How far is Bowling Green, KY from Barbourville, KY?

The driving distance from Bowling Green, KY to Barbourville, KY is about 170.9 miles (275.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 141.4 miles (227.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
170.91 mi
03h 16m
Flight
141.36 mi
227.5 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bowling Green.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
141.36 mi
Kilometers
227.5 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
170.91 mi
Kilometers
275.06 km
Drive Time
03h 16m

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 03h 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Barbourville
Thu, Apr 23, 3:26 AM EDT
Return by in Bowling Green
Thu, Apr 23, 5:43 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bowling Green
2026-04-22T23:09
Arrive Barbourville
Thu, Apr 23, 2:26 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:17 AM to 12:17 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:26 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bowling Green
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Russell Springs
KY

City in Kentucky

From Bowling Green
85.3 mi
01h 38m
To Barbourville
85.6 mi
01h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW
Destination
84°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bowling Green and Barbourville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bowling Green and Barbourville.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    98 m · 29 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Chestnut Street

    2228 ft · 1 min · Chestnut Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East 7th Avenue

    761 ft · 13 sec · East 7th Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Fairview Avenue

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Fairview Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Cemetery Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Cemetery Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp left

    1569 ft · 38 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Interstate Highway 65

    17 mi · 18 min · Interstate Highway 65

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Somerset, Glasgow

    2467 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Cumberland Parkway

    85.6 mi · 1 hr 32 min · Cumberland Parkway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 914: Somerset, Burnside

    1523 ft · 32 sec

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    2045 ft · 34 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left

    33.8 mi · 41 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit right

    1778 ft · 43 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    11.3 mi · 12 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25, US 25E: Corbin, Barbourville

    1752 ft · 38 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Corbin Bypass

    2 mi · 3 min · Corbin Bypass

  17. 17

    Continue on Cumberland Gap Parkway

    14.1 mi · 18 min · Cumberland Gap Parkway

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Manchester Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Manchester Street

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North Main Street

    1793 ft · 37 sec · North Main Street

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout toward Court Square

    50 m · 3 sec · Court Square

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Court Square

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bowling Green and Barbourville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Cumberland Parkway
85.6 mi · 50%
Interstate Highway 65
17 mi · 10%
Cumberland Gap Parkway
14.1 mi · 8%
KY 914
12.3 mi · 7%
Corbin Bypass
2.03 mi · 1%
Fairview Avenue
1.69 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Cumberland Parkway

Merge slight left onto Cumberland Parkway

85.6 mi · 01h 32m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 16m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.5 mi
141.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Russell Springs
01h 38m from Bowling Green
Leave By
10:26 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Bowling Green and Sunny near Barbourville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bowling Green to Barbourville?

The road trip is about 170.9 miles (275.1 km) and usually takes 03h 16m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Russell Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 85.3 miles from Bowling Green and 85.6 miles from Barbourville.

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

The direct path is about 141.4 miles (227.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.5 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:26 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.74 one way or $45.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.6 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Bowling Green and Barbourville, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Bowling Green and Sunny near Barbourville.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bowling Green and Barbourville. Straight-line distance: 141.36 mi (227.5 km).

Bowling Green

#1 Bowling Green

The most populous city in Warren County, Kentucky.

Population70,631
Coordinates36.9903200, -86.4436000
Altitude161
CountryUnited States
Barbourville

#2 Barbourville

City in Knox County, Kentucky, United States

Population2,974
Coordinates36.8664800, -83.8888100
Altitude299
CountryUnited States
Start: Bowling Green (-86.4436, 36.99032)
End: Barbourville (-83.88881, 36.86648)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 275 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.03 gal
22.83 L · about $22.74
Round trip
$45.48
12.06 gal · 45.66 L
Estimated CO2
53.6 kg one way
Round trip: 107.2 kg / 236 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.74 $45.48
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.65 $51.29
Premium $4.65 $28.06 $56.13
Diesel $5.30 $31.98 $63.97

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 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Bowling Green, KY and Barbourville, KY. The current time in Bowling Green is 23:09:16, although it is 00:09:16 in Barbourville.

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.