Origin
Owensboro, KY
Afternoon in Owensboro on Sunday
Local time
3:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Owensboro, KY to Elizabethtown, KY
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
95 mi
153 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 40m
★
6 AM
1h 48m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 52m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Owensboro, KY
Vietnam Hidden Light
Elizabethtown, KY
Vietnam Hidden Light
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Owensboro to Elizabethtown, you are looking at a straightforward 95-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 47 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the modest distance allows for an easy out-and-back trip if needed. Budgeting approximately $14 for fuel will cover your transit across this portion of Kentucky. Because you stay within the same region, the transition between these two cities feels familiar rather than jarring. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of pace, the efficiency of this drive makes it a practical choice for your travel schedule.
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
47.5 miles from Owensboro, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a trip defined by high-speed efficiency, as roughly 93% of your travel takes place on major highways. You will primarily navigate via the Western Kentucky Parkway, I-165, and New Hartford Road to reach your destination. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 58.8-mile stretch on the Western Kentucky Parkway, which allows for consistent cruising. Unlike winding backroads, this highway-focused drive is designed for steady progress. You will find that the road maintains a predictable, fast-paced personality from start to finish.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 95 miles you will encounter 14 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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 33.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 92.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
33.7 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward Elizabethtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 41A
Toward Elizabethtown
7
92.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m 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
5
93.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
|
KY 1136 / New Glendale Road
Enter roundabout onto KY 1136 / New Glendale Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
94.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
US 31W; KY 61 / West Dixie Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W; KY 61 / West Dixie Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky Parkway | 58.8 mi | 1h 3m |
| I 165 | 28.8 mi | 30m |
| New Hartford Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Frederica Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East Dixie Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| New Glendale Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West 18th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Wendell Ford Expressway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Western Kentucky Parkway
— 58.8 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Owensboro, KY and Elizabethtown, 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
29 mi
·
30 min
·
I 165
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 41A
Toward Elizabethtown
10
Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway
59 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 136
Toward US 31W Bypass: Elizabethtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto US 31W Bypass
400 ft
·
6 sec
·
Elizabethtown Bypass
13
Enter roundabout onto KY 1136
154 ft
·
2 sec
·
New Glendale Road
14
Continue on KY 1136
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
New Glendale Road
15
Turn left onto US 31W; KY 61
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Dixie Avenue
16
Turn right onto US 31W; KY 61
134 ft
·
2 sec
·
US 31W; KY 61
17
Turn left
118 ft
·
2 sec
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W; KY 61
446 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Dixie Avenue
19
Turn right onto US 62; KY 61
77 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Mulberry Street
20
Arrive at destination
US 62; KY 61
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal preference rather than strict time constraints. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops along the way, as the route is direct enough to complete in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, though your $14 estimate provides a solid baseline for your budget. Because you are spending the vast majority of your time on highways, stay alert during the transition between the Western Kentucky Parkway and I-165 to ensure you stay on track. Enjoy the ease of a drive that gets you from point A to point B without any unnecessary complications.
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 47.5 miles from Owensboro, KY, or about 55m 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.5 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 27m
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 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 95 miles and 1h 47m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
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 47.5 mi from Owensboro, KY · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.5 miles from Owensboro, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.43 one way
$28.86 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $15.91 | $31.81 |
| premium | $4.80 | $17.93 | $35.87 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $21.11 | $42.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.5 | 0 | $9.98 | $4.56 |
| Efficient EV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.31 | $3.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38 | 0 | $13.30 | $6.08 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Elizabethtown, KY
Afternoon in Elizabethtown on Sunday
Local time
4:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
1 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
1h 47m 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 Elizabethtown, KY covers 95 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Western Kentucky Parkway, I 165, New Hartford 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 47.5 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 $14.43 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 95 miles you will encounter 14 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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 33.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 92.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Owensboro, KY to Elizabethtown, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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