How far is Jackson, KY from Owensboro, KY?

The driving distance from Jackson, KY to Owensboro, KY is about 261.5 miles (420.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 204.6 miles (329.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 12m 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
261.57 mi
04h 06m
Flight
204.56 mi
329.21 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jackson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
204.56 mi
Kilometers
329.21 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
261.57 mi
Kilometers
420.95 km
Drive Time
04h 06m

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 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Owensboro
Sun, Apr 19, 4:11 AM CDT
Return by in Jackson
Sun, Apr 19, 9:17 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jackson
2026-04-19T01:04
Arrive Owensboro
Sun, Apr 19, 5:11 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:06 AM to 11:06 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
8:48 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jackson
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
Bloomfield
KY

City in Nelson County, Kentucky, USA

From Jackson
130 mi
02h 03m
To Owensboro
131.5 mi
02h 03m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph NW
Destination
62°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Jackson and Owensboro.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jackson and Owensboro.

  1. 1

    Start on Hurst Lane

    14 m · 4 sec · Hurst Lane

  2. 2

    Turn right onto College Avenue

    21 m · 6 sec · College Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Brown Street

    76 m · 7 sec · Brown Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1029 ft · 25 sec · Main Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Washington Avenue

    786 ft · 23 sec · Washington Avenue

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Park Road

    2307 ft · 33 sec · Park Road

  7. 7

    Turn right

    18.6 mi · 22 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Mountain Parkway

    42.7 mi · 46 min · Mountain Parkway

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    15.5 mi · 17 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West, I 75 North: Louisville, Cincinnati

    2.4 mi · 4 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 27, US 68: Paris, Lexington

    2152 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Turn right onto North Broadway

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Broadway

  13. 13

    Turn right onto West New Circle Road

    5.8 mi · 8 min · West New Circle Road

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West: Versailles

    1848 ft · 45 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Versailles Road

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Lexington Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward Elizabethtown

    1.1 km · 1 min

  18. 18

    Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

    70.6 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left

    1.4 km · 2 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight left

    1.2 mi · 1 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway

    1079 ft · 26 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West

    1286 ft · 32 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on Paducah, Elizabethtown

    1710 ft · 42 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

    59.1 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward I 165 North: Owensboro

    1 km · 1 min

  26. 26

    Merge slight left

    28.2 mi · 30 min

  27. 27

    Keep slight right to continue on US 60 East, US 231 North: Hawesville

    1792 ft · 44 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left onto Wendell Ford Expressway

    1.2 km · 53 sec · Wendell Ford Expressway

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 54

    1437 ft · 42 sec

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Leitchfield Road

    79 m · 6 sec · Leitchfield Road

  31. 31

    Continue on East Parrish Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · East Parrish Avenue

  32. 32

    Turn right onto Leitchfield Road

    1.1 km · 2 min · Leitchfield Road

  33. 33

    Turn left onto East 5th Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · East 5th Street

  34. 34

    Turn right onto Frederica Street

    997 ft · 21 sec · Frederica Street

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Frederica Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Jackson and Owensboro.

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
35 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
7 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Bluegrass Parkway
72.7 mi · 28%
Western Kentucky Parkway
59.1 mi · 23%
Mountain Parkway
58.2 mi · 22%
I 165 North
28.9 mi · 11%
West New Circle Road
5.81 mi · 2%
Versailles Road
4.51 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Bluegrass Parkway

Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

70.6 mi · 01h 16m

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 06m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+56.9 mi
204.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bloomfield
02h 03m from Jackson
Leave By
8:48 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Jackson and Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Owensboro.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Jackson to Owensboro?

The road trip is about 261.5 miles (420.9 km) and usually takes 04h 06m 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 130 miles from Jackson and 131.5 miles from Owensboro.

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

The direct path is about 204.6 miles (329.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 56.9 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 8:48 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.81 one way or $69.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 82 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Jackson and Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Owensboro.

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 Jackson and Owensboro. Straight-line distance: 204.56 mi (329.21 km).

Jackson

#1 Jackson

City in Breathitt County, Kentucky, United States

Population1,917
Coordinates37.5531500, -83.3835100
Altitude236
CountryUnited States
Owensboro

#2 Owensboro

The most populous city in Daviess County, Kentucky.

Population60,344
Coordinates37.7742200, -87.1133300
Altitude120
CountryUnited States
Start: Hurst Lane (-83.383482, 37.55317)
End: Frederica Street (-87.113495, 37.77421)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 421 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.23 gal
34.94 L · about $34.81
Round trip
$69.61
18.46 gal · 69.88 L
Estimated CO2
82 kg one way
Round trip: 164.1 kg / 362 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $34.81 $69.61
Mid-grade $4.25 $39.26 $78.51
Premium $4.65 $42.96 $85.91
Diesel $5.30 $48.96 $97.91

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 Jackson, KY and Owensboro, KY. The current time in Jackson is 01:04:54, although it is 00:04:54 in Owensboro.

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.