Trip from Paducah, KY to Elizabethtown, KY

Drive Time

3h 11m

Distance

172.4 mi

277 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Photo: Vietnam Hidden Light

Trip Overview

The drive from Paducah, KY to Elizabethtown, KY covers 172.4 miles and takes about 3h 11m 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 69, I 24 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 97.9 miles on Western Kentucky Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.19 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

86.2 miles from Paducah, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 3h 11m highway drive covering 172.4 miles, with most of the trip on Western Kentucky Parkway and I 69. The longest continuous stretch is about 97.9 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 22 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 97.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Western Kentucky Parkway and I 69. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 33.9 miles in near I 69.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 11m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 170.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

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

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

170.1 mi into trip | ~3h 7m 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

170.7 mi into trip | ~3h 8m in | KY 1136 / New Glendale Road

Enter roundabout onto KY 1136 / New Glendale Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

172.3 mi into trip | ~3h 10m 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

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Paducah, KY to Elizabethtown, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Princeton along the way.

Princeton

33.9 mi in | ~40m | via I 69

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Western Kentucky Parkway	97.9 mi	1h 45m
I 69	38.3 mi	41m
I 24	24.6 mi	26m
Clarks River Road	1.8 mi	2m
Wayne Sullivan Drive	1.7 mi	2m
Kentucky Dam Road	1.7 mi	1m
South 4th Street	1.5 mi	2m
US 68	1.1 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Western Kentucky Parkway — 97.9 mi, about 1h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Paducah, KY and Elizabethtown, KY.

Start on Washington Street

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Washington Street

Turn right onto US 60 Business; I 24 Business

1.5 mi · 2 min · South 4th Street

Continue on US 60 Business; I 24 Business

1.7 mi · 2 min · Wayne Sullivan Drive

Turn left onto US 60; US 62

1.8 mi · 2 min · Clarks River Road

Turn straight onto US 60; US 62

1.0 mi · 1 min · Reidland Road

Turn straight onto US 62

1.7 mi · 1 min · Kentucky Dam Road

Turn right onto US 68

1.1 mi · 1 min · US 68

Turn left

0.4 mi · 50 sec

Merge onto I 24

25 mi · 26 min · I 24

Take the exit onto I 69

38 mi · 41 min · I 69

Exit 42 Toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton

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.

Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

98 mi · 1 hr 44 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

Exit 106B Toward Elizabethtown

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Exit 136 Toward US 31W Bypass: Elizabethtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto US 31W Bypass

400 ft · 6 sec · Elizabethtown Bypass

Enter roundabout onto KY 1136

154 ft · 2 sec · New Glendale Road

Continue on KY 1136

0.7 mi · 1 min · New Glendale Road

Turn left onto US 31W; KY 61

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Dixie Avenue

Turn right onto US 31W; KY 61

134 ft · 2 sec · US 31W; KY 61

Turn left

118 ft · 2 sec

Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W; KY 61

446 ft · 11 sec · West Dixie Avenue

Turn right onto US 62; KY 61

77 ft · 1 sec · North Mulberry Street

Arrive at destination

US 62; KY 61

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 86.2 miles from Paducah, KY, or about 1h 37m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.9 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 86.2 miles or 1h 37m 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 36m

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 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 172.4 miles and 3h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 Western Kentucky Parkway for about 97.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 86.2 mi from Paducah, KY · 1h 37m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Nashville, TN

86 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

Carmi, IL

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 86.2 miles from Paducah, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Western Kentucky Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.9 miles.

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

$26.19 one way

$52.37 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$28.87	$57.73
premium	$4.80	$32.55	$65.09
diesel	$5.64	$38.30	$76.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 60.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	51.7	$18.10	$8.28
Efficient EV	43.1	$15.08	$6.90
EV Truck/SUV	69	$24.14	$11.03

Gas CO2

60 kg

EV CO2

20 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

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Paducah, KY

Night in Paducah on Saturday

Local time

11:35 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Mostly Clear

SE 2 mph 3% chance CDT NWS forecast

Destination

Elizabethtown, KY

Late night in Elizabethtown on Sunday

Local time

12:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Mostly Clear

SE 2 mph 2% chance EDT NWS forecast

Along the Route

65°F

Nashville, TN

86 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

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

3h 11m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Paducah, KY to Elizabethtown, KY covers 172.4 miles and takes about 3h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Western Kentucky Parkway, I 69, I 24. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 86.2 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 $26.19 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

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 straightforward 3h 11m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

On the drive from Paducah, KY to Elizabethtown, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Princeton along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Paducah, KY or browse trips ending in Elizabethtown, KY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KY road trips.

Explore maps for Paducah, KY or Elizabethtown, KY on MapSof.net.

Trip from Paducah, KY to Elizabethtown, KY

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Elizabethtown, KY

Fuel & Cost

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Paducah, KY

Elizabethtown, KY

1 hour later

5 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 11m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Was this route helpful?

Explore More

Continue From Elizabethtown, KY

More from Paducah, KY

More trips to Elizabethtown, KY