Western Kentucky Parkway

Along with the Blue Grass Parkway, the Western Kentucky Parkway provides a fast route from the far-western portion of the state to the central portion. Both the WK and BG parkways parallel US 62 from Eddyville to Versailles. Intersections with I-24, the Pennyrile Parkway, the William H. Natcher Parkway and I-65 make the WK Parkway easily accessible. At Elizabethtown, eastbound traffic on the WK Parkway can take I-65 north to Louisville, or the BG Parkway east to Lexington, where connections to I-64, I-75 and the Mountain Parkway are available. At 137 miles, the WK Parkway is the longest of Kentucky's current or former toll roads. Tolls were removed in the late 1980s.

	I-24 East	Exit 1A
	Nashville
	I-24 West To Purchase Parkway	Exit 1B
	Paducah
The western terminus of the WK Parkway is at I-24. From this point, I-24 leads west to the Kentucky Dam area. It intersects the Purchase Parkway, which provides a connection to Benton, Mayfield, Murray, Fulton, and eventually Memphis. I-24 westbound continues to Paducah, where an exit with US 60 provides access to Cairo, Ill., and Sikeston, Mo., where I-55 and I-57 meet. Continuing on I-24, you cross the Ohio River into Illinois and turn northwestward. I-24 eventually ends at I-57, which provides a connection to Chicago (via I-57 north) and St. Louis (via I-64 west). Eastbound, I-24 actually heads southeast to Cadiz, Ft. Campbell, and on into Tennessee, where it passes through Nashville before ending at Chattanooga.

Exit 4	US 62	US 62	Exit 4
	Eddyville	Eddyville
US 62 is the parallel route for both the WK and Blue Grass parkways, yet this is the only place where US 62 intersects either parkway. West of this exit, US 62 intersects US 641. US 641 north leads to Marion, where it ends at US 60. US 62 west and US 641 south go to Eddyville, where they intersect I-24, then continue to the Kentucky and Barkley lakes area. US 62 east leads to Princeton.

Exit 12	KY 91 / KY 139	KY 91 / KY 139	Exit 12
	Marion Princeton	Princeton Marion
	Lake Barkley State Resort Park	Lake Barkley State Resort Park
The WK Parkway's original western terminus was at Princeton. When I-24 was built, the parkway was extended westward to meet the interstate. Northbound KY 91 intersects US 641 and the two routes continue north to Marion. From there, KY 91 continues north to the Cave-in-Rock ferry across the Ohio River, while US 60 eastbound connects to Sturgis, Morganfield and Henderson. KY 91 south leads to Hopkinsville, while KY 139 south intersects I-24 at Exit 56 and then continues to Cadiz, where it intersects US 68 and KY 80.

Exit 13	KY 293	KY 293	Exit 13
	Providence Princeton	Princeton Providence
This exit was built after the tolls were removed from the parkway. KY 293 north goes to Providence, where Alt. US 41 heads on to Dixon and Henderson. Taking KY 293 south will take you to Princeton, and then to I-24. It also provides a route, via KY 139, to Cadiz.

Exit 24	KY 109	KY 109	Exit 24
	Dawson Springs Providence	Providence Dawson Springs
	Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park	Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
KY 109 is a major north-south route through this part of western Kentucky. To the north, it goes to Providence, intersects US 60 at Sturgis, and ends at KY 56 near the Shawneetown bridge over the Ohio River (the only bridge between Paducah and Henderson). To the south, it goes to Dawson Springs and Hopkinsville. This exit was the former location of a toll booth.

Exit 38A	Pennryile Parkway South	Pennyrile Parkway South	Exit 38A
	Hopkinsville	Hopkinsville
Exit 38B	Pennyrile Parkway North	Pennyrille Parkway North	Exit 38B
	Madisonville	Madisonville
The Pennyrile Parkway parallels US 41 from Hopkinsville north to Henderson. This section of the Pennyrile was originally a part of US 41, and in fact the parkway was multiplexed with US 41 here until a couple of years ago, when the "Alternate" designation was removed from Alt. US 41 and it became "regular" US 41. Southbound, the Pennyrile Parkway heads to Hopkinsville, where it offers a link to I-24 via Alt. US 41, thus providing a route to Ft. Campbell, Clarksville and Nashville. The northbound Pennryile provides access to Madisonville, Dixon, Calhoun, Morganfield, Henderson, Owensboro and Evansville via US 41, where I-164 in Indiana links the route to I-64. The Pennyrile Parkway was built in the 1970s and tolls were removed from it in the 1980s.

