How far is Elizabethtown, KY from Russellville, KY?

The driving distance from Elizabethtown, KY to Russellville, KY is about 103 miles (165.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 81.5 miles (131.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 50m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
103.04 mi
01h 55m
Flight
81.44 mi
131.07 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elizabethtown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
81.44 mi
Kilometers
131.07 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
103.04 mi
Kilometers
165.82 km
Drive Time
01h 55m

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 01h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Russellville
Sun, Apr 19, 3:58 AM CDT
Return by in Elizabethtown
Sun, Apr 19, 6:53 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elizabethtown
2026-04-19T03:03
Arrive Russellville
Sun, Apr 19, 4:58 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:55 AM to 10:55 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:40 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elizabethtown
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Smiths Grove
KY

Human settlement in Warren County, Kentucky, United States of America

From Elizabethtown
51.5 mi
00h 57m
To Russellville
51.5 mi
00h 57m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph NW
Destination
63°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Mulberry Street

    24 m · 9 sec · North Mulberry Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Dixie Avenue

    108 m · 6 sec · West Dixie Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right

    40 m · 2 sec

  4. 4

    Turn left

    38 m · 3 sec

  5. 5

    Turn slight right onto East Dixie Avenue

    1.7 mi · 2 min · East Dixie Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Western Kentucky Parkway

    2095 ft · 28 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 South

    2176 ft · 53 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Nashville

    2507 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    69.6 mi · 1 hr 15 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 165, KY 9007: Owensboro, Scottsville

    1272 ft · 22 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 165: Owensboro

    2931 ft · 50 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    4.3 mi · 5 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 68, KY 80: Russellville, Bowling Green

    1843 ft · 45 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Russellville Road

    8.2 mi · 10 min · Russellville Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Bowling Green Road

    11.8 mi · 13 min · Bowling Green Road

  16. 16

    Continue on East Jefferson Davis Highway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · East Jefferson Davis Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Bowling Green Road

    2964 ft · 52 sec · Bowling Green Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Franklin Street

    765 ft · 13 sec · Franklin Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Franklin Road

    1133 ft · 19 sec · Franklin Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Franklin Street

    114 m · 7 sec · Franklin Street

  21. 21

    Continue on East 4th Street

    3170 ft · 54 sec · East 4th Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 4th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
21.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 65 South
70.5 mi · 68%
Bowling Green Road
12.4 mi · 12%
Russellville Road
8.24 mi · 8%
I 165
5.12 mi · 5%
East Jefferson Davis Highway
3.19 mi · 3%
East Dixie Avenue
1.74 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 65 South

Merge slight left

69.6 mi · 01h 15m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
01h 55m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.5 mi
81.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Smiths Grove
00h 57m from Elizabethtown
Leave By
2:40 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Elizabethtown and Chance Rain Showers near Russellville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 103 miles (165.8 km) and usually takes 01h 55m 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?

Smiths Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 51.5 miles from Elizabethtown and 51.5 miles from Russellville.

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

The direct path is about 81.5 miles (131.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:40 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.73 one way or $27.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Elizabethtown and Chance Rain Showers near Russellville.

Stop Ideas Near Smiths Grove

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

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

BUS

Nashville, TN

112 mi away
705 5th Avenue South
BUS

Clarksville, TN

118 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n
BUS

Madisonville, KY

119 mi away
4765 Hanson Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elizabethtown and Russellville. Straight-line distance: 81.44 mi (131.07 km).

Elizabethtown

#1 Elizabethtown

County seat of Hardin County, Kentucky, United States

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

#2 Russellville

City in Kentucky, USA

Population7,167
Coordinates36.8453200, -86.8872200
Altitude181
CountryUnited States
Start: Elizabethtown (-85.85913, 37.69395)
End: Russellville (-86.88722, 36.84532)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 166 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.64 gal
13.76 L · about $13.73
Round trip
$27.45
7.28 gal · 27.52 L
Estimated CO2
32.3 kg one way
Round trip: 64.7 kg / 143 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.73 $27.45
Mid-grade $4.25 $15.48 $30.96
Premium $4.65 $16.94 $33.88
Diesel $5.30 $19.31 $38.61

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 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Elizabethtown, KY and Russellville, KY. The current time in Elizabethtown is 03:03:12, although it is 02:03:12 in Russellville.

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.