Drive Time
3h 14m
Distance
173 mi
278 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
The drive from Henderson, KY to Lebanon, KY covers 173 miles and takes about 3h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Washington Street, South Green Street, 2nd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.28 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
86.5 miles from Henderson, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 14m drive with frequent turns across 173 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Henderson, KY to Lebanon, KY is easy. At 3h 14m 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 Henderson, KY to Lebanon, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Green Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 2nd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Owensboro | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 60 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wendell Ford Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 165 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Elizabethtown | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Henderson, KY and Lebanon, KY.
Start on the route
Turn right onto Washington Street
Turn right onto South Green Street
Turn right onto 2nd Street
Keep slight left to continue on 2nd Street
Take the ramp slight right
Merge slight right
Take the exit slight right toward Owensboro
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward US 60 East: Hawesville
Merge slight left onto Wendell Ford Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward I 165 South: Bowling Green
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward Elizabethtown
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
Take the exit slight right toward Bardstown
Turn right onto Springfield Road
Continue on Bardstown Road
Continue straight
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Bardstown Road
Exit the roundabout onto Bardstown Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Western Bypass
Exit the roundabout onto Western Bypass
Continue on Lebanon Road
Continue on Springfield Road
Continue on North Spalding Avenue
Turn right onto West Main 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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.5 miles or 1h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lebanon, KY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Henderson, 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 Henderson, KY
This is one driving day of about 173 miles and 3h 14m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.5 mi from Henderson, KY · 1h 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 86.5 miles from Henderson, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Lebanon, 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 Lebanon, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$26.28 one way
$52.55 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $28.97 | $57.93 |
| premium | $4.80 | $32.66 | $65.32 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $38.43 | $76.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.9 | 0 | $18.17 | $8.30 |
| Efficient EV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.14 | $6.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.2 | 0 | $24.22 | $11.07 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Night in Henderson on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Lebanon on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
61°F
Louisville, KY
87 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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