How far is Dawson Springs, KY from Louisville, KY?
The driving distance from Dawson Springs, KY to Louisville, KY is about 160.7 miles (258.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 30m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 129.6 miles (208.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
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.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
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 02h 30m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
City in Grayson County, Kentucky, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Dawson Springs and Louisville.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dawson Springs and Louisville.
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1
Start on South Main Street
6 m · 3 sec · South Main Street
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2
Turn right onto East Arcadia Avenue
1.5 km · 1 min · East Arcadia Avenue
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3
Turn left onto Industrial Parkway
1.6 mi · 3 min · Industrial Parkway
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4
Continue on Charleston Road
147 m · 11 sec · Charleston Road
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5
Take the ramp right
1232 ft · 30 sec
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6
Merge slight left
13 mi · 14 min
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7
Keep slight right to continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
1783 ft · 22 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway
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8
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
98.9 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Western Kentucky Parkway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
1955 ft · 48 sec
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10
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
3052 ft · 1 min
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11
Merge slight left
43.6 mi · 49 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward Brook Street
934 ft · 25 sec
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13
Continue on South Brook Street
812 ft · 35 sec · South Brook Street
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14
Turn left onto West Muhammad Ali Boulevard
2198 ft · 1 min · West Muhammad Ali Boulevard
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15
Turn right onto South 5th Street
992 ft · 37 sec · South 5th Street
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16
Turn left onto West Jefferson Street
67 m · 8 sec · West Jefferson Street
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17
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Jefferson Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Dawson Springs and Louisville.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Western Kentucky Parkway
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
98.9 mi · 01h 46m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Dawson Springs and Sunny near Louisville.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Dawson Springs to Louisville?
The road trip is about 160.7 miles (258.7 km) and usually takes 02h 30m 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?
Leitchfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 80.3 miles from Dawson Springs and 80.5 miles from Louisville.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 129.6 miles (208.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.1 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:28 PM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.38 one way or $42.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.4 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Dawson Springs and Louisville, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Dawson Springs and Sunny near Louisville.
Stop Ideas Near Leitchfield
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 Leitchfield.
Louisville, Kentucky
Madisonville, KY
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Dawson Springs and Louisville. Straight-line distance: 129.63 mi (208.62 km).
#1 Dawson Springs
City in Kentucky, United States of America
| Population | 2,629 |
| Coordinates | 37.1672700, -87.6925100 |
| Altitude | 128 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Louisville
The nineteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Louisville metropolitan area.
| Population | 760,026 |
| Coordinates | 38.2542400, -85.7594100 |
| Altitude | 142 |
| Country | United States |
End: West Jefferson Street (-85.759435, 38.254101)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 259 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 21m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 01m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 12m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 40m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 17m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 00m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $21.38 | $42.76 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $24.11 | $48.23 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $26.39 | $52.78 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $30.07 | $60.15 |
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 30, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.