Origin
Mayfield, KY
Afternoon in Mayfield on Sunday
Local time
3:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mayfield, KY to Paducah, KY
Drive Time
36m
Distance
26.4 mi
43 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mayfield, KY
Brady Wilson
Paducah, KY
Vietnam Hidden Light
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Mayfield to Paducah, you are looking at a quick, straightforward 26.4-mile journey through the heart of Southeast Kentucky. Expect to spend about 36 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via US 45, North 7th Street, and Washington Street to complete your transit. With a fuel budget of roughly $4, it is an incredibly cost-effective excursion between these two regional hubs. This route is perfect if you need a reliable, no-fuss drive that connects you efficiently between the two cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
13.2 miles from Mayfield, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed-road profile, transitioning from open highway stretches to more localized city streets as you approach your destination. Approximately 59% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a steady flow before you navigate the urban connections. You will tackle a longest uninterrupted stretch of 15.5 miles on US 45, which gives you a consistent rhythm before the pace changes. Because the trip is relatively short, the drive feels like a blend of rural transit and standard town arrival. You can expect a predictable experience that shifts from higher-speed highway travel into the more controlled environment of local city roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 45 is the longest continuous segment at about 15.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 45; KY 121 Business / North 7th Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.4 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 45; KY 121 Business / North 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.3 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 45; KY 121 Business / North 7th Street
Turn left onto US 45; KY 121 Business / North 7th Street
Navigation decision point
4
8.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
8.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
26.3 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
South 7th Street
Turn right onto South 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
26.4 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
Washington Street
Turn left onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 45 | 15.5 mi | 20m |
| North 7th Street | 7.8 mi | 10m |
| Washington Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Jackson Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South 28th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Paducah Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 7th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Broadway Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 15.5 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mayfield, KY and Paducah, KY.
1
Start on KY 58; KY 80 Business; KY 121 Business
272 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto US 45; KY 121 Business
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
North 7th Street
3
Continue on US 45; KY 121 Business
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Paducah Road
4
Continue on US 45; KY 121 Business
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
North 7th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
US 45
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
15 mi
·
20 min
·
US 45
7
Turn right onto US 45; US 62
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Jackson Street
8
Turn left onto US 45; US 60
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
South 28th Street
9
Turn right onto US 45 Business
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Street
10
Turn right onto South 7th Street
417 ft
·
23 sec
·
South 7th Street
11
Turn left onto Washington Street
161 ft
·
7 sec
·
Washington Street
12
Arrive at destination
Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 36-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, allowing you to easily work it into your daily schedule. You won't need to plan for any scheduled stops along the way, as the 26.4-mile distance is easily managed in a single, uninterrupted push. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Mayfield; while the trip is short and budget-friendly at $4, topping off early ensures you won't have to worry about finding a station while navigating the final transition onto Washington Street. Take advantage of the short duration to plan your arrival in Paducah precisely, as you won't lose much time to traffic or road fatigue.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 13.2 miles from Mayfield, KY, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.5 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 26.4 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.2 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paducah, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mayfield, 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 Mayfield, KY
This is one driving day of about 26.4 miles and 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mayfield, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 45 for about 15.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.2 mi from Mayfield, KY · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 26.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.2 miles from Mayfield, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Paducah, KY
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.01 one way
$8.02 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $4.42 | $8.84 |
| premium | $4.80 | $4.98 | $9.97 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.87 | $11.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Paducah, KY
Afternoon in Paducah on Sunday
Local time
3:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
58°F
Mount Pleasant, IL
13 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
36m 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 Mayfield, KY to Paducah, KY covers 26.4 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 45, North 7th Street, Washington Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.2 miles from Mayfield, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.4 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 45; KY 121 Business / North 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.3 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Mayfield, KY to Paducah, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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