Drive Time
2h 39m
Distance
129.1 mi
208 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
Photo: Engin Akyurt
The drive from Paducah, KY to Franklin, KY covers 129.1 miles and takes about 2h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South 4th Street, Wayne Sullivan Drive, Clarks River Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.61 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
64.6 miles from Paducah, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 39m drive with frequent turns across 129.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Paducah, KY to Franklin, KY is easy. At 2h 39m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Paducah, KY to Franklin, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 4th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wayne Sullivan Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Clarks River Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Reidland Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Kentucky Dam Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 68 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hopkinsville Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cadiz Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Paducah, KY and Franklin, KY.
Start on Washington Street
Turn right onto South 4th Street
Continue on Wayne Sullivan Drive
Turn left onto Clarks River Road
Turn straight onto Reidland Road
Turn straight onto Kentucky Dam Road
Turn right
Turn left
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 68, KY 80: Cadiz, Hopkinsville
Turn left onto Hopkinsville Road
Continue on Cadiz Road
Continue on West 7th Street
Turn straight onto West 9th Street
Turn left onto McLean Avenue
Continue on Russellville Road
Continue on Jefferson Davis Highway
Continue on Russellville Road
Continue on West 4th Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto West 4th Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Turn right onto East 4th Street
Turn right onto Franklin Street
Continue on Franklin Road
Continue on Franklin Street
Turn right onto Franklin Road
Continue on Middletown Circle
Turn straight onto Russellville Road
Continue on West Cedar Street
Turn left onto North Water Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.6 miles or 1h 19m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Franklin, KY than in the middle of the route.
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 129.1 miles and 2h 39m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.6 mi from Paducah, KY · 1h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 64.6 miles from Paducah, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Franklin, 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 Franklin, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$19.61 one way
$39.22 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $21.62 | $43.23 |
| premium | $4.80 | $24.37 | $48.74 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $28.68 | $57.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.56 | $6.20 |
| Efficient EV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.30 | $5.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.6 | 0 | $18.07 | $8.26 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Paducah on Sunday
Local time
4:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
4:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
65°F
Nashville, TN
65 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Paducah, KY or browse trips ending in Franklin, KY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KY road trips.
Explore maps for Paducah, KY or Franklin, KY on MapSof.net.
