This 73.2-mile drive from Carrollton, KY to Lexington-Fayette, KY takes about 1 hour and 42 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily use I-64, US 127, and KY 355, with about 67% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost is a budget-friendly $11. This route stays within the Southeast region, offering a straightforward journey through Kentucky. It's a manageable distance that allows for flexibility in your schedule, whether you want to depart early or take your time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.6 miles from Carrollton, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
20.5 mi
21m
US 127
16.2 mi
18m
KY 355
12.3 mi
21m
Owenton Road
8 mi
11m
Main Street
6.6 mi
11m
Versailles Road
2.7 mi
4m
West New Circle Road
1.4 mi
2m
Wilkinson Boulevard
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 20.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carrollton, KY and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
1
Start on US 42; KY 36
0.9 mi·1 min·Highland Avenue
2
Turn right onto KY 36; KY 227
0.4 mi·36 sec·Park Avenue
3
Continue on KY 36; KY 227
8.0 mi·11 min·Owenton Road
4
Turn right onto KY 355
12 mi·21 min·KY 355
5
Continue on KY 355
0.2 mi·20 sec·Crittenden Street
6
Turn right onto KY 22; KY 355
299 ft·8 sec·Waverly Road
7
Turn left onto KY 22; KY 355
6.6 mi·11 min·Main Street
8
Turn right onto US 127
16 mi·18 min·US 127
9
Continue on KY 2261
0.1 mi·14 sec·KY 2261
10
Take the exit onto US 127
40 ft·1 sec·US 127
11
Turn right
0.3 mi·46 sec
12
Merge onto US 421
1.2 mi·1 min·Wilkinson Boulevard
13
Continue on US 60; US 421
2.7 mi·4 min·Versailles Road
14
Turn left
0.4 mi·53 sec
15
Merge onto I 64
20 mi·21 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 113Toward US 27, US 68: Paris, LexingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto US 27; US 68
1.0 mi·1 min·North Broadway
18
Turn left onto KY 4
1.4 mi·2 min·West New Circle Road
19
Turn right onto Floyd Drive
0.2 mi·27 sec·Floyd Drive
20
Turn left
0.1 mi·41 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a duration of just 1 hour and 42 minutes, this 73.2-mile route offers considerable flexibility. You can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stop. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight hours. Since the longest stretch is 20.5 miles on I-64, plan for a fuel stop before you leave Carrollton or shortly after arriving in the Lexington-Fayette area, as there are no designated stops on this route. The estimated fuel cost of $11 is quite low, so budget accordingly.
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 36.6 miles from Carrollton, KY, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.5 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 16 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.6 miles or 56m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lexington-Fayette, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carrollton, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Carrollton, KY
This is one driving day of about 73.2 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Carrollton, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 20.5 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 21.8 and 69.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
21.8 mi into trip|~35m in|KY 22; KY 355 / Waverly Road
Turn right onto KY 22; KY 355 / Waverly Road
Navigation decision point
6
44.8 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|US 127
Take the exit onto US 127
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
49 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
49.4 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|I 64
Merge onto I 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
69.9 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward US 27, US 68: Paris, Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 113
Toward US 27, US 68: Paris, Lexington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.44 one way
$22.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.57
$25.13
premium
$4.89
$14.09
$28.17
diesel
$5.61
$16.16
$32.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22
0
$7.69
$3.51
Efficient EV
18.3
0
$6.41
$2.93
EV Truck/SUV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.68
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Carrollton, KY
Morning
in Carrollton on Sunday
Local time
10:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Morning
in Lexington-Fayette on Sunday
Local time
10:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
S 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
12 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
1h 42m 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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 73.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 73.2-mile trip, with 67% of it spent on faster roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 20.5 miles on I-64, providing a good opportunity to make solid progress. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of US 127 and KY 355 suggests you'll also experience some transitions to different road types. This mix can offer a varied driving feel, moving from consistent highway speeds to potentially more varied conditions on the state routes.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.5 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and US 127. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 21.8 miles in near KY 22; KY 355 / Waverly Road.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 21.8 miles (KY 22; KY 355 / Waverly Road): Navigation decision point; at 44.8 miles (US 127): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 49 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 73.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.5 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 21.8 miles (KY 22; KY 355 / Waverly Road): Navigation decision point; at 44.8 miles (US 127): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 49 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — Camp Nelson 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-Fayette, KY before heading back.
