How far is Florence, KY from Cave City, KY?

The driving distance from Florence, KY to Cave City, KY is about 171.6 miles (276.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 147.6 miles (237.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 26m 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
171.57 mi
03h 13m
Flight
147.61 mi
237.56 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Florence.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
147.61 mi
Kilometers
237.56 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
171.57 mi
Kilometers
276.11 km
Drive Time
03h 13m

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 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cave City
Mon, Jun 1, 9:09 PM CDT
Return by in Florence
Tue, Jun 2, 1:22 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Florence
2026-06-01T18:56
Arrive Cave City
Mon, Jun 1, 10:09 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
8:13 AM to 10:13 AM CDT

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

Leave by
10:34 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Florence
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
Meadowview Estates
KY

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

From Florence
85.8 mi
01h 36m
To Cave City
85.7 mi
01h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
This Afternoon

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 4:00 PM EDT
Wind
7 mph NE
Destination
81°F
Monday

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 3 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Florence and Cave City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Florence and Cave City.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    8 m · 3 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  3. 3

    Continue straight

    1288 ft · 27 sec

  4. 4

    Turn left onto I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville

    2100 ft · 53 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    6.9 mi · 7 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 71 South: Louisville

    71.5 mi · 1 hr 18 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight left toward I 264 West: Watterson Expressway

    2346 ft · 45 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on Henry Watterson Expressway

    10 mi · 14 min · Henry Watterson Expressway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis

    936 ft · 15 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, Indianapolis

    963 ft · 15 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Nashville

    1 mi · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    77.6 mi · 1 hr 24 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 70, KY 90: Cave City, Glasgow

    2073 ft · 56 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Mammoth Cave Road

    1292 ft · 32 sec · Mammoth Cave Road

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Mammoth Cave Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Mammoth Cave Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Broadway Street

    1142 ft · 23 sec · Broadway Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Broadway Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Florence and Cave City.

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
17 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 71 South
78.8 mi · 46%
I 65 South
78.6 mi · 46%
Henry Watterson Expressway
9.99 mi · 6%
Mammoth Cave Street
1.11 mi · 1%
I 264 West
0.44 mi
KY 70
0.39 mi
Longest Stretch

I 65 South

Merge slight left

77.6 mi · 01h 24m

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 13m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24 mi
147.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Meadowview Estates
01h 36m from Florence
Leave By
10:34 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Florence and Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Cave City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Florence to Cave City?

The road trip is about 171.6 miles (276.1 km) and usually takes 03h 13m 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?

Meadowview Estates is a useful midpoint, sitting about 85.8 miles from Florence and 85.7 miles from Cave City.

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

The direct path is about 147.6 miles (237.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 24 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 10:34 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.81 one way or $45.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Florence and Cave City, 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 Florence and Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Cave City.

Stop Ideas Near Meadowview Estates

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

12 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Florence and Cave City. Straight-line distance: 147.61 mi (237.56 km).

Florence

#1 Florence

City in Kentucky, US

Population33,423
Coordinates38.9989500, -84.6266100
Altitude282
CountryUnited States
Cave City

#2 Cave City

City in Kentucky

Population2,426
Coordinates37.1367200, -85.9569200
Altitude193
CountryUnited States
Start: Florence (-84.62661, 38.99895)
End: Cave City (-85.95692, 37.13672)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 276 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.05 gal
22.92 L · about $22.81
Round trip
$45.63
12.1 gal · 45.84 L
Estimated CO2
53.8 kg one way
Round trip: 107.5 kg / 237 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.81 $45.63
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.73 $51.46
Premium $4.65 $28.16 $56.31
Diesel $5.30 $32.09 $64.18

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 · Jun 01, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Florence, KY and Cave City, KY. The current time in Florence is 18:56:41, although it is 17:56:41 in Cave City.

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.