Traveling from Burkesville to Lexington covers 133.6 miles of Kentucky landscape, usually taking about 2 hours and 21 minutes to complete. Because this journey is relatively short, you can easily handle the drive as a one-day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Albany Road, Burkesville Road, and Jamestown Road rather than relying on major interstates. Expect to budget roughly $20 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast Kentucky locations. This route is best suited for drivers who prefer a direct, local connection over the monotony of high-speed highway travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.3 miles from Burkesville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 127
52.1 mi
1h
Lexington Road
15.2 mi
19m
Albany Highway
10.2 mi
11m
Jamestown Road
8.5 mi
9m
Albany Road
8.2 mi
9m
Danville Road
6 mi
6m
South Main Street
3.9 mi
6m
Sewellton Road
3.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 127
— 52.1 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burkesville, KY and Lexington, KY.
1
Start on KY 61; KY 90
0.6 mi·42 sec·North Main Street
2
Continue on KY 90
8.2 mi·9 min·Albany Road
3
Continue on KY 90
2.2 mi·2 min·Burkesville Road
4
Turn left onto KY 1590
1.9 mi·3 min·KY 1590
5
Turn left onto US 127
8.5 mi·9 min·Jamestown Road
6
Continue on US 127
10 mi·11 min·Albany Highway
7
Continue on US 127
3.7 mi·4 min·Sewellton Road
8
Turn left onto US 127
52 mi·1 hr·US 127
9
Turn right onto US 150; KY 34; KY 52
0.3 mi·37 sec·West Main Street
10
Turn left onto KY 34
0.3 mi·23 sec·Wilderness Road
11
Continue on KY 34
0.9 mi·1 min·East Lexington Avenue
12
Continue on KY 34
0.7 mi·1 min·Lexington Road
13
Continue on KY 34
3.6 mi·5 min·Lexington Road
14
Continue on KY 34
1.4 mi·2 min·Chenault Bridge Road
15
Turn left onto US 27
6.4 mi·7 min·Lexington Road
16
Continue on US 27
6.0 mi·6 min·Danville Road
17
Turn right onto US 27 Business
3.9 mi·6 min·South Main Street
18
Turn right onto US 27
4.5 mi·5 min·Lexington Road
19
Continue on US 27
2.2 mi·3 min·Nicholasville Road
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward KY 4 East: New Circle RoadUse the right lane.
21
Merge onto KY 4
1.0 mi·1 min·New Circle Road
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 18Toward KY 1974: LexingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto KY 1974
0.2 mi·28 sec·Tates Creek Road
24
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1.0 mi·2 min·Gainesway Drive
25
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
261 ft·9 sec·Coldstream Drive
26
Arrive at destination
Coldstream Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 2 hour and 21 minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. Because there are no designated stops included in this route, make sure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave Burkesville to avoid searching for stations along the more remote sections of the local roads. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route can be tiring, so plan for a quick stretch break if you find yourself losing focus. A smart tip for this specific trip is to double-check your GPS settings to ensure it keeps you on the preferred route of Albany, Burkesville, and Jamestown Roads, as local navigation can sometimes suggest alternative paths that may be less direct.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60.3 miles from Burkesville, KY, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.3 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lexington, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burkesville, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Burkesville, KY
This is one driving day of about 120.6 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Burkesville, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 127 for about 52.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 87.5 and 119.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
87.5 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|US 150; KY 34; KY 52 / West Main Street
Turn right onto US 150; KY 34; KY 52 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
117.7 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Take the exit toward KY 4 East: New Circle Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward KY 4 East: New Circle Road
7
119.1 mi into trip|~2h 24m 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
4
119.3 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|KY 1974 / Tates Creek Road
Turn right onto KY 1974 / Tates Creek Road
Navigation decision point
4
119.5 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|Gainesway Drive
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.85 one way
$37.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.70
$41.40
premium
$4.89
$23.21
$46.42
diesel
$5.61
$26.63
$53.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.2
0
$12.66
$5.79
Efficient EV
30.2
0
$10.55
$4.82
EV Truck/SUV
48.2
0
$16.88
$7.72
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Burkesville, KY
Night
in Burkesville on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lexington, KY
Late night
in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
12:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
S 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
76°F
Liberty, KY
60 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 28m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Camp Nelson National Monument
National Monument
The US Army established Camp Nelson as a fortified supply depot in April 1863. Over the next 3 years, the site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for United States Colored Troops a...
The US won a significant victory early in the Civil War at the Battle of Mill Springs. Explore the rolling fields of Kentucky where the battle took place and learn about that state's strategic importa...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 54.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a standard interstate commute, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will spend the entirety of the 133.6-mile trip navigating winding local roads. The character of the drive is defined by its technical nature, moving away from the typical fast-paced transit found on major thoroughfares. You should expect a consistent pace throughout the journey as you transition from the rural roads near Burkesville toward the city of Lexington. It is an engaging, hands-on experience that requires you to stay alert through every curve and intersection.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.1 mi on US 127.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 87.5 miles in near US 150; KY 34; KY 52 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 28m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 87.5 miles (US 150; KY 34; KY 52 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 117.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 119.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.1 miles on US 127. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 87.5 miles (US 150; KY 34; KY 52 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 117.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 119.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Camp Nelson National Monument and Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument. 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.
