How far is Henderson, KY from Middlesboro, KY?

The driving distance from Henderson, KY to Middlesboro, KY is about 297.8 miles (479.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 229.3 miles (369.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 25m 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
297.83 mi
05h 42m
Flight
229.35 mi
369.1 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Henderson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
229.35 mi
Kilometers
369.1 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
297.83 mi
Kilometers
479.31 km
Drive Time
05h 42m

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 05h 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Middlesboro
Thu, Apr 23, 9:27 AM EDT
Return by in Henderson
Thu, Apr 23, 2:10 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Henderson
2026-04-23T02:45
Arrive Middlesboro
Thu, Apr 23, 8:27 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:43 PM to 2:43 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
5:34 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Henderson
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
Edmonton
KY

City in Kentucky, U.

From Henderson
148.8 mi
02h 51m
To Middlesboro
149.1 mi
02h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 14 mph S
Destination
83°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 3 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Henderson and Middlesboro.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Henderson and Middlesboro.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    30 m · 9 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Washington Street

    65 m · 10 sec · Washington Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Green Street

    1360 ft · 39 sec · South Green Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto 2nd Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · 2nd Street

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on 2nd Street

    534 ft · 10 sec · 2nd Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right

    1194 ft · 29 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight right

    1.3 km · 53 sec

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Owensboro

    1 km · 1 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    23.2 mi · 25 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60 East: Hawesville

    2027 ft · 34 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Wendell Ford Expressway

    6.2 mi · 7 min · Wendell Ford Expressway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 165 South: Bowling Green

    2273 ft · 56 sec

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    62.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    826 ft · 20 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Morgantown Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Morgantown Road

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Old Morgantown Road

    1 mi · 3 min · Old Morgantown Road

  17. 17

    Turn left onto University Boulevard

    110 m · 9 sec · University Boulevard

  18. 18

    Continue on Kentucky Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Kentucky Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Louisville Road

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Louisville Road

  20. 20

    Turn right

    1.2 km · 1 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight left

    1.1 km · 1 min

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    14.5 mi · 15 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward Somerset, Glasgow

    2467 ft · 1 min

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto Cumberland Parkway

    85.6 mi · 1 hr 32 min · Cumberland Parkway

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 914: Somerset, Burnside

    1523 ft · 32 sec

  26. 26

    Continue straight

    2045 ft · 34 sec

  27. 27

    Turn left

    33.8 mi · 41 min

  28. 28

    Take the exit right

    1778 ft · 43 sec

  29. 29

    Merge slight left

    11.3 mi · 12 min

  30. 30

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25, US 25E: Corbin, Barbourville

    1752 ft · 38 sec

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Corbin Bypass

    2 mi · 3 min · Corbin Bypass

  32. 32

    Continue on Cumberland Gap Parkway

    30.7 mi · 37 min · Cumberland Gap Parkway

  33. 33

    Continue on Bob Madon Bypass

    5.3 mi · 7 min · Bob Madon Bypass

  34. 34

    Continue on Wilderness Road

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Wilderness Road

  35. 35

    Continue on Pineville Road

    1.6 km · 1 min · Pineville Road

  36. 36

    Continue on 12th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 12th Street

  37. 37

    Turn right onto East Cumberland Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · East Cumberland Avenue

  38. 38

    Turn right onto 21st Street

    155 m · 28 sec · 21st Street

  39. 39

    Turn left onto Lothbury Avenue

    53 m · 8 sec · Lothbury Avenue

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Lothbury Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Henderson and Middlesboro.

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
40 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
5 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Cumberland Parkway
85.6 mi · 29%
I 165 South
63 mi · 21%
Cumberland Gap Parkway
30.7 mi · 10%
Owensboro
23.9 mi · 8%
Louisville Road
18 mi · 6%
KY 914
12.3 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Cumberland Parkway

Merge slight left onto Cumberland Parkway

85.6 mi · 01h 32m

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
05h 42m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+68.5 mi
229.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Edmonton
02h 51m from Henderson
Leave By
5:34 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Henderson and Sunny near Middlesboro.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Henderson to Middlesboro?

The road trip is about 297.8 miles (479.3 km) and usually takes 05h 42m 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?

Edmonton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 148.8 miles from Henderson and 149.1 miles from Middlesboro.

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

The direct path is about 229.3 miles (369.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 68.5 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:34 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.63 one way or $79.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 93.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Henderson and Sunny near Middlesboro.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Henderson and Middlesboro. Straight-line distance: 229.35 mi (369.1 km).

Henderson

#1 Henderson

City in and county seat of Henderson County, Kentucky, United States

Population27,974
Coordinates37.8361500, -87.5900100
Altitude124
CountryUnited States
Middlesboro

#2 Middlesboro

City in Bell County, Kentucky, United States of America

Population10,730
Coordinates36.6084200, -83.7165800
Altitude348
CountryUnited States
Start: Henderson (-87.59001, 37.83615)
End: Middlesboro (-83.71658, 36.60842)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 479 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.51 gal
39.78 L · about $39.63
Round trip
$79.27
21.02 gal · 79.56 L
Estimated CO2
93.4 kg one way
Round trip: 186.8 kg / 412 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $39.63 $79.27
Mid-grade $4.25 $44.70 $89.40
Premium $4.65 $48.91 $97.83
Diesel $5.30 $55.75 $111.49

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 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Henderson, KY and Middlesboro, KY. The current time in Henderson is 02:45:25, although it is 03:45:25 in Middlesboro.

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.