Driving Directions

Driving Directions to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area From:

Land Between the Lakes is located approximately 506 miles from Charlotte.

Take I-85 South to US-74 West. Merge onto I-40 West for Nashville, keeping right at the fork for I-24 West, towards Clarksville. Take Exit 65 for US-68/KY-80 toward Hopkinsville/Cadiz, turn left for US-68 W/KY-80 W. Take exit for US-68 W and turn left, crossing the Lake Barkley bridge, into Land Between the Lakes. Drive for approximately 4 miles, take the Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway and follow signs towards the Golden Pond Visitor Center for information.

Land Between the Lakes is located approximately 395 miles from Chicago.

Take I-57 South to I-24 East. Travel I-24 East into Kentucky to Exit 31. Take Exit 31 to Hwy 453 South towards Grand Rivers. When you cross the canal between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, you are in Land Between the Lakes. This road becomes Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway which is the main north/south road in Land Between the Lakes. The North Welcome Station is approximately 3 miles on your right after crossing the canal.

Land Between the Lakes is located approximately 300 miles from Cincinnati.

Take I-75 South to the Bluegrass Parkway in Lexington, Kentucky.  Travel the Bluegrass Parkway West to Elizabethtown. Merge onto I-65 South, then to Western Kentucky Parkway West toward Owensboro and Paducah. Take the Pennyrile Parkway South toward Hopkinsville to Exit #11. Turn right on Hwy 1682 South and follow approximately 5 miles to US Hwy 68/80. Turn right (West) onto US Hwy 68/80. Stay on US Hwy 68/80 through Cadiz and across the Lake Barkley bridge, into Land Between the Lakes.  In approximately four miles, exit onto Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway and follow the signs to the Golden Pond Visitor Center for information.

Land Between the Lakes is located approximately 100 miles from Evansville.

To visit north end of Land Between the Lakes: Take Interstate 69 south to the Western Kentucky Parkway. Take the Western Kentucky Parkway west to I-24 West. Take Exit 31 to Hwy 453 South towards Grand Rivers. When you cross the canal between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, you are in Land Between the Lakes. This road becomes Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway which is the main north/south road in Land Between the Lakes. The North Welcome Station is approximately 3 miles on your right after crossing the canal.

To visit central and southern areas of Land Between the Lakes: Take Interstate 69 South toward Hopkinsville to Exit #11. Turn right on Hwy 1682 South and follow approximately 5 miles to US Hwy 68/80. Turn right (West) onto US Hwy 68/80. Stay on US Hwy 68/80 through Cadiz and across the Lake Barkley bridge, into Land Between the Lakes.  In approximately four miles, exit onto Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway and follow the signs to the Golden Pond Visitor Center for information.

Land Between the Lakes is located approximately 245 miles from Lexington.

Travel the Bluegrass Parkway West to Elizabethtown. Merge onto I-65 South to the Western Kentucky Parkway, west toward Owensboro and Paducah. Take the Interstate 69 South toward Hopkinsville to Exit #11. Turn right on Hwy 1682 South and follow approximately 5 miles US Hwy 68/80. Turn right (West) onto US Hwy 68/80. Stay on US Hwy 68/80 through Cadiz and across the Lake Barkley bridge, into Land Between the Lakes.  In approximately four miles, exit onto Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway and follow the signs to the Golden Pond Visitor Center for information.

Land Between the Lakes is located approximately 200 miles from Louisville.

To visit north end of Land Between the Lakes: Take the Western Kentucky Parkway west to I-24 West. Take Exit 31 to Hwy 453 South towards Grand Rivers. When you cross the canal between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, you are in Land Between the Lakes. This road becomes Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway which is the main north/south road in Land Between the Lakes. The North Welcome Station is approximately 3 miles on your right after crossing the canal.

To visit central and southern areas of Land Between the Lakes: Take I-65 South to Elizabethtown, then to Western Kentucky Parkway West toward Owensboro and Paducah.  Take the Interstate 69 South toward Hopkinsville to Exit #11. Turn right on Hwy 1682 South and follow approximately 5 miles to US Hwy 68/80. Turn right (West) onto US Hwy 68/80. Stay on US Hwy 68/80 through Cadiz and across the Lake Barkley bridge, into Land Between the Lakes.  In approximately four miles, exit onto Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway and follow the signs to the Golden Pond Visitor Center for information.

Land Between the Lakes is located approximately 200 miles from Memphis.

Take I-40 East to Highway 641 North towards Paris. At Paris, take Highway 79 North towards Dover. Signs will direct you to Land Between the Lakes. Turn left, north, onto State Hwy 461. This road becomes Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway which is the main north/south road. Follow this road into Land Between the Lakes.  The South Welcome Station will be on your right.

Land Between the Lakes is located approximately 90 miles from Nashville.

To visit south end of Land Between the Lakes: Take I-24 West to US Hwy 79 (Exit 4) to Clarksville. Follow Highway 79, south, approximately 24 miles to Dover. Signs will direct you to Land Between the Lakes. Turn right, north, onto State Hwy 461. This road becomes Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway which is the main north/south road. Follow this road into Land Between the Lakes.  The South Welcome Station will be on your right.

Alternate route:  To avoid the traffic in Clarksville, take 79 south for 2 miles to Highway 374. Turn right and travel 10 miles to the end of 374 and turn right back onto Hwy 79 South.