Milepoint 39	Kentucky State Police	Milepoint 39
The Madisonville post of the Kentucky State Police is located in the median of the parkway.

Exit 53	KY 181	KY 181	Exit 53
	Sacramento Greenville	Greenville Sacramento
	Lake Malone State Park	Lake Malone State Park
Another exit built after the tolls were removed, this exit allows direct access to Greenville. Northbound KY 181 leads to Sacramento and Calhoun (via KY 81). Southbound KY 181 passes through Greenville and on to Elkton before ending at US 41 and KY 79 near the Tennessee state line.

Exit 58
US 431 / KY 70 US 431 / KY 70
Exit 58

Central City
Drakesboro Central City
Drakesboro

Owensboro

Everly Brothers Monument

Lake Malone State Park
Everly Brothers Monument

Lake Malone State Park

US 431 runs from the Tennessee state line north to Owensboro. It can be used as an alternate route, instead of the William H. Natcher Parkway. Northbound US 431 leads to Central City, Calhoun (via KY 81) and Livermore before ending at Owensboro. Southbound US 431 leads to Drakesboro and Russellville, where it intersects US 68, KY 80, KY 79 and US 79. KY 70 is an east-west route which travels through the central to south-central part of the state. Here, KY 70 accesses Madisonville to the west, and Morgantown, Brownsville and the Mammoth Cave area to the east. This exit was the location of one of the toll booths.

Exit 75
US 231 US 231
Exit 75

Beaver Dam
Morgantown Beaver Dam
Morgantown

Hartford

US 231 parallels the William H. Natcher Parkway between Owensboro to the north, and Bowling Green to the south. Here, US 231 serves local traffic heading to Beaver Dam and Hartford to the north, and Morgantown to the south.

Milepoint 76
Service Area
Milepoint 76

This service area, in the median of the parkway, is the only such one in Kentucky. It offers a gas station and a restaurant.

Exit 77A
William H. Natcher Parkway (Toll Road) South William H. Natcher Parkway (Toll Road) South
Exit 77B

Bowling Green Bowling Green

Exit 77B
William H. Natcher Parkway (Toll Road) North William H. Natcher Parkway (Toll Road) North
Exit 77A

Owensboro Owensboro

Hartford

One of Kentucky's newest parkways, this toll road used to be known as the Green River Parkway before its name was changed to honor the longtime congressman from the region, whose claim to fame was having the longest tenure in the House of Representatives without missing a vote. (One wonders why they couldn't have just used auxiliary nameplates, as was done when the Mountain Parkway was named after former Kentucky Gov. Bert T. Combs.) The Natcher Parkway is one of four remaining toll roads, and its original name was the Owensboro-Bowling Green Parkway because it connects these two cities. It parallels US 231 for its entire 70-mile route. The Natcher northbound gives access to Hartford, Beaver Dam and Owensboro. A link with the Audubon Parkway allows a through route to Henderson and Evansville. Southbound, the Natcher skirts Morgantown before ending at I-65 near Bowling Green. From there, traffic can either take I-65 north and the Cumberland Parkway to Somerset, London and I-75, or continue south on I-65 to Nashville.

Exit 94
KY 79 KY 79
Exit 94

Caneyville
Morgantown Caneyville
Morgantown

Rough River Dam State Resort Park Rough River Dam State Resort Park

KY 79 offers a southwest-to-northeast route. To the south are Morgantown and Russellville, then via US 79, Clarksville. Hardinsburg, Irvington and an Ohio River crossing at Brandenburg are to the north.

