Origin
Danville, KY
Late night in Danville on Sunday
Local time
3:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Danville, 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
46m
Distance
33 mi
53 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Danville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling between Danville and Lexington, Kentucky, is a straightforward 34.3-mile journey that typically takes about 45 minutes to complete. Because of the short distance, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. You can expect to keep your travel costs low, with a fuel budget of approximately $5 for the entire one-way trip. Navigating through the heart of the Southeast, this drive connects two historic Kentucky communities without the need for complex planning. It is an ideal route if you are looking for a quick, efficient way to transition from the smaller-town feel of Danville to the broader amenities of Lexington.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Road | 15.2 mi | 19m |
| Danville Road | 6 mi | 6m |
| South Main Street | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Nicholasville Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Chenault Bridge Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Gainesway Drive | 1 mi | 2m |
| New Circle Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Lexington Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Lexington Road
— 15.2 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Danville, KY and Lexington, KY.
1
Start on US 150; KY 34; KY 52
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Turn left onto KY 34
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Wilderness Road
3
Continue on KY 34
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Lexington Avenue
4
Continue on KY 34
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lexington Road
5
Continue on KY 34
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Lexington Road
6
Continue on KY 34
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Chenault Bridge Road
7
Turn left onto US 27
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Lexington Road
8
Continue on US 27
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Danville Road
9
Turn right onto US 27 Business
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
South Main Street
10
Turn right onto US 27
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Lexington Road
11
Continue on US 27
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Nicholasville Road
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward KY 4 East: New Circle Road
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto KY 4
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
New Circle Road
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 18
Toward KY 1974: Lexington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto KY 1974
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Tates Creek Road
16
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Gainesway Drive
17
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
261 ft
·
9 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
18
Arrive at destination
Coldstream Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.5 miles from Danville, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 32 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
KY 34 / Wilderness Road
Turn left onto KY 34 / Wilderness Road
Navigation decision point
6
30.2 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
31.5 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
31.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
KY 1974 / Tates Creek Road
Turn right onto KY 1974 / Tates Creek Road
Navigation decision point
4
32 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
Gainesway Drive
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.16 one way
$10.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.66 | $11.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.35 | $12.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.29 | $14.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.58 |
| Efficient EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.89 | $1.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.62 | $2.11 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Lexington, KY
Late night in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
3:49 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
2 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
46m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul, as this route relies entirely on local roads like Wilderness Road, East Lexington Avenue, and Lexington Road. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be dealing with high-speed, multi-lane traffic; instead, you will experience a more intimate look at the local landscape. The route requires your full attention behind the wheel due to the frequency of turns and the nature of the local roadway layout. Since there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the drive maintains a consistent, steady pace from start to finish. You should prepare for a hands-on driving experience that stays off the major interstates.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.2 mi on Lexington Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near KY 34 / Wilderness Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 46m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (KY 34 / Wilderness Road): Navigation decision point; at 30.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.5 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 46m. Total distance: 33 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.2 miles on Lexington Road. 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 0.3 miles (KY 34 / Wilderness Road): Navigation decision point; at 30.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.5 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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