Origin
Paducah, KY
Late night in Paducah on Wednesday
Local time
5:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Paducah, KY to Meads, KY
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
6h 51m
Distance
367.5 mi
591 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 39m
★
6 AM
6h 51m
8 AM
7h 14m
10 AM
6h 59m
12 PM
6h 57m
3 PM
7h 0m
5 PM
7h 13m
8 PM
6h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paducah, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Meads, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Paducah, KY to Meads, KY covers 367.5 miles and takes about 6h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Western Kentucky Parkway, Bluegrass Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 101.8 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $57.45 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
183.7 miles from Paducah, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 23m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 6h 51m highway drive covering 367.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and Western Kentucky Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 101.8 miles on I 64.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 101.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Western Kentucky Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 33.9 miles in near I 69.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 367.5 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 33.9 miles (I 69): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.2 miles (Western Kentucky Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 171.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
33.9 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
I 69
Take the exit onto I 69 toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton
8
72.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
Western Kentucky Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Western Kentucky Parkway toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 106A-B
Toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville
8
171.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 8m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 137B
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
8
173.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m in
Take the exit toward Lexington, Bardstown
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 93
Toward Lexington, Bardstown
8
260.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 51m in
|
I 64
Take the exit onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 111
Toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Paducah, KY and Meads, KY, road signs point toward Princeton, Elizabethtown, Louisville, Lexington, Bardstown and Ashland.
Princeton
33.9 mi in
|
~40m
|
via I 69
Elizabethtown
72.5 mi in
|
~1h 22m
|
via Western Kentucky Parkway
Louisville
171.4 mi in
|
~3h 8m
Lexington
173.7 mi in
|
~3h 12m
Bardstown
173.7 mi in
|
~3h 12m
Ashland
258.7 mi in
|
~4h 49m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 101.8 mi | 1h 50m |
| Western Kentucky Parkway | 99.2 mi | 1h 46m |
| Bluegrass Parkway | 70.7 mi | 1h 15m |
| I 69 | 38.3 mi | 41m |
| I 24 | 24.6 mi | 26m |
| New Circle Road | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| Versailles Road | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| US 60 | 4 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 101.8 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paducah, KY and Meads, KY.
1
Start on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Washington Street
2
Turn right onto US 60 Business; I 24 Business
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South 4th Street
3
Continue on US 60 Business; I 24 Business
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Wayne Sullivan Drive
4
Turn left onto US 60; US 62
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clarks River Road
5
Turn straight onto US 60; US 62
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Reidland Road
6
Turn straight onto US 62
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Kentucky Dam Road
7
Turn right onto US 68
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 68
8
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
9
Merge onto I 24
25 mi
·
26 min
·
I 24
10
Take the exit onto I 69
38 mi
·
41 min
·
I 69
Exit 42
Toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton
11
Keep slight right at fork onto Western Kentucky Parkway
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit 106A-B
Toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
99 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit 106B
Toward Elizabethtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 137B
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Use the right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
15
Merge onto I 65
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 65
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 93
Toward Lexington, Bardstown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
71 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
Bluegrass Parkway
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward US 60 West: Frankfort
19
Turn right onto US 60
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Road
20
Continue on US 60
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road
22
Merge onto KY 4
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn left onto US 27; US 68
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broadway
24
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 75 South, I 64 East: Knoxville, Ashland
25
Merge onto I 64; I 75
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 64; I 75
26
Take the exit onto I 64
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 64
Exit 111
Toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
84 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
I 64
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 181
Toward US 60
29
Turn left onto US 60
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
US 60
30
Turn left onto US 60
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
US Route 60
31
Turn right onto Marsh Hill Drive
110 ft
·
8 sec
·
Marsh Hill Drive
32
Turn left onto Midland Trail Road
410 ft
·
19 sec
·
Midland Trail Road
33
Arrive at destination
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 183.7 miles from Paducah, KY, or about 3h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.8 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 81 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 183.7 miles or 3h 23m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meads, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Paducah, 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 Paducah, KY
This is one driving day of about 367.5 miles and 6h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Paducah, 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 64 for about 101.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 183.7 mi from Paducah, KY · 3h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
184 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 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 183.7 miles from Paducah, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.8 miles.
Arriving in Meads, KY
The final approach into Meads, 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 Meads, KY.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.45 one way
$114.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
129 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $63.08 | $126.17 |
| premium | $4.89 | $70.72 | $141.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $81.14 | $162.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 110.3 | 1 | $38.59 | $17.64 |
| Efficient EV | 91.9 | 1 | $32.16 | $14.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 147 | 1 | $51.45 | $23.52 |
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 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.
Destination
Meads, KY
Morning in Meads on Wednesday
Local time
6:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
16 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
6h 51m 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 Paducah, KY to Meads, KY covers 367.5 miles and takes about 6h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Western Kentucky Parkway, Bluegrass 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 183.7 miles from Paducah, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $57.45 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 23 significant decision points across 367.5 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 33.9 miles (I 69): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.2 miles (Western Kentucky Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 171.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Paducah, KY and Meads, KY, road signs point toward Princeton, Elizabethtown, Louisville, Lexington, Bardstown and Ashland.
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