How far is Elizabethtown, KY from Paintsville, KY?

The driving distance from Elizabethtown, KY to Paintsville, KY is about 199.5 miles (321.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 166.9 miles (268.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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
199.51 mi
03h 45m
Flight
166.93 mi
268.64 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elizabethtown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
166.93 mi
Kilometers
268.64 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
199.51 mi
Kilometers
321.08 km
Drive Time
03h 45m

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 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Paintsville
Sat, Apr 18, 2:47 AM EDT
Return by in Elizabethtown
Sat, Apr 18, 6:33 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elizabethtown
2026-04-17T23:01
Arrive Paintsville
Sat, Apr 18, 2:47 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:46 AM to 11:46 AM EDT

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

Leave by
9:28 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elizabethtown
9:00 PM EDT
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
Columbus
KY

City in Hickman County, Kentucky, United States

From Elizabethtown
99.6 mi
01h 52m
To Paintsville
99.9 mi
01h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph SW
Destination
85°F
Friday

Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 3 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Elizabethtown and Paintsville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elizabethtown and Paintsville.

  1. 1

    Start on North Mulberry Street

    2 mi · 3 min · North Mulberry Street

  2. 2

    Take the ramp slight right

    1218 ft · 30 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    3127 ft · 38 sec

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown

    1.5 km · 2 min

  5. 5

    Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

    70.7 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Frankfort

    571 ft · 16 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Lexington Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Versailles Road

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road

  9. 9

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

    2735 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto New Circle Road

    5.7 mi · 8 min · New Circle Road

  11. 11

    Turn left onto North Broadway

    1 mi · 2 min · North Broadway

  12. 12

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

    2515 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

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

    16.6 mi · 19 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Mountain Parkway

    76.7 mi · 1 hr 23 min · Mountain Parkway

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Rock House Road

    1.4 km · 58 sec · Rock House Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Wheeler Branch Road

    1 km · 43 sec · Wheeler Branch Road

  18. 18

    Continue on New Paintsville Road

    12.1 mi · 14 min · New Paintsville Road

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on 3rd Street

    1125 ft · 24 sec · 3rd Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Court Street

    151 m · 22 sec · Court Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Court Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Elizabethtown and Paintsville.

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
22 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Mountain Parkway
76.7 mi · 38%
Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi · 35%
I 64 East
16.6 mi · 8%
New Paintsville Road
14.2 mi · 7%
New Circle Road
5.65 mi · 3%
Versailles Road
4.64 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Mountain Parkway

Keep slight right to continue on Mountain Parkway

76.7 mi · 01h 23m

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 45m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.6 mi
166.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Columbus
01h 52m from Elizabethtown
Leave By
9:28 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Elizabethtown and Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny near Paintsville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elizabethtown to Paintsville?

The road trip is about 199.5 miles (321.1 km) and usually takes 03h 45m 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?

Columbus is a useful midpoint, sitting about 99.6 miles from Elizabethtown and 99.9 miles from Paintsville.

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

The direct path is about 166.9 miles (268.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.6 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 9:28 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.75 one way or $55.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Elizabethtown and Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny near Paintsville.

Stop Ideas Near Columbus

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

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

RAIL

Maysville

86 mi away
West Front St & Rosemary Clooney St
RAIL

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal

119 mi away
1301 Western Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elizabethtown and Paintsville. Straight-line distance: 166.93 mi (268.64 km).

Elizabethtown

#1 Elizabethtown

County seat of Hardin County, Kentucky, United States

Population30,331
Coordinates37.6939500, -85.8591300
Altitude221
CountryUnited States
Paintsville

#2 Paintsville

City in Kentucky

Population3,925
Coordinates37.8145400, -82.8071100
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: Elizabethtown (-85.85913, 37.69395)
End: Paintsville (-82.80711, 37.81454)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 321 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.36 gal
27.87 L · about $27.75
Round trip
$55.51
14.72 gal · 55.74 L
Estimated CO2
65.4 kg one way
Round trip: 130.8 kg / 288 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.75 $55.51
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.30 $62.60
Premium $4.65 $34.25 $68.51
Diesel $5.30 $39.04 $78.07

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 Elizabethtown and Paintsville. The current time is 23:01:42.

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.