135.5 miles from Florence, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a straightforward 5h 1m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Florence, KY to Oak Grove, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Florence, KY to Oak Grove, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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Explore More

Return Trip

Oak Grove, KY to Florence, KY

Plan the drive back the other way.

270.6 mi 4h 59m

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