Origin
Bardstown, KY
Late night in Bardstown on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bardstown, KY to Lexington, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
62.8 mi
101 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bardstown, KY
Brady Wilson
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between two of Kentucky’s most iconic towns, this 62.8-mile journey is an ideal day trip. You can expect to complete the drive in approximately 1 hour and 14 minutes, making it a highly efficient connection within the state. With a modest fuel budget of around $10, it is an economical route that requires no overnight stops to manage fatigue. The trip links the Southeast region of Bardstown to the Southeast region of Lexington, keeping you firmly within the heart of the Bluegrass State. Because the distance is so manageable, you have significant flexibility to depart whenever your schedule allows. This route is perfect for travelers who prioritize speed and reliability over a long, meandering scenic tour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass Parkway | 46.3 mi | 49m |
| New Circle Road | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Versailles Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| US 62 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Lexington Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Gainesway Drive | 1 mi | 2m |
| Tates Creek Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Court Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Bluegrass Parkway
— 46.3 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bardstown, KY and Lexington, KY.
1
Start on US 31E; US 62; US 150
329 ft
·
5 sec
·
Court Square
2
Continue on US 62; US 150
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 62; US 150
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
4
Merge onto Bluegrass Parkway
46 mi
·
49 min
·
Bluegrass Parkway
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward US 60 West: Frankfort
6
Turn right onto US 60
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Road
7
Continue on US 60
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
9
Merge onto KY 4
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 18
Toward KY 1974: Lexington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto KY 1974
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Tates Creek Road
12
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Gainesway Drive
13
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
261 ft
·
9 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
14
Arrive at destination
Coldstream Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.4 miles from Bardstown, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 61.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
49.1 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 60 West: Frankfort
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 60 West: Frankfort
4
49.2 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
US 60 / Lexington Road
Turn right onto US 60 / Lexington Road
Navigation decision point
5
55.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
KY 4 / New Circle Road
Merge onto KY 4 / New Circle Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
61.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward KY 1974: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward KY 1974: Lexington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.82 one way
$19.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.78 | $21.56 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.09 | $24.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.87 | $27.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.59 | $3.01 |
| Efficient EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.79 | $4.02 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Lexington, KY
Late night in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 14m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 78% of your time spent on major corridors. You will spend the bulk of your journey on the Bluegrass Parkway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 46.3 miles. The character of the road shifts once you transition to Versailles Road and New Circle Road as you approach the city limits. While the parkway offers a consistent, high-speed pace, the final segments require more attention as you navigate toward your destination. Expect a straightforward driving experience that favors efficiency, allowing you to cover the distance with minimal stress or technical navigation requirements.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.3 mi on Bluegrass Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bluegrass Parkway and New Circle Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.8 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 49.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 49.2 miles (US 60 / Lexington Road): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Lexington, KY
Full guide →Lexington is the second largest city in Kentucky, located in the Bluegrass Region. Known as the Horse Capital of the World, Lexington has traditionally been dominated by the horse industry and is also heavily influenced by the University of Kentucky, the state's flagship university and the largest employer in the city. The horse industry has greatly influenced Lexington's culture and scenic beauty; the University of Kentucky and Transylvania University contribute to a college town atmosphere with a richer and more diverse culture than some might expect from its size and location. Lexington's compact central downtown district is surrounded by historic neighborhoods. Lexington is in the heart of the Bluegrass region of Kentucky and is still home to hundreds of horse farms.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 62.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.3 miles on Bluegrass Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lexington, KY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 49.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 49.2 miles (US 60 / Lexington Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Camp Nelson National Monument and Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lexington, KY before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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