The drive from Maysville, KY to Paducah, KY covers 318.9 miles and takes about 6h 6m 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, Bluegrass Parkway, I 69 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 98.9 miles on Western Kentucky Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.86 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
159.5 miles from Maysville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 10m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 6m. Total distance: 318.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 6m highway drive covering 318.9 miles, with most of the trip on Western Kentucky Parkway and Bluegrass Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 98.9 miles on Western Kentucky Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Western Kentucky Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 98.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Western Kentucky Parkway and Bluegrass Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near US 62; KY 10 / Coughlin Boulevard.
Driving Effort10/10
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 22 significant decision points across 318.9 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: at 0.8 miles (US 62; KY 10 / Coughlin Boulevard): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 147.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|US 62; KY 10 / Coughlin Boulevard
Turn sharp left onto US 62; KY 10 / Coughlin Boulevard
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
67.9 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 60 West: Versailles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward US 60 West: Versailles
8
147.5 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Take the exit toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 91C-A
Toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Wes...
8
147.7 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 91C-B
Toward US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western...
7
284.5 mi into trip|~5h 24m in|I 69
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69 toward I 24 West, I 69 South: Paducah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 68B
Toward I 24 West, I 69 South: Paducah
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Maysville, KY and Paducah, KY, road signs point toward Elizabethtown and Western Kentucky Parkway West.
Elizabethtown
74.1 mi in|~1h 36m
Western Kentucky Parkway West
147.7 mi in|~2h 57m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Western Kentucky Parkway
98.9 mi
1h 46m
Bluegrass Parkway
70.6 mi
1h 15m
I 69
53.6 mi
57m
US 68
23.7 mi
28m
US 68 Business
17.2 mi
23m
I 24
9.1 mi
9m
Lexington Road
8.1 mi
9m
Paris Pike
5.9 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Western Kentucky Parkway
— 98.9 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maysville, KY and Paducah, KY.
1
Start on KY 10
0.8 mi·1 min·Forest Avenue
2
Turn sharp left onto US 62; KY 10
2.9 mi·4 min·Coughlin Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 62; US 68
1.7 mi·2 min·US 62; US 68
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 68 Business
17 mi·23 min·US 68 Business
5
Continue on US 68; KY 165
23 mi·27 min·US 68; KY 165
6
Continue on US 460; US 68 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·East Main Street
7
Turn right onto US 460; US 68 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Bank Row Street
8
At end of road, turn right onto US 68 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·Main Street
9
Continue on US 27; US 68
6.8 mi·7 min·Lexington Road
10
Continue on US 27; US 68
5.9 mi·6 min·Paris Pike
11
Continue on US 27; US 68
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broadway
12
Turn right onto US KY4
5.8 mi·8 min·West New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 5BToward US 60 West: VersaillesUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto US 60
4.5 mi·6 min·Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on US 60
1.3 mi·1 min·Lexington Road
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward Elizabethtown
17
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
71 mi·1 hr 15 min·Bluegrass Parkway
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
19
Merge onto I 65
1.2 mi·1 min·I 65
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 91C-AToward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 91C-BToward US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward Paducah, Elizabethtown
23
Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway
98 mi·1 hr 45 min·Western Kentucky Parkway
24
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
0.8 mi·54 sec·Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit 38A
25
Merge onto I 69
37 mi·40 min·I 69
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
16 mi·17 min·I 69
Exit 68BToward I 24 West, I 69 South: Paducah
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
9.1 mi·9 min·I 24
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 16Toward US 68: Paducah
29
Keep slight right at fork
131 ft·3 sec
Exit 16Toward US 68: Paducah
30
Turn right onto US 68
0.9 mi·1 min·US 68
31
At end of road, turn left onto US 62
2.5 mi·3 min·Kentucky Dam Road
32
Continue on US 60; US 62
2.0 mi·3 min·Clarks River Road
33
Turn right onto US 60 Business; I 24 Business
1.7 mi·2 min·Wayne Sullivan Drive
34
Continue on US 60 Business; I 24 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·South 3rd Street
35
Turn left onto Washington Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Washington Street
36
Arrive at destination
Washington Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 159.5 miles from Maysville, KY, or about 3h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.9 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 70 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.5 miles or 3h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h
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 Maysville, 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 Maysville, KY
This is one driving day of about 318.9 miles and 6h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Maysville, 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 Western Kentucky Parkway for about 98.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 159.5 mi from Maysville, KY
· 3h 10m 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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 143.6
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...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 77.3
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 176.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.86 one way
$99.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$54.74
$109.48
premium
$4.89
$61.37
$122.74
diesel
$5.61
$70.41
$140.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.7
1
$33.48
$15.31
Efficient EV
79.7
0
$27.90
$12.76
EV Truck/SUV
127.6
1
$44.65
$20.41
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% 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
Maysville, KY
Evening
in Maysville on Thursday
Local time
5:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paducah, KY
Afternoon
in Paducah on Thursday
Local time
4:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
5 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
6h 6m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Maysville, KY to Paducah, KY covers 318.9 miles and takes about 6h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Western Kentucky Parkway, Bluegrass Parkway, I 69. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 159.5 miles from Maysville, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.86 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 318.9 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: at 0.8 miles (US 62; KY 10 / Coughlin Boulevard): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 147.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Maysville, KY and Paducah, KY, road signs point toward Elizabethtown and Western Kentucky Parkway West.