Exit 107
KY 259 KY 259
Exit 107

Brownsville
Leitchfield Leitchfield
Brownsville

Mammoth Cave National Park Rough River Dam State Resort Park

Nolin Lake

KY 259 provides a vital north-south link through west-central Kentucky. To the south lies Brownsville, Mammoth Cave, and other cities including Bowling Green, Scottsville and Glasgow. To the north are Hardinsburg, and via US 60, Hawesville, Irvington and Brandenburg. A toll booth was located at this exit before the tolls were removed.

KY 224
Exit 112

Clarkson
Millerstown

No Re-Entry to Parkway Westbound

This recently-constructed partial exit allows westbound traffic to exit the parkway at Clarkson, and traffic to enter the parkway heading eastbound. It eliminates the need for traffic heading from Elizabethtown to Clarkson, or vice-versa, to use the Leitchfield exit.

Exit 124
KY 84 KY 84
Exit 124

Eastview
White Mills White Mills
Eastview

Originally built as a partial exit to serve residents of western Hardin County, this exit was later expanded to a full exit. Originally, exit was only from the parkway westbound, and entry was permitted only to the parkway easbound. This allowed residents of the area to use the parkway to drive to E-town.

Exit 136
Bpyass US 31W North Bypass US 31W North
Exit 136

Ft. Knox Ft. Knox

Patton Museum

The US 31W Bypass offers a quick route for travelers heading north to Fort Knox. The road intersects US 62, providing another access point to downtown Elizabethtown, then continues north toward Radcliff. US 31W intersects US 60 near Fort Knox, and the two roads head on to the west end of Louisville.

I-65 South
Exit 137A

Nashville

I-65 North
To Blue Grass Parkway
Exit 137B

Louisville
Lexington

US 31W/KY 61
Exit 137C

Elizabethtown
Hodgenville

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site

The Western Kentucky Parkway ends at I-65. Taking I-65 south leads to the Hardin County communities of Sonora, Glendale and Upton, and then on to Bowling Green and Nashville. Northbound I-65 provides access to the Blue Grass Parkway, with its destinations of Bardstown, Frankfort, Versailles and Lexington. Staying north on I-65 also offers additional access to Elizabethtown via US 62 and KY 61, then I-65 takes motorists on to Louisville. US 31W and KY 61 offer additional access to Elizabethtown. US 31W continues south as a parallel route to I-65, while KY 61 goes south to Hodgenville and the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace, Greensburg, Columbia (and an intersection with the Cumberland Parkway) and Burkesville, before entering Tennessee.

Back to Guide to Kentucky's Interstates and Parkways
Go Back to H.B.'s Roads Page
Go Back to H.B.'s Millennium Highway

Exit 58	US 431 / KY 70	US 431 / KY 70	Exit 58
	Central City Drakesboro	Central City Drakesboro
	Owensboro
	Everly Brothers Monument Lake Malone State Park	Everly Brothers Monument Lake Malone State Park
US 431 runs from the Tennessee state line north to Owensboro. It can be used as an alternate route, instead of the William H. Natcher Parkway. Northbound US 431 leads to Central City, Calhoun (via KY 81) and Livermore before ending at Owensboro. Southbound US 431 leads to Drakesboro and Russellville, where it intersects US 68, KY 80, KY 79 and US 79. KY 70 is an east-west route which travels through the central to south-central part of the state. Here, KY 70 accesses Madisonville to the west, and Morgantown, Brownsville and the Mammoth Cave area to the east. This exit was the location of one of the toll booths.

Exit 75	US 231	US 231	Exit 75
	Beaver Dam Morgantown	Beaver Dam Morgantown
	Hartford
US 231 parallels the William H. Natcher Parkway between Owensboro to the north, and Bowling Green to the south. Here, US 231 serves local traffic heading to Beaver Dam and Hartford to the north, and Morgantown to the south.

Milepoint 76	Service Area	Milepoint 76
This service area, in the median of the parkway, is the only such one in Kentucky. It offers a gas station and a restaurant.

