How far is Owensboro, KY from Cave City, KY?

The driving distance from Owensboro, KY to Cave City, KY is about 101.7 miles (163.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 77.2 miles (124.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
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
101.63 mi
02h 00m
Flight
77.22 mi
124.27 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Owensboro.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
77.22 mi
Kilometers
124.27 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
101.63 mi
Kilometers
163.55 km
Drive Time
02h 00m

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 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cave City
Mon, Jun 1, 7:57 PM CDT
Return by in Owensboro
Mon, Jun 1, 9:57 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Owensboro
2026-06-01T17:56
Arrive Cave City
Mon, Jun 1, 7:57 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:01 AM to 12:01 PM CDT

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

Leave by
2:28 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Owensboro
9:30 PM CDT
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
Woodbury
KY

City in Kentucky

From Owensboro
50.8 mi
01h 00m
To Cave City
50.8 mi
01h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
This Afternoon

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph N
Destination
81°F
Monday

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 3 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Owensboro and Cave City.

  1. 1

    Start on Frederica Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Frederica Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West 18th Street

    2675 ft · 1 min · West 18th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Triplett Street

    1156 ft · 28 sec · Triplett Street

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto New Hartford Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · New Hartford Road

  5. 5

    Turn left

    1700 ft · 43 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Wendell Ford Expressway

    2274 ft · 30 sec · Wendell Ford Expressway

  7. 7

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

    2273 ft · 56 sec

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    62.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right

    826 ft · 20 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Morgantown Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Morgantown Road

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Old Morgantown Road

    1 mi · 3 min · Old Morgantown Road

  12. 12

    Turn left onto University Boulevard

    110 m · 9 sec · University Boulevard

  13. 13

    Continue on Kentucky Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Kentucky Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Louisville Road

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Louisville Road

  15. 15

    Turn right

    1.2 km · 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    1.1 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    23.7 mi · 25 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 70, KY 90: Cave City, Glasgow

    1608 ft · 41 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right

    693 ft · 20 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Mammoth Cave Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Mammoth Cave Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Broadway Street

    1142 ft · 23 sec · Broadway Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Broadway Street

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
21.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 165 South
63 mi · 62%
Louisville Road
27.3 mi · 27%
New Hartford Road
1.9 mi · 2%
Morgantown Road
1.76 mi · 2%
Kentucky Street
1.63 mi · 2%
Mammoth Cave Street
1.11 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 165 South

Continue straight

62.4 mi · 01h 07m

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 00m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.5 mi
77.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Woodbury
01h 00m from Owensboro
Leave By
2:28 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Owensboro and Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Cave City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Owensboro to Cave City?

The road trip is about 101.7 miles (163.6 km) and usually takes 02h 00m 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?

Woodbury is a useful midpoint, sitting about 50.8 miles from Owensboro and 50.8 miles from Cave City.

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

The direct path is about 77.2 miles (124.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:28 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.50 one way or $27.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 31.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Owensboro and Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Cave City.

Stop Ideas Near Woodbury

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

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

BUS

Madisonville, KY

79 mi away
4765 Hanson Road
BUS

Clarksville, TN

97 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n
BUS

Nashville, TN

115 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Owensboro and Cave City. Straight-line distance: 77.22 mi (124.27 km).

Owensboro

#1 Owensboro

The most populous city in Daviess County, Kentucky.

Population60,344
Coordinates37.7742200, -87.1133300
Altitude120
CountryUnited States
Cave City

#2 Cave City

City in Kentucky

Population2,426
Coordinates37.1367200, -85.9569200
Altitude193
CountryUnited States
Start: Owensboro (-87.11333, 37.77422)
End: Cave City (-85.95692, 37.13672)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 164 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.58 gal
13.57 L · about $13.50
Round trip
$27.00
7.16 gal · 27.14 L
Estimated CO2
31.8 kg one way
Round trip: 63.6 kg / 140 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.50 $27.00
Mid-grade $4.25 $15.23 $30.45
Premium $4.65 $16.66 $33.32
Diesel $5.30 $18.99 $37.98

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 · Jun 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Owensboro and Cave City. The current time is 17:56:40.

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.