Trip from Owensboro, KY to Burkesville, KY

Drive Time

2h 44m

Distance

141 mi

227 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 34m ★
6 AM
2h 45m
8 AM
3h 6m
10 AM
2h 52m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 5m
8 PM
2h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Owensboro, KY, KY

Owensboro, KY

Vietnam Hidden Light

Downtown Burkesville, KY, KY

Burkesville, KY

Brady Wilson

Trip Overview

Traveling from Owensboro to Burkesville covers 141 miles across southeastern Kentucky, making for a straightforward journey that typically takes 2 hours and 44 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $21 for fuel to cover the distance. This route is an excellent choice if you are looking for a practical, highway-focused drive that connects two distinct parts of the state. It works well for a quick getaway or a necessary transit trip, providing a reliable path between these two Kentucky destinations.

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

70.5 miles from Owensboro, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a trip defined by efficient transit, as roughly 65% of your travel occurs on major highways. You will spend a significant portion of your time on I-165, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the drive at 62.4 miles. After navigating the interstate system, the character of the road shifts as you transition onto I-65 and eventually Glasgow Road. This mix of high-speed interstate and local highway driving keeps the pace steady throughout the 141-mile trek. You will find that the road profile remains consistent and focused on getting you to your destination with minimal fuss.

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.
I 165 is the longest continuous segment at about 62.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 165 and I 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near West 18th Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 141 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 1.1 miles (West 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 90.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
1.1 mi into trip | ~1m in | West 18th Street

Turn left onto West 18th Street

Navigation decision point

5
4.5 mi into trip | ~8m 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
5
90.6 mi into trip | ~1h 47m in

Take the exit toward Somerset, Glasgow

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Somerset, Glasgow
6
104.4 mi into trip | ~2h 2m in

Take the exit toward KY 90: Glasgow, Burkesville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 14 Toward KY 90: Glasgow, Burkesville
5
140.8 mi into trip | ~2h 44m in | KY 61; KY 90 / North Main Street

At end of road, turn right onto KY 61; KY 90 / North Main Street

Navigation decision point

Towns Along This Route

Between Owensboro, KY and Burkesville, KY, road signs point toward Somerset and Glasgow.

Somerset

90.6 mi in | ~1h 47m

Glasgow

90.6 mi in | ~1h 47m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 165 62.4 mi 1h 6m
I 65 14.5 mi 15m
Glasgow Road 14 mi 15m
Cumberland Parkway 13.3 mi 14m
Summer Shade Road 11.3 mi 12m
Burkesville Road 10.7 mi 12m
Louisville Road 2.8 mi 4m
New Hartford Road 1.9 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 165 — 62.4 mi, about 1h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Owensboro, KY and Burkesville, KY.

1

Start on Frederica Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · Frederica Street
2

Turn left onto West 18th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · West 18th Street
3

Turn right onto KY 2155

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Triplett Street
4

Turn straight onto KY 2155

1.9 mi · 3 min · New Hartford Road
5

Turn left

0.3 mi · 43 sec
6

Merge onto US 60; US 231

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Wendell Ford Expressway
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Exit 17 Toward I 165 South: Bowling Green
8

Continue on I 165

62 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 165
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
10

Turn left onto US 231

1.8 mi · 2 min · Morgantown Road
11

Turn left onto Old Morgantown Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Old Morgantown Road
12

Turn left onto US 68 Business

361 ft · 8 sec · University Boulevard
13

Continue on US 68 Business

1.6 mi · 2 min · Kentucky Street
14

Continue on US 31W; US 68; KY 80

2.8 mi · 4 min · Louisville Road
15

Turn right onto KY 446

0.7 mi · 1 min · KY 446
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
17

Merge onto I 65

14 mi · 15 min · I 65
18

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward Somerset, Glasgow
19

Merge onto Cumberland Parkway

13 mi · 14 min · Cumberland Parkway
20

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 14 Toward KY 90: Glasgow, Burkesville
21

Merge onto KY 90

11 mi · 12 min · Burkesville Road
22

Continue on KY 90

11 mi · 12 min · Summer Shade Road
23

Continue on KY 90

14 mi · 15 min · Glasgow Road
24

At end of road, turn right onto KY 61; KY 90

0.2 mi · 14 sec · North Main Street
25

Arrive at destination

KY 61; KY 90

Trip Plan

Since this is a manageable drive of under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Planning for one designated stop is a smart way to break up the drive, especially as you transition from the interstate segments onto Glasgow Road. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the major interstate corridors to ensure you stay within your $21 travel budget. Given the highway-heavy nature of the route, try to time your departure to avoid peak commuting hours if you are passing near busier interchanges. Staying mindful of your pacing will ensure a smooth arrival in Burkesville.

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 70.5 miles from Owensboro, KY, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.4 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 70.5 miles or 1h 22m 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 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burkesville, KY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Owensboro, 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 Owensboro, KY

This is one driving day of about 141 miles and 2h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Owensboro, 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 I 165 for about 62.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 70.5 mi from Owensboro, KY · 1h 22m into the drive

Downtown Nashville, TN, TN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Nashville, TN

71 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

Nashville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Nashville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 70.5 miles from Owensboro, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 165 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.4 miles.

Arriving in Burkesville, KY

The final approach into Burkesville, 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 Burkesville, 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

$21.42 one way

$42.83 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 49 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $23.61 $47.22
premium $4.80 $26.62 $53.24
diesel $5.64 $31.33 $62.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 49.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.3 0 $14.80 $6.77
Efficient EV 35.3 0 $12.34 $5.64
EV Truck/SUV 56.4 0 $19.74 $9.02

Gas CO2

49 kg

EV CO2

16 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Owensboro, KY

Afternoon in Owensboro on Sunday

Local time

3:54 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Burkesville, KY

Afternoon in Burkesville on Sunday

Local time

3:54 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

4 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

2h 44m 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 Owensboro, KY to Burkesville, KY covers 141 miles and takes about 2h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 165, I 65, Glasgow Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.5 miles from Owensboro, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.42 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 16 significant decision points across 141 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 1.1 miles (West 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 90.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Owensboro, KY and Burkesville, KY, road signs point toward Somerset and Glasgow.

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Return Trip

Burkesville, KY to Owensboro, KY

Plan the drive back the other way.

147.5 mi 2h 25m

Explore more options from Owensboro, KY or browse trips ending in Burkesville, KY.

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