How far is Owensboro, KY from Elkfork, KY?

The driving distance from Owensboro, KY to Elkfork, KY is about 277.3 miles (446.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 217.5 miles (350 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 43m 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
277.25 mi
05h 21m
Flight
217.49 mi
350.01 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Owensboro.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
217.49 mi
Kilometers
350.01 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
277.25 mi
Kilometers
446.19 km
Drive Time
05h 21m

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 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elkfork
Sat, Nov 7, 11:49 AM EST
Return by in Owensboro
Sat, Nov 7, 4:11 PM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Owensboro
2026-11-07T05:27
Arrive Elkfork
Sat, Nov 7, 10:49 AM CST
Route Timing
05h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CST
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:22 PM to 2:22 PM EST

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

Leave by
6:16 AM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Owensboro
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
Willisburg
KY

Human settlement in Washington County, Kentucky, United States of America

From Owensboro
138.3 mi
02h 40m
To Elkfork
138.9 mi
02h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Saturday

Patchy Frost then Sunny

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM CST
Wind
2 to 6 mph NNW
Destination
53°F
Saturday

Areas Of Frost then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM EST
Wind
5 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    28.8 mi · 31 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Elizabethtown

    1772 ft · 50 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

    60.1 mi · 1 hr 4 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville

    1955 ft · 48 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville

    3052 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    1.4 mi · 1 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown

    3252 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

    70.7 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Frankfort

    571 ft · 16 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Lexington Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Versailles Road

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road

  19. 19

    Take the exit straight toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road

    2735 ft · 1 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto New Circle Road

    5.7 mi · 8 min · New Circle Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto North Broadway

    1 mi · 2 min · North Broadway

  22. 22

    Turn left onto I 75 South, I 64 East: Knoxville, Ashland

    2515 ft · 1 min

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight left toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland

    16.6 mi · 19 min

  25. 25

    Keep slight left

    39.6 mi · 42 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 32, KY 3319

    1649 ft · 40 sec

  27. 27

    Keep slight right to continue on KY 32, KY 3319

    75 m · 6 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left onto Flemingsburg Road

    2.7 mi · 5 min · Flemingsburg Road

  29. 29

    Turn right onto West Wilkinson Boulevard

    2764 ft · 60 sec · West Wilkinson Boulevard

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Clearfield Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Clearfield Road

  31. 31

    Continue on West Liberty Road

    19.6 mi · 22 min · West Liberty Road

  32. 32

    Continue straight

    2.7 mi · 3 min

  33. 33

    Continue straight

    1.6 km · 1 min

  34. 34

    Turn left

    9.8 mi · 17 min

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Staffordsville Road

Car Route Details

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

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
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
6 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi · 25%
Western Kentucky Parkway
60.1 mi · 22%
I 64 East
56.2 mi · 20%
I 165 South
29.2 mi · 11%
West Liberty Road
23.3 mi · 8%
New Circle Road
5.65 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Bluegrass Parkway

Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

70.7 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
05h 21m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+59.8 mi
217.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Willisburg
02h 40m from Owensboro
Leave By
6:16 AM CST
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Patchy Frost then Sunny leaving Owensboro and Areas Of Frost then Mostly Sunny near Elkfork.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 277.3 miles (446.2 km) and usually takes 05h 21m 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?

Willisburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 138.3 miles from Owensboro and 138.9 miles from Elkfork.

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

The direct path is about 217.5 miles (350 km), while the road route adds roughly 59.8 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 6:16 AM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.46 one way or $74.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 86.9 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Frost then Sunny around Owensboro and Areas Of Frost then Mostly Sunny near Elkfork.

Stop Ideas Near Willisburg

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

74 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Owensboro and Elkfork. Straight-line distance: 217.49 mi (350.01 km).

Owensboro

#1 Owensboro

The most populous city in Daviess County, Kentucky.

Population60,344
Coordinates37.7742200, -87.1133300
Altitude120
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Elkfork

Elkfork is a place in Kentucky, United States.

Population0
Coordinates37.9648100, -83.1329500
Altitude261
CountryUnited States
Start: Owensboro (-87.11333, 37.77422)
End: Elkfork (-83.13295, 37.96481)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 446 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.78 gal
37.03 L · about $37.46
Round trip
$74.91
19.56 gal · 74.06 L
Estimated CO2
86.9 kg one way
Round trip: 173.8 kg / 383 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.83 $37.46 $74.91
Mid-grade $4.42 $43.22 $86.44
Premium $4.85 $47.45 $94.91
Diesel $6.08 $59.49 $118.98

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 · Nov 06, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Owensboro, KY and Elkfork, KY. The current time in Owensboro is 05:27:40, although it is 06:27:40 in Elkfork.

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.