Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 18m
Distance
176.5 mi
284 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hopkinsville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Barbourmeade, KY
Nicola Barts
The drive from Hopkinsville, KY to Barbourmeade, KY covers 176.5 miles and takes about 3h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Western Kentucky Parkway, I 65, I 169 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 98.2 miles on Western Kentucky Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.59 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
88.2 miles from Hopkinsville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky Parkway | 98.2 mi | 1h 45m |
| I 65 | 37.9 mi | 41m |
| I 169 | 24.4 mi | 26m |
| Henry Watterson Expressway | 9.1 mi | 12m |
| Brownsboro Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| West 9th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| McLean Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Barbour Lane | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hopkinsville, KY and Barbourmeade, KY.
Start on Bethel Street
Turn right onto US 68; KY 80; KY 109
Turn left onto US 68; KY 80
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 169
Take the exit
Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 264
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on Brownsboro Road
Turn left onto Seminary Drive
Continue on KY 22
Continue on KY 22
Turn left onto Barbour Lane
Turn right onto Barbourmeade Road
Arrive at 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 39 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.2 miles or 1h 36m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Barbourmeade, KY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Hopkinsville, 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 Hopkinsville, KY
This is one driving day of about 176.5 miles and 3h 18m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 88.2 miles from Hopkinsville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Western Kentucky Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 124.5 and 174.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 264: Watterson Expressway, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 264 East: Watterson Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 42, KY 22: Brownsboro Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward KY 22: Brownsboro Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$27.59 one way
$55.19 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $30.30 | $60.59 |
| premium | $4.89 | $33.97 | $67.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.97 | $77.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.9 | 0 | $18.53 | $8.47 |
| Efficient EV | 44.1 | 0 | $15.44 | $7.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.6 | 0 | $24.71 | $11.30 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Hopkinsville on Saturday
Local time
3:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Afternoon in Barbourmeade on Saturday
Local time
4:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Park
Rolling hills, deep river valleys, and the world's longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, e...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
176.5 mi in 3h 18m, mostly highway — 98.2 mi of that is on Western Kentucky Parkway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Western Kentucky Parkway and I 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 124.5 miles in.
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 14 significant decision points across 176.5 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: at 124.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 163.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 164 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hopkinsville, KY and Barbourmeade, KY, road signs point toward Elizabethtown, Louisville and Airport.
Elizabethtown
Louisville
Airport
Hopkinsville , often nicknamed "Hoptown" by locals, is a town located in Kentucky's Western Waterlands.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 18m. Total distance: 176.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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