Origin
Cynthiana, KY
Afternoon in Cynthiana on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cynthiana, 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
53m
Distance
36.2 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cynthiana, KY
hartono subagio
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Cynthiana to Lexington, you are looking at a straightforward 35.2-mile journey. Expect to spend about 51 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. Because you will be navigating local roads like New Lair Road, Paris Pike, and Cynthiana Road, your fuel costs will remain minimal at approximately $5. This route keeps you entirely within the Southeast region of Kentucky, transitioning you from the smaller-town feel of Cynthiana into the city of Lexington. It is an efficient, practical way to travel between these two points without the need for extensive planning or multiple stops. You can easily complete the entire trip in under an hour, leaving you plenty of flexibility to enjoy your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Paris Pike | 8.6 mi | 10m |
| Lexington Road | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| Cynthiana Road | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| West New Circle Road | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| New Lair Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| North Broadway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| By-Pass Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Pimlico Parkway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Paris Pike
— 8.6 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cynthiana, KY and Lexington, KY.
1
Start on North Church Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Church Street
2
Continue on KY 982
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
New Lair Road
3
Turn right onto KY 982
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
KY 982
4
Continue on US 27; KY 982
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Paris Pike
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 27
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Cynthiana Road
6
Take the ramp onto US 27
517 ft
·
14 sec
·
US 27
7
Merge onto US 27; US 68
0.7 mi
·
51 sec
·
Paris By-Pass Road
8
Continue on US 27; US 68
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
By-Pass Road
9
Turn right onto US 27; US 68
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Lexington Road
10
Continue on US 27; US 68
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Paris Pike
11
Continue on US 27; US 68
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broadway
12
Turn left onto KY 4
5.2 mi
·
8 min
·
West New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 16
Toward Alumni Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Alumni Drive
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Alumni Drive
15
Turn right onto Yellowstone Parkway
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Yellowstone Parkway
16
Turn right onto Pimlico Parkway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Pimlico Parkway
17
Turn right onto Gainesway Drive
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Gainesway Drive
18
Turn right onto Coldstream Drive
261 ft
·
9 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
19
Arrive at destination
Coldstream Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.1 miles from Cynthiana, 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 3.5 and 35.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 27; KY 982 / Paris Pike
Continue onto US 27; KY 982 / Paris Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
28.9 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
KY 4 / West New Circle Road
Turn left onto KY 4 / West New Circle Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
34.2 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward Alumni Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16
Toward Alumni Drive
4
34.8 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
Yellowstone Parkway
Turn right onto Yellowstone Parkway
Navigation decision point
4
35.1 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
Pimlico Parkway
Turn right onto Pimlico Parkway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.66 one way
$11.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.21 | $12.43 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.97 | $13.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.99 | $15.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.80 | $1.74 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.17 | $1.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Afternoon in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Paris, KY
18 mi in
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
23 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
53m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since this route features zero highway miles, you will spend the entire 35.2 miles navigating regional roads that offer a more intimate look at the local landscape. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the longest segment on New Lair Road is essentially non-existent in terms of highway speed. Instead, the road's personality is defined by constant adjustments and local traffic patterns. Expect a hands-on driving experience where the pace is steady but requires constant navigation through the turns that characterize these specific Kentucky roads.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.6 mi on Paris Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in near US 27; KY 982 / Paris Pike.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 36.2 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 3.5 miles (US 27; KY 982 / Paris Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.9 miles (KY 4 / West New Circle Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 53m. Total distance: 36.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (5%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.6 miles on Paris Pike. 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 3.5 miles (US 27; KY 982 / Paris Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.9 miles (KY 4 / West New Circle Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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, 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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