The drive from Morganfield, KY to Elizabethtown, KY covers 145.4 miles and takes about 2h 43m 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 165, Audubon Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 58.8 miles on Western Kentucky Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.73 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
72.7 miles from Morganfield, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 145.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 43m highway drive covering 145.4 miles, with most of the trip on Western Kentucky Parkway and I 165. The longest continuous stretch is about 58.8 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 25 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 58.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Western Kentucky Parkway and I 165. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.7 miles in near US 41.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 145.4 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 23.7 miles (US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 48.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
23.7 mi into trip|~28m in|US 41
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41 toward US 41 North: Henderson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 41 North: Henderson
5
25 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward Owensboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 12
Toward Owensboro
5
48.3 mi into trip|~56m in
Take the exit toward US 60 East: Hawesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 24A
Toward US 60 East: Hawesville
5
54.9 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 165 South: Bowling Green
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 17
Toward I 165 South: Bowling Green
7
143.1 mi into trip|~2h 40m in
Take the exit toward US 31W Bypass: Elizabethtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 136
Toward US 31W Bypass: Elizabethtown
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Morganfield, KY to Elizabethtown, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Owensboro along the way.
Owensboro
25 mi in|~31m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Western Kentucky Parkway
58.8 mi
1h 3m
I 165
28.8 mi
30m
Audubon Parkway
23 mi
24m
US 60
18 mi
20m
Wendell Ford Expressway
6.2 mi
7m
Henderson Bypass
4.8 mi
6m
US 41
1.5 mi
2m
East Dixie Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Western Kentucky Parkway
— 58.8 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morganfield, KY and Elizabethtown, KY.
1
Start on KY 56
126 ft·6 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 60; KY 130
0.4 mi·37 sec·North Morgan Street
3
Turn straight onto US 60
18 mi·20 min·US 60
4
Turn right onto KY 425
4.8 mi·6 min·Henderson Bypass
5
Continue on US 41
0.5 mi·41 sec·US 41
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
0.9 mi·2 min·US 41
Toward US 41 North: Henderson
7
Merge onto I 69; US41
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 69; US41
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 12Toward Owensboro
9
Merge onto Audubon Parkway
23 mi·24 min·Audubon Parkway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·34 sec
Exit 24AToward US 60 East: Hawesville
11
Merge onto US 60
6.2 mi·7 min·Wendell Ford Expressway
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 17Toward I 165 South: Bowling Green
13
Continue on I 165
29 mi·30 min·I 165
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 41AToward Elizabethtown
15
Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway
59 mi·1 hr 3 min·Western Kentucky Parkway
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 136Toward US 31W Bypass: ElizabethtownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto US 31W Bypass
400 ft·6 sec·Elizabethtown Bypass
18
Enter roundabout onto KY 1136
154 ft·2 sec·New Glendale Road
19
Continue on KY 1136
0.7 mi·1 min·New Glendale Road
20
Turn left onto US 31W; KY 61
0.8 mi·1 min·East Dixie Avenue
21
Turn right onto US 31W; KY 61
134 ft·2 sec·US 31W; KY 61
22
Turn left
118 ft·2 sec
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W; KY 61
446 ft·11 sec·West Dixie Avenue
24
Turn right onto US 62; KY 61
77 ft·1 sec·North Mulberry Street
25
Arrive at destination
US 62; KY 61
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.7 miles from Morganfield, KY, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.8 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 32 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.7 miles or 1h 24m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elizabethtown, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Morganfield, 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 Morganfield, KY
This is one driving day of about 145.4 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Morganfield, 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 58.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72.7 mi from Morganfield, KY
· 1h 24m into the drive
The midpoint is around 72.7 miles from Morganfield, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elizabethtown, KY
The final approach into Elizabethtown, 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 Elizabethtown, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 145.4
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
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 115.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.73 one way
$45.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.96
$49.92
premium
$4.89
$27.98
$55.96
diesel
$5.61
$32.10
$64.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.6
0
$15.27
$6.98
Efficient EV
36.4
0
$12.72
$5.82
EV Truck/SUV
58.2
0
$20.36
$9.31
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Morganfield, KY
Morning
in Morganfield on Friday
Local time
7:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elizabethtown, KY
Morning
in Elizabethtown on Friday
Local time
8:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
81°F
Masonville, KY
73 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
2h 43m 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 Morganfield, KY to Elizabethtown, KY covers 145.4 miles and takes about 2h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Western Kentucky Parkway, I 165, Audubon Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.7 miles from Morganfield, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.73 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.
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 17 significant decision points across 145.4 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 23.7 miles (US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 48.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Morganfield, KY to Elizabethtown, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Owensboro along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park and Mammoth Cave National Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