Exit 77A	William H. Natcher Parkway (Toll Road) South	William H. Natcher Parkway (Toll Road) South	Exit 77B
	Bowling Green	Bowling Green
Exit 77B	William H. Natcher Parkway (Toll Road) North	William H. Natcher Parkway (Toll Road) North	Exit 77A
	Owensboro	Owensboro
		Hartford
One of Kentucky's newest parkways, this toll road used to be known as the Green River Parkway before its name was changed to honor the longtime congressman from the region, whose claim to fame was having the longest tenure in the House of Representatives without missing a vote. (One wonders why they couldn't have just used auxiliary nameplates, as was done when the Mountain Parkway was named after former Kentucky Gov. Bert T. Combs.) The Natcher Parkway is one of four remaining toll roads, and its original name was the Owensboro-Bowling Green Parkway because it connects these two cities. It parallels US 231 for its entire 70-mile route. The Natcher northbound gives access to Hartford, Beaver Dam and Owensboro. A link with the Audubon Parkway allows a through route to Henderson and Evansville. Southbound, the Natcher skirts Morgantown before ending at I-65 near Bowling Green. From there, traffic can either take I-65 north and the Cumberland Parkway to Somerset, London and I-75, or continue south on I-65 to Nashville.

Exit 94	KY 79	KY 79	Exit 94
	Caneyville Morgantown	Caneyville Morgantown
	Rough River Dam State Resort Park	Rough River Dam State Resort Park
KY 79 offers a southwest-to-northeast route. To the south are Morgantown and Russellville, then via US 79, Clarksville. Hardinsburg, Irvington and an Ohio River crossing at Brandenburg are to the north.

Exit 107	KY 259	KY 259	Exit 107
	Brownsville Leitchfield	Leitchfield Brownsville
	Mammoth Cave National Park	Rough River Dam State Resort Park Nolin Lake
KY 259 provides a vital north-south link through west-central Kentucky. To the south lies Brownsville, Mammoth Cave, and other cities including Bowling Green, Scottsville and Glasgow. To the north are Hardinsburg, and via US 60, Hawesville, Irvington and Brandenburg. A toll booth was located at this exit before the tolls were removed.

	KY 224	Exit 112
	Clarkson Millerstown
	No Re-Entry to Parkway Westbound
This recently-constructed partial exit allows westbound traffic to exit the parkway at Clarkson, and traffic to enter the parkway heading eastbound. It eliminates the need for traffic heading from Elizabethtown to Clarkson, or vice-versa, to use the Leitchfield exit.

Exit 124	KY 84	KY 84	Exit 124
	Eastview White Mills	White Mills Eastview
Originally built as a partial exit to serve residents of western Hardin County, this exit was later expanded to a full exit. Originally, exit was only from the parkway westbound, and entry was permitted only to the parkway easbound. This allowed residents of the area to use the parkway to drive to E-town.

Exit 136	Bpyass US 31W North	Bypass US 31W North	Exit 136
	Ft. Knox	Ft. Knox
	Patton Museum
The US 31W Bypass offers a quick route for travelers heading north to Fort Knox. The road intersects US 62, providing another access point to downtown Elizabethtown, then continues north toward Radcliff. US 31W intersects US 60 near Fort Knox, and the two roads head on to the west end of Louisville.

	I-65 South	Exit 137A
	Nashville
	I-65 North To Blue Grass Parkway	Exit 137B
	Louisville Lexington
	US 31W/KY 61	Exit 137C
	Elizabethtown Hodgenville
	Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site
The Western Kentucky Parkway ends at I-65. Taking I-65 south leads to the Hardin County communities of Sonora, Glendale and Upton, and then on to Bowling Green and Nashville. Northbound I-65 provides access to the Blue Grass Parkway, with its destinations of Bardstown, Frankfort, Versailles and Lexington. Staying north on I-65 also offers additional access to Elizabethtown via US 62 and KY 61, then I-65 takes motorists on to Louisville. US 31W and KY 61 offer additional access to Elizabethtown. US 31W continues south as a parallel route to I-65, while KY 61 goes south to Hodgenville and the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace, Greensburg, Columbia (and an intersection with the Cumberland Parkway) and Burkesville, before entering Tennessee.