How far is Paducah, KY from Louisville, KY?
The driving distance from Paducah, KY to Louisville, KY is about 217 miles (349.2 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 CDT.
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.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
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.
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Paducah and Louisville.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paducah and Louisville.
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1
Start on Washington Street
1060 ft · 49 sec · Washington Street
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2
Turn right onto South 4th Street
1.5 mi · 2 min · South 4th Street
-
3
Continue on Wayne Sullivan Drive
1.7 mi · 3 min · Wayne Sullivan Drive
-
4
Turn left onto Clarks River Road
1.8 mi · 3 min · Clarks River Road
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5
Turn straight onto Reidland Road
1.5 km · 1 min · Reidland Road
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6
Turn straight onto Kentucky Dam Road
1.7 mi · 2 min · Kentucky Dam Road
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7
Turn right
1.1 mi · 1 min
-
8
Turn left
2054 ft · 50 sec
-
9
Merge slight left
24.6 mi · 26 min
-
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton
38.3 mi · 42 min
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11
Keep slight right to continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
1783 ft · 22 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway
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12
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
98.9 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Western Kentucky Parkway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
1955 ft · 48 sec
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14
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
3052 ft · 1 min
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15
Merge slight left
43.6 mi · 49 min
-
16
Take the exit slight right toward Brook Street
934 ft · 25 sec
-
17
Continue on South Brook Street
812 ft · 35 sec · South Brook Street
-
18
Turn left onto West Muhammad Ali Boulevard
2198 ft · 1 min · West Muhammad Ali Boulevard
-
19
Turn right onto South 5th Street
992 ft · 37 sec · South 5th Street
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20
Turn left onto West Jefferson Street
67 m · 8 sec · West Jefferson Street
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21
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Jefferson Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Paducah and Louisville.
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
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.
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.
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Paducah and Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny near Louisville.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Paducah to Louisville?
The road trip is about 217 miles (349.2 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 108.4 miles from Paducah and 108.6 miles from Louisville.
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 41.8 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:20 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.89 one way or $57.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.1 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Paducah and Louisville, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Paducah and Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny near Louisville.
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 Paducah and Louisville. Straight-line distance: 175.15 mi (281.87 km).
#1 Paducah
City in McCracken County, Kentucky, United States
| Population | 24,883 |
| Coordinates | 37.0833900, -88.6000500 |
| Altitude | 104 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: West Jefferson Street (-85.759435, 38.254101)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 349 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 13m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 25m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 20m |
| 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 | $28.89 | $57.77 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $32.58 | $65.16 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $35.65 | $71.30 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $40.63 | $81.26 |
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.