The drive from Taylor Mill, KY to Paducah, KY covers 308.6 miles and takes about 5h 52m 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 71, I 69 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 98.9 miles on Western Kentucky Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.82 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
154.3 miles from Taylor Mill, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 52m. Total distance: 308.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 52m highway drive covering 308.6 miles, with most of the trip on Western Kentucky Parkway and I 71. The longest continuous stretch is about 98.9 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 37 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 98.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Western Kentucky Parkway and I 71. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.2 miles in near I 71.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 308.6 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 15.2 miles (I 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 29 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
15.2 mi into trip|~26m in|I 71
Take the exit onto I 71 toward I 71 South: Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 173
Toward I 71 South: Louisville
8
97.1 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis
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 12
Toward I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis
9
97.3 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, Indianapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, In...
8
137.2 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
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 91C-A
Toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Wes...
8
137.4 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 91C-B
Toward US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Taylor Mill, KY and Paducah, KY, road signs point toward Indianapolis, Louisville, Western Kentucky Parkway West and Elizabethtown.
Indianapolis
97.1 mi in|~1h 58m
Louisville
97.3 mi in|~1h 58m
Western Kentucky Parkway West
137.4 mi in|~2h 43m
Elizabethtown
137.6 mi in|~2h 43m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Western Kentucky Parkway
98.9 mi
1h 46m
I 71
76.4 mi
1h 22m
I 69
53.6 mi
57m
I 65
38.7 mi
42m
Henry Watterson Expressway
10 mi
13m
I 24
9.1 mi
9m
Richardson Road
4.4 mi
8m
Kentucky Dam Road
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Western Kentucky Parkway
— 98.9 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Taylor Mill, KY and Paducah, KY.
1
Start on KY 3716
0.7 mi·1 min·Taylor Mill Road
2
Continue on KY 3716
1.8 mi·4 min·Wayman Branch Road
Use the left lane.
3
At end of road, turn left onto KY 17
0.3 mi·41 sec·Madison Pike
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on KY 3035
0.6 mi·1 min·Madison Pike
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto KY 1829
3.4 mi·6 min·Richardson Road
6
Turn left onto KY 1303
0.5 mi·52 sec·Turkeyfoot Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto KY 842
1.0 mi·2 min·Richardson Road
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto US 25
0.8 mi·1 min·Dixie Highway
9
Turn slight right
151 ft·5 sec
10
Turn slight right onto KY 536
0.3 mi·28 sec·Mount Zion Road
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto KY 536
0.5 mi·51 sec·KY 536
Toward KY 536 East
12
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 75, I 71
13
Merge onto I 71; I 75
4.9 mi·5 min·I 71; I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto I 71
72 mi·1 hr 17 min·I 71
Exit 173Toward I 71 South: LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 5Toward I 264 West: Watterson ExpresswayUse the slight left lane.
16
Continue on I 264
10.0 mi·13 min·Henry Watterson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 12Toward I 65, KY 61: Nashville, IndianapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·15 sec
Toward I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, IndianapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 65 South: Nashville
20
Merge onto I 65
39 mi·42 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 91C-AToward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 91C-BToward US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward Paducah, Elizabethtown
24
Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway
98 mi·1 hr 45 min·Western Kentucky Parkway
25
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
0.8 mi·54 sec·Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit 38A
26
Merge onto I 69
37 mi·40 min·I 69
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69
16 mi·17 min·I 69
Exit 68BToward I 24 West, I 69 South: Paducah
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
9.1 mi·9 min·I 24
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 16Toward US 68: Paducah
30
Keep slight right at fork
131 ft·3 sec
Exit 16Toward US 68: Paducah
31
Turn right onto US 68
0.9 mi·1 min·US 68
32
At end of road, turn left onto US 62
2.5 mi·3 min·Kentucky Dam Road
33
Continue on US 60; US 62
2.0 mi·3 min·Clarks River Road
34
Turn right onto US 60 Business; I 24 Business
1.7 mi·2 min·Wayne Sullivan Drive
35
Continue on US 60 Business; I 24 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·South 3rd Street
36
Turn left onto Washington Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Washington Street
37
Arrive at destination
Washington Street
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 154.3 miles from Taylor Mill, KY, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.9 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 68 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.3 miles or 3h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paducah, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Taylor Mill, 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 Taylor Mill, KY
This is one driving day of about 308.6 miles and 5h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Taylor Mill, 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 98.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 154.3 mi from Taylor Mill, KY
· 3h 2m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
For over a century people from around the world have come to rural Central Kentucky to honor the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 138.4
Rolling hills, deep river valleys, and the world's longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, e...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 170.3
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.6
1
$32.40
$14.81
Efficient EV
77.2
0
$27.00
$12.34
EV Truck/SUV
123.4
1
$43.20
$19.75
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Taylor Mill, KY
Late night
in Taylor Mill on Saturday
Local time
12:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Cloudy
S 6 to 10 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Paducah, KY
Night
in Paducah on Friday
Local time
11:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
18 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
5h 52m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Taylor Mill, KY to Paducah, KY covers 308.6 miles and takes about 5h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Western Kentucky Parkway, I 71, I 69. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 154.3 miles from Taylor Mill, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.82 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 308.6 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 15.2 miles (I 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Taylor Mill, KY and Paducah, KY, road signs point toward Indianapolis, Louisville, Western Kentucky Parkway West and Elizabethtown.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
