How far is Louisville, KY from Paducah, KY?
The driving distance from Louisville, KY to Paducah, KY is about 216.5 miles (348.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 19m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 175.2 miles (281.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 39m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 19m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
City in Kentucky, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Louisville and Paducah.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Louisville and Paducah.
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1
Start on West Jefferson Street
78 m · 16 sec · West Jefferson Street
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2
Turn left onto South 6th Street
87 m · 15 sec · South 6th Street
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3
Turn left onto West Liberty Street
2397 ft · 1 min · West Liberty Street
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4
Turn right onto South 1st Street
68 m · 4 sec · South 1st Street
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5
Take the ramp slight left toward I 65 South: Nashville
1087 ft · 27 sec
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6
Merge slight left
43.8 mi · 49 min
-
7
Take the exit slight right toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
1079 ft · 26 sec
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8
Keep slight right to continue on US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
1286 ft · 32 sec
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Paducah, Elizabethtown
1710 ft · 42 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
98 mi · 1 hr 45 min · Western Kentucky Parkway
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11
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway
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12
Merge slight left
37.4 mi · 40 min
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 69 South: Paducah
16.2 mi · 18 min
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14
Keep slight right
9.1 mi · 10 min
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15
Take the exit slight right toward US 68: Paducah
1898 ft · 46 sec
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16
Keep slight right to continue on US 68: Paducah
40 m · 4 sec
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17
Turn right
1.5 km · 1 min
-
18
At the end of the road, turn left onto Kentucky Dam Road
2.5 mi · 3 min · Kentucky Dam Road
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19
Continue on Clarks River Road
2 mi · 3 min · Clarks River Road
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20
Turn right onto Wayne Sullivan Drive
1.7 mi · 3 min · Wayne Sullivan Drive
-
21
Continue on South 3rd Street
1.4 mi · 2 min · South 3rd Street
-
22
Turn left onto Washington Street
1471 ft · 1 min · Washington Street
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23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Washington Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Louisville and Paducah.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Western Kentucky Parkway
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
98 mi · 01h 45m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny leaving Louisville and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Paducah.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Louisville to Paducah?
The road trip is about 216.5 miles (348.4 km) and usually takes 03h 19m 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?
Beaver Dam is a useful midpoint, sitting about 107.9 miles from Louisville and 108.6 miles from Paducah.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 175.2 miles (281.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.3 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:20 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.81 one way or $57.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 67.9 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Louisville and Paducah, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny around Louisville and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Paducah.
Stop Ideas Near Beaver Dam
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Beaver Dam.
Madisonville, KY
Evansville, IN
Clarksville, TN
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Louisville and Paducah. Straight-line distance: 175.15 mi (281.87 km).
#1 Louisville
The nineteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Louisville metropolitan area.
| Population | 760,026 |
| Coordinates | 38.2542400, -85.7594100 |
| Altitude | 142 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Paducah
City in McCracken County, Kentucky, United States
| Population | 24,883 |
| Coordinates | 37.0833900, -88.6000500 |
| Altitude | 104 |
| Country | United States |
End: Washington Street (-88.600033, 37.083363)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 348 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 12m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 24m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 19m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 36m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 42m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $28.81 | $57.62 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $32.49 | $64.99 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $35.56 | $71.11 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $40.52 | $81.05 |
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 25, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.