How far is Russellville, KY from Elizabethtown, KY?

The driving distance from Russellville, KY to Elizabethtown, KY is about 103.4 miles (166.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 81.5 miles (131.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 12m 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
103.42 mi
01h 36m
Flight
81.44 mi
131.07 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Russellville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
81.44 mi
Kilometers
131.07 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
103.42 mi
Kilometers
166.44 km
Drive Time
01h 36m

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 01h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elizabethtown
Sun, Apr 19, 2:55 AM EDT
Return by in Russellville
Sun, Apr 19, 3:31 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Russellville
2026-04-19T00:18
Arrive Elizabethtown
Sun, Apr 19, 1:55 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:36 AM to 12:36 PM EDT

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

Leave by
3:18 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Russellville
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
Smiths Grove
KY

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

From Russellville
51.4 mi
00h 48m
To Elizabethtown
52.1 mi
00h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph NW
Destination
60°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Russellville and Elizabethtown.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Russellville and Elizabethtown.

  1. 1

    Start on East 4th Street

    3170 ft · 54 sec · East 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Franklin Street

    114 m · 6 sec · Franklin Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Franklin Road

    1133 ft · 19 sec · Franklin Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Franklin Street

    765 ft · 13 sec · Franklin Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Bowling Green Road

    2964 ft · 52 sec · Bowling Green Road

  6. 6

    Continue on East Jefferson Davis Highway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · East Jefferson Davis Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Bowling Green Road

    11.8 mi · 13 min · Bowling Green Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Russellville Road

    8 mi · 9 min · Russellville Road

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 165 South

    1676 ft · 41 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    4.8 mi · 5 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Louisville

    1997 ft · 59 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Louisville

    1.1 km · 54 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Interstate Highway 65

    69.3 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Interstate Highway 65

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Western Kentucky Parkway West, KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah

    975 ft · 24 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on US 31W, KY 61: Hodgenville

    2181 ft · 53 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

    679 ft · 18 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway

  17. 17

    Turn sharp left onto East Dixie Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · East Dixie Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right

    41 m · 3 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left

    36 m · 2 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on West Dixie Avenue

    136 m · 11 sec · West Dixie Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right onto North Mulberry Street

    24 m · 1 sec · North Mulberry Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Mulberry Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Russellville and Elizabethtown.

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
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
21.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Interstate Highway 65
69.3 mi · 67%
Bowling Green Road
12.4 mi · 12%
Russellville Road
8.01 mi · 8%
I 165 South
5.07 mi · 5%
East Jefferson Davis Highway
3.19 mi · 3%
East Dixie Avenue
1.78 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Interstate Highway 65

Merge slight left onto Interstate Highway 65

69.3 mi · 01h 14m

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
01h 36m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.9 mi
81.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Smiths Grove
00h 48m from Russellville
Leave By
3:18 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Russellville and Chance Rain Showers near Elizabethtown.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Russellville to Elizabethtown?

The road trip is about 103.4 miles (166.4 km) and usually takes 01h 36m 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?

Smiths Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 51.4 miles from Russellville and 52.1 miles from Elizabethtown.

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

The direct path is about 81.5 miles (131.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.9 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 3:18 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.76 one way or $27.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Russellville and Chance Rain Showers near Elizabethtown.

Stop Ideas Near Smiths Grove

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

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

BUS

Nashville, TN

112 mi away
705 5th Avenue South
BUS

Clarksville, TN

118 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n
BUS

Madisonville, KY

119 mi away
4765 Hanson Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Russellville and Elizabethtown. Straight-line distance: 81.44 mi (131.07 km).

Russellville

#1 Russellville

City in Kentucky, USA

Population7,167
Coordinates36.8453200, -86.8872200
Altitude181
CountryUnited States
Elizabethtown

#2 Elizabethtown

County seat of Hardin County, Kentucky, United States

Population30,331
Coordinates37.6939500, -85.8591300
Altitude221
CountryUnited States
Start: East 4th Street (-86.887274, 36.84546)
End: North Mulberry Street (-85.859285, 37.694037)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 166 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.65 gal
13.81 L · about $13.76
Round trip
$27.53
7.3 gal · 27.62 L
Estimated CO2
32.4 kg one way
Round trip: 64.9 kg / 143 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.76 $27.53
Mid-grade $4.25 $15.52 $31.05
Premium $4.65 $16.99 $33.97
Diesel $5.30 $19.36 $38.72

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 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Russellville, KY and Elizabethtown, KY. The current time in Russellville is 00:18:47, although it is 01:18:47 in Elizabethtown.

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.