How far is Dawson Springs, KY from Meads, KY?

The driving distance from Dawson Springs, KY to Meads, KY is about 311.1 miles (500.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 285.3 miles (459.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 37m 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
311.06 mi
04h 48m
Flight
285.34 mi
459.21 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Dawson Springs.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
285.34 mi
Kilometers
459.21 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
311.06 mi
Kilometers
500.6 km
Drive Time
04h 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 04h 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Meads
Thu, Apr 30, 9:49 AM EDT
Return by in Dawson Springs
Thu, Apr 30, 1:38 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dawson Springs
2026-04-30T04:01
Arrive Meads
Thu, Apr 30, 8:49 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:49 AM to 1:49 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
7:22 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dawson Springs
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
Bloomfield
KY

City in Nelson County, Kentucky, USA

From Dawson Springs
155.3 mi
02h 24m
To Meads
155.7 mi
02h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph N
Destination
63°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Dawson Springs and Meads.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dawson Springs and Meads.

  1. 1

    Start on South Main Street

    6 m · 5 sec · South Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Arcadia Avenue

    1.5 km · 1 min · East Arcadia Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Industrial Parkway

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Industrial Parkway

  4. 4

    Continue on Charleston Road

    147 m · 11 sec · Charleston Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp right

    1232 ft · 30 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    13 mi · 14 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

    1783 ft · 22 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway

  8. 8

    Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

    98.9 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville

    1955 ft · 48 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville

    3052 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    1.4 mi · 1 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown

    3252 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

    70.7 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Frankfort

    571 ft · 16 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Lexington Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Versailles Road

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road

  17. 17

    Take the exit straight toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road

    2735 ft · 1 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto New Circle Road

    5.7 mi · 8 min · New Circle Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto North Broadway

    1 mi · 2 min · North Broadway

  20. 20

    Turn left onto I 75 South, I 64 East: Knoxville, Ashland

    2515 ft · 1 min

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight left toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland

    16.6 mi · 19 min

  23. 23

    Keep slight left

    83.6 mi · 1 hr 30 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60

    2188 ft · 54 sec

  25. 25

    Turn left

    4 mi · 6 min

  26. 26

    Turn left onto US Route 60

    2 mi · 3 min · US Route 60

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Marsh Hill Drive

    34 m · 9 sec · Marsh Hill Drive

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Midland Trail Road

    125 m · 20 sec · Midland Trail Road

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Dawson Springs and Meads.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
29 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 East
100 mi · 32%
Western Kentucky Parkway
99.2 mi · 32%
Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi · 23%
Charleston Road
13.3 mi · 4%
New Circle Road
5.65 mi · 2%
Versailles Road
4.64 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

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.

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
04h 48m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.8 mi
285.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bloomfield
02h 24m from Dawson Springs
Leave By
7:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Dawson Springs and Mostly Sunny near Meads.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Dawson Springs to Meads?

The road trip is about 311.1 miles (500.6 km) and usually takes 04h 48m 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?

Bloomfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 155.3 miles from Dawson Springs and 155.7 miles from Meads.

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

The direct path is about 285.3 miles (459.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.8 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 7:22 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.41 one way or $82.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.6 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 Meads, 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 Mostly Sunny near Meads.

Stop Ideas Near Bloomfield

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Bloomfield, 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 Bloomfield.

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

55 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dawson Springs and Meads. Straight-line distance: 285.34 mi (459.21 km).

Dawson Springs

#1 Dawson Springs

City in Kentucky, United States of America

Population2,629
Coordinates37.1672700, -87.6925100
Altitude128
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Meads

A census-designated place located in Meade County, Kentucky.

Population288,649
Coordinates38.4125800, -82.7090500
Altitude185
CountryUnited States
Start: South Main Street (-87.692514, 37.167267)
End: (-82.708783, 38.41275)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 501 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.98 gal
41.55 L · about $41.41
Round trip
$82.81
21.96 gal · 83.1 L
Estimated CO2
97.6 kg one way
Round trip: 195.2 kg / 430 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.41 $82.81
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.70 $93.40
Premium $4.65 $51.10 $102.20
Diesel $5.30 $58.24 $116.48

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Dawson Springs, KY and Meads, KY. The current time in Dawson Springs is 04:01:05, although it is 05:01:05 in Meads.

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.