# U.S. Route 51 in Kentucky

U.S. Route 51 (US 51) in Kentucky runs 42 miles (68 km) through the western portion of the state from the Tennessee state line at Fulton to the Illinois state line at Cairo, Illinois. It is a mostly rural route, also serving the towns of Clinton, Arlington, Bardwell and Wickliffe. It also carries part of the Great River Road near the northern end of its route in Kentucky.

## Route description

US 51 mainly runs through the Jackson Purchase region of Kentucky, spanning the four westernmost counties in Kentucky, beginning with a four-lane section crossing the state line, which begins a concurrency with the I-69. US 51 follows I-69's first two miles (3.2 km) to exit 1 north of Fulton.
North of Fulton, US 51 follows a path from Fulton County, and traverses Hickman, Carlisle and Ballard counties, including going through their respective county seats, Clinton, Bardwell, and Wickliffe. At Bardwell, US 62 begins running concurrently with US 51. US 60 joins in on the overlap just before crossing the Ohio River into Alexander County, Illinois just south of Cairo.
Portions of US 51/US 62 in Carlisle and Ballard counties are part of the Great River Road National Scenic Byway.

## Major intersections

| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
| Fulton | Fulton | 0.000 | 0.000 | Future I-69 south / US 51 south | Continuation south into Tennessee; southern terminus of I-69; southern end of I-69 concurrency |
| Fulton | Fulton | 0.030 | 0.048 | KY 116 / KY 166 – Fulton, Hickman | I-69 exit 0 |
| Fulton | Fulton | 1.424 | 2.292 | I-69 north / KY 1648 north – Mayfield | Northern end of I-69 concurrency; northern terminus of KY 1648; I-69 exit 1 |
| Fulton | Fulton | 1.654 | 2.662 | KY 2767 west (Holiday Lane) | To Parkway Regional Hospital |
| Fulton | Fulton | 1.721 | 2.770 | KY 2149 west (Airport Road) | To Fulton Airport |
| Fulton | ​ | 3.497 | 5.628 | KY 94 Conn. south | Signed KY 94C; short connector road to KY 94 |
| Fulton | ​ | 3.924 | 6.315 | KY 94 – Hickman, Murray | |
| Fulton | ​ | 5.944 | 9.566 | KY 924 east | Southern end of KY 924 concurrency |
| Hickman | ​ | 6.287 | 10.118 | KY 924 west | Northern end of KY 924 concurrency |
| Hickman | ​ | 6.968 | 11.214 | KY 1070 north | Southern terminus of KY 1070 |
| Hickman | ​ | 9.145 | 14.717 | KY 1529 (Moscow Water Valley Road) | |
| Hickman | ​ | 9.861 | 15.870 | KY 2209 east (Gwynn Road) | Western terminus of KY 2209 |
| Hickman | ​ | 11.186 | 18.002 | KY 780 east | Southern end of KY 780 concurrency |
| Hickman | ​ | 11.288 | 18.166 | KY 780 west | Northern terminus of KY 780 concurrency |
| Hickman | Clinton | 13.256 | 21.333 | KY 780 east | Western terminus of KY 780 |
| Hickman | Clinton | 13.756 | 22.138 | KY 58 east (Mayfield Road) – Mayfield | Southern end of KY 58 concurrency |
| Hickman | Clinton | 13.874 | 22.328 | KY 58 west / KY 123 (East Clay Street/West Clay Street) | Northern end of KY 58 concurrency |
| Hickman | Clinton | 14.108 | 22.705 | KY 1745 east (James Phillips Drive) | Western terminus of KY 1745 |
| Hickman | Clinton | 14.153 | 22.777 | KY 1826 west (Depot Street) | Eastern terminus of KY 1826 |
| Hickman | Clinton | 14.318 | 23.043 | KY 1728 west | Eastern terminus of KY 1728 |
| Hickman | Clinton | 14.383 | 23.147 | KY 703 east (Spring Street) | Western terminus of KY 703 |
| Hickman | ​ | 15.016 | 24.166 | KY 1728 west | Eastern terminus of KY 1728 |
| Hickman | ​ | 16.416 | 26.419 | KY 1540 west | Eastern terminus of KY 1540 |
| Hickman | ​ | 17.224 | 27.719 | KY 1301 north | Southern terminus of KY 1301 |
| Hickman | ​ | 18.646 | 30.008 | KY 288 east | Western terminus of KY 288 |
| Carlisle | Arlington | 22.473 | 36.167 | KY 80 – Mayfield, Columbus, Columbus-Belmont State Park | |
| Carlisle | Arlington | 22.891 | 36.839 | KY 877 west – Berkley | Eastern terminus of KY 877 |
| Carlisle | ​ | 27.337 | 43.995 | KY 1377 south – Carlisle County High School | Northern terminus of KY 1377 |
| Carlisle | ​ | 27.828 | 44.785 | KY 1181 north | Southern terminus of KY 1181 |
| Carlisle | Bardwell | 28.697 | 46.183 | KY 123 south (Elsey Avenue) – Columbus, Columbus-Belmont State Park | Northern terminus of KY 123 |
| Carlisle | Bardwell | 29.076 | 46.793 | US 62 east (Paducah Road) – Paducah | Southern end of US 62 concurrency |
| Carlisle | ​ | 31.840 | 51.242 | KY 1022 south | Northern terminus of KY 1022 |
| Carlisle | ​ | 32.055 | 51.588 | KY 1203 south / Great River Road | Northern terminus of KY 1203; southern end of Great River Road concurrency |
| Ballard | Wickliffe | 37.234 | 59.922 | KY 121 south (Court Street) to KY 286 | Northern terminus of KY 121 |
| Ballard | Wickliffe | 37.502 | 60.354 | US 60 east (4th Street) to I-24 | Southern end of US 60 concurrency |
| Ohio River | Ohio River | 41.251– 42.155 | 66.387– 67.842 | Cairo Ohio River Bridge | Cairo Ohio River Bridge |
| Ohio River | Ohio River | 41.251– 42.155 | 66.387– 67.842 | US 51 north / US 60 west / US 62 west / Great River Road (National Route) | Continuation into Illinois |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus ||||||