The drive from Florence, KY to Tompkinsville, KY covers 201.9 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 Frankfort Highway, I 71, Greensburg Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.2 miles on Frankfort Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.56 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
101 miles from Florence, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 201.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 57m drive with frequent turns across 201.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 56 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Frankfort Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 24.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 US 42; US 127.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 201.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 42; US 127): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles (I 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 42; US 127
Turn right onto US 42; US 127
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in
Turn left toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louis...
7
8.6 mi into trip|~10m in|I 71
Take the exit onto I 71 toward I 71 South: Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 173
Toward I 71 South: Louisville
6
23.5 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward US 127: Owenton, Glencoe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 62
Toward US 127: Owenton, Glencoe
6
102.6 mi into trip|~2h in
Take the exit toward KY 555: Springfield, Lebanon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward KY 555: Springfield, Lebanon
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Florence, KY and Tompkinsville, KY, road signs point toward Glencoe and Lebanon.
Glencoe
23.5 mi in|~26m
Lebanon
102.6 mi in|~2h
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Frankfort Highway
24.2 mi
27m
I 71
21.7 mi
23m
Greensburg Road
19.9 mi
22m
Bluegrass Parkway
16.8 mi
17m
Triple 5 Highway
14.7 mi
16m
North Main Street
13.5 mi
18m
Edmonton Road
11.9 mi
13m
KY 163
9.3 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Frankfort Highway
— 24.2 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, KY and Tompkinsville, KY.
1
Start on Main Street
28 ft·3 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 42; US 127
1.1 mi·1 min·US 42; US 127
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on US 42; US 127
0.2 mi·27 sec·US 42; US 127
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, LouisvilleUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 71; I 75
6.9 mi·7 min·I 71; I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto I 71
15 mi·16 min·I 71
Exit 173Toward I 71 South: LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 62Toward US 127: Owenton, Glencoe
8
Turn left onto US 127
8.2 mi·9 min·US 127
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 127
7.7 mi·9 min·Warsaw Road
10
Continue on US 127; KY 227
0.3 mi·28 sec·Roland Avenue
11
Turn slight left onto US 127; KY 227
1.2 mi·1 min·North Main Street
12
Turn right onto US 127
24 mi·27 min·Frankfort Highway
13
Take the exit onto US 127
0.2 mi·36 sec·US 127
14
Merge onto US 127; US 421
1.7 mi·1 min·Wilkinson Boulevard
15
Turn right onto US 127; US 421
2.8 mi·4 min·West Frankfort Connector
16
Continue on US 127
6.1 mi·7 min·Lawrenceburg Road
17
Continue on US 127
2.2 mi·2 min·Frankfort Road
18
Continue on US 127 Bypass
2.5 mi·2 min·Bypass North
19
Continue on US 127 Bypass; US 62 Truck
4.5 mi·5 min·Old Frankfort Road
20
Continue on US 127; KY 513
510 ft·10 sec·US 127; KY 513
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
22
Merge onto Bluegrass Parkway
17 mi·17 min·Bluegrass Parkway
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 42Toward KY 555: Springfield, Lebanon
24
Turn left onto KY 555
13 mi·15 min·Triple 5 Highway
25
Keep slight left at fork onto US 150
95 ft·1 sec·US 150
26
Keep slight right at fork onto KY 555
1.4 mi·1 min·Triple 5 Highway
27
Enter roundabout onto KY 55
141 ft·2 sec·Western Bypass
28
Continue on KY 55
1.7 mi·1 min·Western Bypass
29
Continue on KY 55
2.8 mi·3 min·Lebanon Road
30
Continue on KY 55
2.8 mi·3 min·Springfield Road
31
Turn right onto KY 2154
0.9 mi·1 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
32
Turn left
93 ft·2 sec
33
Turn right
429 ft·5 sec
34
Continue on KY 2154
1.0 mi·1 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
35
Turn slight right
217 ft·3 sec
36
Turn left
131 ft·1 sec
37
Keep slight right at fork
195 ft·2 sec
38
Turn straight onto KY 2154
1.2 mi·1 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
39
Turn right onto US 68; KY 55
0.7 mi·54 sec·Campbellsville Road
40
Continue on US 68; KY 55
1.0 mi·1 min·Jane Todd Crawford Trail
41
Continue on US 68; KY 55
2.4 mi·2 min·Campbellsville Road
42
Continue on US 68; KY 55
5.3 mi·6 min·New Campbellsville Road
43
Continue on US 68; KY 55
6.1 mi·6 min·New Lebanon Road
44
Continue on US 68
1.7 mi·2 min·East Broadway Street
45
Continue on US 68; KY 55; KY 70
0.3 mi·21 sec·West Broadway
46
Continue on US 68; KY 55; KY 70
10 mi·11 min·Greensburg Road
47
Continue on US 68; KY 61; KY 70
0.4 mi·31 sec·North Main Street
48
Continue on US 68; KY 61; KY 70
1.5 mi·1 min·Columbia Highway
49
Continue on US 68; KY 70
12 mi·13 min·Edmonton Road
50
Continue on US 68; KY 70
9.9 mi·11 min·Greensburg Road
51
Continue on US 68
1.1 mi·1 min·Greensburg Street
52
Turn straight
207 ft·3 sec
53
Turn slight right onto US 68; KY 80
12 mi·16 min·North Main Street
54
Continue on KY 163
9.3 mi·11 min·KY 163
55
Turn right onto KY 63
61 ft·1 sec·West 4th Street
56
Arrive at destination
KY 63
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 101 miles from Florence, KY, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.2 miles.
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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tompkinsville, 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 201.9 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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.
The longest stretch is on Frankfort Highway for about 24.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 101 mi from Florence, KY
· 1h 58m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
For over a century people from around the world have come to rural Central Kentucky to honor the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 132.3
The US Army established Camp Nelson as a fortified supply depot in April 1863. Over the next 3 years, the site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for United States Colored Troops a...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 83.6
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.6
0
$21.20
$9.69
Efficient EV
50.5
0
$17.67
$8.08
EV Truck/SUV
80.8
1
$28.27
$12.92
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Florence, KY
Night
in Florence on Thursday
Local time
10:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tompkinsville, KY
Night
in Tompkinsville on Thursday
Local time
9:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Oregon, KY
101 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
21 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
3h 57m 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 Florence, KY to Tompkinsville, KY covers 201.9 miles and takes about 3h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Frankfort Highway, I 71, Greensburg Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 101 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 $31.56 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 201.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 42; US 127): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles (I 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Florence, KY and Tompkinsville, KY, road signs point toward Glencoe and Lebanon.