To visit central areas of Land Between the Lakes: Take I-24 West into Kentucky to Exit 65 (Cadiz/Hopkinsville).  Turn left to Cadiz. Stay on US Hwy 68/80 through Cadiz and across the Lake Barkley bridge, into Land Between The Lakes.  In approximately four miles, exit onto Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway and follow the signs to the Golden Pond Visitor Center for information.

To visit north end of Land Between the Lakes: Take I-24 West into Kentucky. Take Exit 31 to Hwy 453 South towards Grand Rivers. When you cross the canal between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, you are in Land Between the Lakes. This road becomes Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway which is the main north/south road in Land Between the Lakes. The North Welcome Station is approximately 3 miles on your right after crossing the canal.

Land Between the Lakes is located approximately 130 miles from Owensboro.

To visit central areas of Land Between the Lakes: Take the Audubon Parkway west to Interstate 69. Follow the Interstate 69 South toward Hopkinsville to Exit #11. Turn right on Hwy 1682 South and follow approximately 5 miles to US Hwy 68/80. Turn right (West) onto US Hwy 68/80. Stay on US Hwy 68/80 through Cadiz and across the Lake Barkley bridge, into Land Between the Lakes. In approximately four miles, exit onto Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway and follow the signs to the Golden Pond Visitor Center for information.

To visit north end of Land Between the Lakes: Take the Audubon Parkway west to Interstate 69. Take Interstate 69 South to Western Kentucky Parkway. Take Western Kentucky Parkway, west, to I-24 West. Take Exit 31 to Hwy 453 South towards Grand Rivers. When you cross the canal between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, you are in Land Between the Lakes. This road becomes Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway which is the main north/south road in Land Between the Lakes. The North Welcome Station is approximately 3 miles on your right after crossing the canal.

Land Between the Lakes is located approximately 190 miles from St. Louis.

Take I-64 East to Mt. Vernon, Illinois. At Mt. Vernon, take Highway 57 South to I-24 East. Travel I-24 East into Kentucky to Exit 31. Take Exit 31 to Hwy 453 South towards Grand Rivers. When you cross the canal between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, you are in Land Between the Lakes. This road becomes Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway which is the main north/south road in Land Between the Lakes. The North Welcome Station is approximately 3 miles on your right after crossing the canal.

Distances Between Attractions:

Drive times and distances between attractions in Land Between the Lakes can be misleading due to winding and slow roads in our forest. We mapped out how much time to allow for an average bus between loading and unloading at each stop. Private auto should take less time between the following facilities.

  • Elk & Bison Prairie: 35 minutes, 20 miles
  • Golden Pond Planetarium: 35 minutes, 19 miles
  • Golden Pond Visitor Center: 35 minutes, 19 miles
  • The Homeplace 1850s Working Farm: 20 minutes, 9 miles
  • North Welcome Station: 60 minutes, 39 miles
  • South Welcome Station: 10 minutes, 4 miles
  • Woodlands Nature Station: 60 minutes, 32 miles
  • Brandon Spring Group Center: 35 minutes, 20 miles
  • Golden Pond Planetarium: 5 minutes, 1 mile
  • Golden Pond Visitor Center: 5 minutes, 1 mile
  • The Homeplace 1850s Working Farm:  20 minutes, 12 miles
  • North Welcome Station: 30 minutes, 18 miles
  • South Welcome Station: 35 minutes, 22 miles
  • Woodlands Nature Station, 20 minutes, 12 miles
  • Brandon Spring Group Center: 35 minutes, 19 miles
  • Elk & Bison Prairie: 5 minutes, 1 miles
  • The Homeplace 1850s Working Farm: 20 minutes, 11 miles
  • North Welcome Station: 30 minutes, 19 miles
  • South Welcome Station: 35 minutes, 21 miles
  • Woodlands Nature Station: 25 minutes, 13 miles
  • Brandon Spring Group Center: 20 minutes, 9 miles
  • Elk & Bison Prairie: 20  minutes, 12 miles
  • Golden Pond Planetarium: 20 minutes, 11 miles
  • Golden Pond Visitor Center: 20 minutes, 11 miles
  • North Welcome Station: 45 minutes, 30 miles
  • South Welcome Station: 20 minutes, 11 miles
  • Woodlands Nature Station: 40 minutes, 23 miles
  • Brandon Spring Group Center: 60 minutes, 40 miles
  • Elk & Bison Prairie: 30 minutes, 19 miles
  • Golden Pond Planetarium: 30 minutes, 19 miles
  • Golden Pond Visitor Center: 30 minutes, 19 miles
  • The Homeplace 1850s Working Farm: 45 minutes, 30 miles
  • South Welcome Station: 60 minutes, 41 miles
  • Woodlands Nature Station: 20 minutes, 12 miles
  • Brandon Spring Group Center: 10 minutes, 4 miles
  • Elk & Bison Prairie: 40 minutes, 24 miles
  • Golden Pond Planetarium: 35 minutes, 23 miles
  • Golden Pond Visitor Center: 35 minutes, 23 miles
  • The Homeplace 1850s Working Farm: 20 minutes, 11 miles
  • North Welcome Station: 60 minutes, 41 miles
  • Woodlands Nature Station: 50 minutes, 35 miles
  • Brandon Spring Group Center: 60 minutes, 32 miles
  • Elk & Bison Prairie: 20 minutes, 12 miles
  • Golden Pond Planetarium: 25 minutes, 13 miles
  • Golden Pond Visitor Center: 25 minutes, 13 miles
  • The Homeplace 1850s Working Farm: 40 minutes, 23 miles
  • North Welcome Station: 25 minutes, 12 miles
  • South Welcome Station: 60 minutes, 34 miles