How far is Paducah, KY from Cynthiana, KY?

The driving distance from Paducah, KY to Cynthiana, KY is about 283 miles (455.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 252 miles (405.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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
282.95 mi
05h 25m
Flight
251.98 mi
405.53 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Paducah.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
251.98 mi
Kilometers
405.53 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
282.95 mi
Kilometers
455.36 km
Drive Time
05h 25m

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 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cynthiana
Wed, Apr 15, 6:32 PM EDT
Return by in Paducah
Wed, Apr 15, 10:58 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Paducah
2026-04-15T12:06
Arrive Cynthiana
Wed, Apr 15, 5:32 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:26 PM to 2:26 PM EDT

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

Leave by
6:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Paducah
9:00 PM CDT
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
Leitchfield
KY

City in Grayson County, Kentucky, United States of America

From Paducah
141.3 mi
02h 42m
To Cynthiana
141.7 mi
02h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph SSW
Destination
84°F
Today

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Paducah and Cynthiana.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Paducah and Cynthiana.

  1. 1

    Start on Washington Street

    1060 ft · 49 sec · Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South 4th Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · South 4th Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Wayne Sullivan Drive

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Wayne Sullivan Drive

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Clarks River Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Clarks River Road

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Reidland Road

    1.5 km · 1 min · Reidland Road

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Kentucky Dam Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Kentucky Dam Road

  7. 7

    Turn right

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  8. 8

    Turn left

    2054 ft · 50 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    24.6 mi · 26 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton

    38.3 mi · 42 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

    1783 ft · 22 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway

  12. 12

    Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

    98.9 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  13. 13

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

    1955 ft · 48 sec

  14. 14

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

    3052 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    1.4 mi · 1 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown

    3252 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

    70.7 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Frankfort

    571 ft · 16 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Lexington Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Versailles Road

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road

  21. 21

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

    2735 ft · 1 min

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto New Circle Road

    5.3 mi · 7 min · New Circle Road

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Russell Cave Road

    19.9 mi · 30 min · Russell Cave Road

  24. 24

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Leesburg Pike

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Leesburg Pike

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Paris Pike

    46 m · 7 sec · Paris Pike

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto Paris Pike

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Paris Pike

  27. 27

    Continue on John Hunt Morgan Bridge

    108 m · 13 sec · John Hunt Morgan Bridge

  28. 28

    Turn right onto West Bridge Street

    999 ft · 33 sec · West Bridge Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto South Church Street

    1023 ft · 33 sec · South Church Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Church Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Paducah and Cynthiana.

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
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Western Kentucky Parkway
99.2 mi · 35%
Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi · 25%
I 69 North
38.3 mi · 14%
Kentucky Dam Road
26.3 mi · 9%
Russell Cave Road
19.9 mi · 7%
New Circle Road
5.34 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Western Kentucky Parkway

Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

98.9 mi · 01h 46m

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 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31 mi
252 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Leitchfield
02h 42m from Paducah
Leave By
6:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Paducah and Mostly Sunny near Cynthiana.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Paducah to Cynthiana?

The road trip is about 283 miles (455.4 km) and usually takes 05h 25m 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?

Leitchfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 141.3 miles from Paducah and 141.7 miles from Cynthiana.

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

The direct path is about 252 miles (405.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 31 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.63 one way or $75.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.7 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Paducah and Mostly Sunny near Cynthiana.

Stop Ideas Near Leitchfield

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

98 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.
BUS

Madisonville, KY

106 mi away
4765 Hanson Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Paducah and Cynthiana. Straight-line distance: 251.98 mi (405.53 km).

Paducah

#1 Paducah

City in McCracken County, Kentucky, United States

Population24,883
Coordinates37.0833900, -88.6000500
Altitude104
CountryUnited States
Cynthiana

#2 Cynthiana

City in Harrison County, Kentucky, in the United States

Population6,300
Coordinates38.3903500, -84.2941000
Altitude224
CountryUnited States
Start: Paducah (-88.60005, 37.08339)
End: Cynthiana (-84.2941, 38.39035)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 455 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.98 gal
37.79 L · about $37.63
Round trip
$75.27
19.96 gal · 75.58 L
Estimated CO2
88.7 kg one way
Round trip: 177.4 kg / 391 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $37.63 $75.27
Mid-grade $4.25 $42.44 $84.89
Premium $4.65 $46.45 $92.89
Diesel $5.30 $52.93 $105.87

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 15, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Paducah, KY and Cynthiana, KY. The current time in Paducah is 12:06:58, although it is 13:06:58 in Cynthiana.

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.