How far is Jackson, KY from Owensboro, KY?

The driving distance from Jackson, KY to Owensboro, KY is about 166.8 miles (268.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 122.5 miles (197.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 07m 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
166.87 mi
02h 33m
Flight
122.48 mi
197.11 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jackson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
122.48 mi
Kilometers
197.11 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
166.87 mi
Kilometers
268.55 km
Drive Time
02h 33m

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 02h 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Owensboro
Thu, Oct 15, 10:17 PM CDT
Return by in Jackson
Fri, Oct 16, 1:50 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jackson
2026-10-15T20:43
Arrive Owensboro
Thu, Oct 15, 11:17 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:34 AM to 11:34 AM CDT

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

Leave by
1:22 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jackson
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
Sonora
KY

City in Hardin County, Kentucky, United States of America

From Jackson
82.7 mi
01h 16m
To Owensboro
84.1 mi
01h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph SE
Destination
89°F
Today

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 11:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph SSW

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 Jackson Pike

    1.2 mi · 5 min · Jackson Pike

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Louisville Road

    10.6 mi · 12 min · Louisville Road

  3. 3

    Turn left

    1948 ft · 48 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Bluegrass Parkway

    58.2 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  5. 5

    Keep slight left

    1.4 km · 2 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    1.2 mi · 1 min

  7. 7

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

    1079 ft · 26 sec

  8. 8

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

    1286 ft · 32 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Paducah, Elizabethtown

    1710 ft · 42 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

    59.1 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 165 North: Owensboro

    1 km · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    28.2 mi · 30 min

  13. 13

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

    1792 ft · 44 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Wendell Ford Expressway

    1.2 km · 53 sec · Wendell Ford Expressway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 54

    1437 ft · 42 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Leitchfield Road

    79 m · 6 sec · Leitchfield Road

  17. 17

    Continue on East Parrish Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · East Parrish Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Leitchfield Road

    1.1 km · 2 min · Leitchfield Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto East 5th Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · East 5th Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Frederica Street

    997 ft · 21 sec · Frederica Street

  21. 21

    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
21 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
5 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Bluegrass Parkway
60.3 mi · 36%
Western Kentucky Parkway
59.1 mi · 35%
I 165 North
28.9 mi · 17%
Louisville Road
10.6 mi · 6%
East Parrish Avenue
1.32 mi · 1%
Jackson Pike
1.18 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Western Kentucky Parkway

Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

59.1 mi · 01h 03m

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
02h 33m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.3 mi
122.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sonora
01h 16m from Jackson
Leave By
1:22 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Jackson and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 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 166.8 miles (268.5 km) and usually takes 02h 33m 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?

Sonora is a useful midpoint, sitting about 82.7 miles from Jackson and 84.1 miles from Owensboro.

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

The direct path is about 122.5 miles (197.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.3 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 1:22 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.53 one way or $47.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.3 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 Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Jackson and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Owensboro.

Stop Ideas Near Sonora

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

82 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jackson and Owensboro. Straight-line distance: 122.48 mi (197.11 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Jackson

Jackson is a place in Kentucky, United States.

Population0
Coordinates37.8250800, -84.8707900
Altitude260
CountryUnited States
Owensboro

#2 Owensboro

The most populous city in Daviess County, Kentucky.

Population60,344
Coordinates37.7742200, -87.1133300
Altitude120
CountryUnited States
Start: Jackson Pike (-84.87079, 37.824952)
End: Frederica Street (-87.113495, 37.77421)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 269 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.89 gal
22.29 L · about $23.53
Round trip
$47.06
11.78 gal · 44.58 L
Estimated CO2
52.3 kg one way
Round trip: 104.7 kg / 231 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.00 $23.53 $47.06
Mid-grade $4.56 $26.86 $53.72
Premium $5.00 $29.44 $58.88
Diesel $6.12 $36.03 $72.06

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 · Oct 15, 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 20:43:22, although it is 19:43:22 in Owensboro.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.