How far is Burlington, KY from Paducah, KY?
The driving distance from Burlington, KY to Paducah, KY is about 306.6 miles (493.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 44m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 250 miles (402.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 05h 44m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Human settlement in Grayson County, Kentucky, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Burlington and Paducah.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington and Paducah.
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1
Start on Jefferson Street
21 m · 5 sec · Jefferson Street
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2
Turn right onto Washington Street
975 ft · 22 sec · Washington Street
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3
Continue on Burlington Pike
4.4 mi · 7 min · Burlington Pike
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4
Take the ramp right toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville
1.6 mi · 4 min
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5
Merge slight left
6.9 mi · 7 min
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6
Take the exit slight right toward I 71 South: Louisville
71.5 mi · 1 hr 18 min
-
7
Take the exit slight left toward I 264 West: Watterson Expressway
2346 ft · 45 sec
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8
Continue on Henry Watterson Expressway
10 mi · 14 min · Henry Watterson Expressway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis
936 ft · 15 sec
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10
Keep slight left to continue on I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, Indianapolis
963 ft · 15 sec
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Nashville
1 mi · 2 min
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12
Merge slight left
38.7 mi · 42 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
1079 ft · 26 sec
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14
Keep slight right to continue on US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
1286 ft · 32 sec
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Paducah, Elizabethtown
1710 ft · 42 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
98 mi · 1 hr 45 min · Western Kentucky Parkway
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17
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway
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18
Merge slight left
37.4 mi · 40 min
-
19
Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 69 South: Paducah
16.2 mi · 18 min
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20
Keep slight right
9.1 mi · 10 min
-
21
Take the exit slight right toward US 68: Paducah
1898 ft · 46 sec
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22
Keep slight right to continue on US 68: Paducah
40 m · 4 sec
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23
Turn right
1.5 km · 1 min
-
24
At the end of the road, turn left onto Kentucky Dam Road
2.5 mi · 3 min · Kentucky Dam Road
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25
Continue on Clarks River Road
2 mi · 3 min · Clarks River Road
-
26
Turn right onto Wayne Sullivan Drive
1.7 mi · 3 min · Wayne Sullivan Drive
-
27
Continue on South 3rd Street
1.4 mi · 2 min · South 3rd Street
-
28
Turn left onto Washington Street
1471 ft · 1 min · Washington Street
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Washington Street
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Burlington and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Paducah.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Burlington to Paducah?
The road trip is about 306.6 miles (493.4 km) and usually takes 05h 44m 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?
Clarkson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 153.2 miles from Burlington and 153.4 miles from Paducah.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 250 miles (402.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 56.6 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:30 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.80 one way or $81.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.2 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Burlington and Paducah, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Burlington and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Paducah.
Stop Ideas Near Clarkson
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Clarkson.
Louisville, Kentucky
Madisonville, KY
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Burlington and Paducah. Straight-line distance: 249.98 mi (402.31 km).
#1 Burlington
Census-designated place in Kentucky, United States
| Population | 15,926 |
| Coordinates | 39.0275600, -84.7241100 |
| Altitude | 256 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Paducah
City in McCracken County, Kentucky, United States
| Population | 24,883 |
| Coordinates | 37.0833900, -88.6000500 |
| Altitude | 104 |
| Country | United States |
End: Paducah (-88.60005, 37.08339)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 493 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 12m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 39m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 07m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 06m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 22m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 49m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $40.80 | $81.60 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $46.02 | $92.03 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $50.36 | $100.71 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $57.39 | $114.78 |
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 10, 2026