How far is Leitchfield, KY from Van Buren, MO?

The driving distance from Leitchfield, KY to Van Buren, MO is about 294.3 miles (473.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 261.8 miles (421.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CST.
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
294.3 mi
05h 36m
Flight
261.8 mi
421.32 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Leitchfield.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
261.8 mi
Kilometers
421.32 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
294.3 mi
Kilometers
473.63 km
Drive Time
05h 36m

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 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Van Buren
Fri, Nov 6, 2:51 PM CST
Return by in Leitchfield
Fri, Nov 6, 8:27 PM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Leitchfield
2026-11-06T09:15
Arrive Van Buren
Fri, Nov 6, 2:51 PM CST
Route Timing
05h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CST
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:36 AM to 1:36 PM CST

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

Leave by
5:48 AM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Leitchfield
9:00 PM CST
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
Massac
KY

Census-designated place in McCracken County, Kentucky

From Leitchfield
146.8 mi
02h 48m
To Van Buren
147.5 mi
02h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
41°F
Overnight

Patchy Fog

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 1:00 AM CST
Wind
2 mph NW
Destination
58°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 6:00 AM CST
Wind
5 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Leitchfield and Van Buren.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Leitchfield and Van Buren.

  1. 1

    Start on Public Square

    3 m · 1 sec · Public Square

  2. 2

    Exit the roundabout onto Public Square

    24 m · 1 sec · Public Square

  3. 3

    Turn slight right onto South Main Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · South Main Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right

    1113 ft · 27 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

    68.6 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  6. 6

    Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

    1.3 km · 54 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    37.4 mi · 40 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 69 South: Paducah

    16.2 mi · 18 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right

    21 mi · 23 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60: Paducah, Cairo

    944 ft · 23 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on US 60: Paducah, Cairo

    65 m · 6 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Hinkleville Road

    10.7 mi · 14 min · Hinkleville Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Kentucky Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Kentucky Avenue

  14. 14

    Continue on Paducah Road

    4.2 mi · 5 min · Paducah Road

  15. 15

    Continue on East Kentucky Drive

    1.6 km · 1 min · East Kentucky Drive

  16. 16

    Continue on Paducah Road

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Paducah Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Broadway

    1 km · 49 sec · Broadway

  18. 18

    Turn left onto South 4th Street

    6.1 mi · 7 min · South 4th Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Lee Street

    724 ft · 9 sec · Lee Street

  20. 20

    Continue on 4th Street

    1112 ft · 19 sec · 4th Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Green Street

    2474 ft · 1 min · Green Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Cairo Road

    4.4 mi · 7 min · Cairo Road

  23. 23

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Sikeston

    12.4 mi · 16 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit left

    58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  25. 25

    Keep slight left

    5.5 mi · 6 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West, US 67 North: Springfield, Saint Louis

    4.5 mi · 6 min

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right

    35.5 mi · 42 min

  28. 28

    Turn right onto James Street

    1158 ft · 28 sec · James Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Main Street

    62 m · 6 sec · Main Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Leitchfield and Van Buren.

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
30 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Western Kentucky Parkway
107 mi · 36%
Sikeston
76.3 mi · 26%
US 60 West
40 mi · 14%
I 24 West
37.2 mi · 13%
Hinkleville Road
10.7 mi · 4%
Paducah Road
7.38 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Western Kentucky Parkway

Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

68.6 mi · 01h 14m

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 36m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.5 mi
261.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Massac
02h 48m from Leitchfield
Leave By
5:48 AM CST
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog leaving Leitchfield and Partly Sunny near Van Buren.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Leitchfield to Van Buren?

The road trip is about 294.3 miles (473.6 km) and usually takes 05h 36m 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?

Massac is a useful midpoint, sitting about 146.8 miles from Leitchfield and 147.5 miles from Van Buren.

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

The direct path is about 261.8 miles (421.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.5 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 CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:48 AM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.01 one way or $80.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog around Leitchfield and Partly Sunny near Van Buren.

Stop Ideas Near Massac

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

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

BUS

Paducah, KY

14 mi away
2719 Irvin Cobb Avenue
BUS

Vienna, IL

47 mi away
504 West Vine Street
RAIL

Fulton

57 mi away
21 Newton Rd.
BUS

Marion, IL

82 mi away
2100 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Leitchfield and Van Buren. Straight-line distance: 261.8 mi (421.32 km).

Leitchfield

#1 Leitchfield

City in Grayson County, Kentucky, United States of America

Population6,819
Coordinates37.4800500, -86.2938600
Altitude227
CountryUnited States
Van Buren

#2 Van Buren

City in Carter County, Missouri, United States

Population798
Coordinates36.9956100, -91.0145700
Altitude144
CountryUnited States
Start: Leitchfield (-86.29386, 37.48005)
End: Van Buren (-91.01457, 36.99561)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 474 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.38 gal
39.31 L · about $40.01
Round trip
$80.03
20.76 gal · 78.62 L
Estimated CO2
92.2 kg one way
Round trip: 184.5 kg / 407 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.86 $40.01 $80.03
Mid-grade $4.44 $46.08 $92.15
Premium $4.88 $50.62 $101.25
Diesel $6.09 $63.25 $126.49

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 · Nov 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Leitchfield and Van Buren. The current time is 09:15:05.

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.