How far is Bardstown, KY from Louisville, KY?

The driving distance from Bardstown, KY to Louisville, KY is about 40.9 miles (65.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 34.6 miles (55.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 36m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
40.9 mi
00h 48m
Flight
34.62 mi
55.72 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bardstown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
34.62 mi
Kilometers
55.72 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
40.9 mi
Kilometers
65.82 km
Drive Time
00h 48m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Louisville
Sat, Apr 18, 7:15 AM EDT
Return by in Bardstown
Sat, Apr 18, 8:03 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bardstown
2026-04-18T06:27
Arrive Louisville
Sat, Apr 18, 7:15 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:48 AM to 10:48 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:54 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bardstown
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Mount Washington
KY

Highest mountain in the US state of New Hampshire

From Bardstown
22 mi
00h 24m
To Louisville
19 mi
00h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph SW
Destination
79°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 14 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bardstown and Louisville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bardstown and Louisville.

  1. 1

    Start on Court Square

    145 m · 8 sec · Court Square

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary

    18 mi · 21 min

  3. 3

    Continue on Mt Washington Bypass

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Mt Washington Bypass

  4. 4

    Continue on Bardstown Road

    4.8 mi · 5 min · Bardstown Road

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 265, KY 841: Gene Snyder Freeway

    681 ft · 17 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 265 West, KY 841 West: Gene Snyder Freeway

    2274 ft · 55 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Gene Snyder Freeway

    6.6 mi · 8 min · Gene Snyder Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Louisville

    1.3 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Kentucky Turnpike

    9.6 mi · 12 min · Kentucky Turnpike

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Brook Street

    934 ft · 25 sec

  11. 11

    Continue on South Brook Street

    812 ft · 35 sec · South Brook Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto West Muhammad Ali Boulevard

    2198 ft · 1 min · West Muhammad Ali Boulevard

  13. 13

    Turn right onto South 5th Street

    992 ft · 37 sec · South 5th Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West Jefferson Street

    67 m · 8 sec · West Jefferson Street

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Jefferson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bardstown and Louisville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
15 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
36.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Court Square
18 mi · 44%
Kentucky Turnpike
9.65 mi · 24%
Gene Snyder Freeway
6.58 mi · 16%
Bardstown Road
4.77 mi · 12%
Mt Washington Bypass
2.54 mi · 6%
I 65 North
0.8 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Court Square

Exit the rotary

18 mi · 00h 21m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 48m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.3 mi
34.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mount Washington
00h 24m from Bardstown
Leave By
4:54 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Bardstown and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Louisville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bardstown to Louisville?

The road trip is about 40.9 miles (65.8 km) and usually takes 00h 48m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mount Washington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 22 miles from Bardstown and 19 miles from Louisville.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 34.6 miles (55.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:54 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.43 one way or $10.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms around Bardstown and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Louisville.

Stop Ideas Near Mount Washington

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Mount Washington, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Mount Washington.

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

29 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bardstown and Louisville. Straight-line distance: 34.62 mi (55.72 km).

Bardstown

#1 Bardstown

City in Kentucky

Population13,302
Coordinates37.8092300, -85.4669000
Altitude197
CountryUnited States
Louisville

#2 Louisville

The nineteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Louisville metropolitan area.

Population760,026
Coordinates38.2542400, -85.7594100
Altitude142
CountryUnited States
Start: Court Square (-85.46696, 37.809322)
End: West Jefferson Street (-85.759435, 38.254101)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 66 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.44 gal
5.46 L · about $5.43
Round trip
$10.86
2.88 gal · 10.92 L
Estimated CO2
12.8 kg one way
Round trip: 25.6 kg / 56 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.43 $10.86
Mid-grade $4.25 $6.12 $12.25
Premium $4.65 $6.70 $13.40
Diesel $5.30 $7.64 $15.28

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Kentucky · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Bardstown and Louisville. The current time is 06:27:00.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.