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Trip from Fern Creek, KY to Lexington, KY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 30m

Distance

74.5 mi

120 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 23m ★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 34m
3 PM
1h 36m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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Downtown Fern Creek, KY, KY

Fern Creek, KY

Lukas Hartmann

Downtown Lexington, KY, KY

Lexington, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Fern Creek, KY to Lexington, KY covers 74.5 miles and takes about 1h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 64, Gene Snyder Freeway, Frankfort Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.5 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.55 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

37.3 miles from Fern Creek, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 64 38.5 mi 41m
Gene Snyder Freeway 7.7 mi 8m
Frankfort Road 5.9 mi 6m
New Circle Road 5.6 mi 7m
Versailles Road 5 mi 6m
Lexington Road 3.6 mi 4m
Frankfort Highway 1.8 mi 2m
Versailles Bypass 1.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 64 — 38.5 mi, about 41m

Traffic on I-265

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~3,241 veh/hr typical

Quietest

2 AM

~187 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

17.3×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 92 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fern Creek, KY and Lexington, KY.

1

Start on Fern Creek Road

92 ft · 9 sec · Fern Creek Road
2

Continue on Fern Creek Road

155 ft · 7 sec · Fern Creek Road
3

Turn right onto Jefferson Street

0.2 mi · 49 sec · Jefferson Street
4

Turn left onto US 31E; US 150

1.0 mi · 1 min · Bardstown Road
5

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Toward I 265, KY 841: Gene Snyder Freeway
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward I 265 East, KY 841 East: Gene Snyder Freeway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto I 265; KY 841

7.7 mi · 8 min · Gene Snyder Freeway
8

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 25A Toward I 64 East: Lexington
9

Merge onto I 64

38 mi · 41 min · I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 58 Toward US 60: Frankfort, Versailles
11

Keep slight right at fork

249 ft · 6 sec
Toward Versailles
12

Merge onto US 60

0.6 mi · 45 sec · Versailles Road
13

Continue on US 60

1.8 mi · 2 min · Frankfort Highway
14

Continue on US 60

5.9 mi · 6 min · Frankfort Road
15

Continue on US 60

1.6 mi · 1 min · Versailles Bypass
16

Turn slight left onto US 60

3.6 mi · 4 min · Lexington Road
17

Continue on US 60

4.4 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
18

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
19

Merge onto KY 4

5.6 mi · 7 min · New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Exit 18 Toward KY 1974: Lexington Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Turn right onto KY 1974

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Tates Creek Road
22

Turn left onto Gainesway Drive

1.0 mi · 2 min · Gainesway Drive
23

Turn left onto Coldstream Drive

261 ft · 9 sec · Coldstream Drive
24

Arrive at destination

Coldstream Drive

Trip Plan

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 37.3 miles from Fern Creek, KY, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.5 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 20m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 37.3 miles or 43m 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 13m

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 Fern Creek, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Fern Creek, KY

This is one driving day of about 74.5 miles and 1h 30m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Fern Creek, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 38.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

county seat city in Franklin County, Kentucky, USA and Kentucky federated state capital city

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Frankfort, KY

37 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

Simpsonville, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Frankfort, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.3 miles from Fern Creek, 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 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 73 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
1.4 mi into trip | ~3m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 265 East, KY 841 East: Gene Snyder Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 265 East, KY 841 East: Gene Snyder Fre...
5
9.6 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward I 64 East: Lexington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 25A Toward I 64 East: Lexington
6
48.6 mi into trip | ~55m in

Take the exit toward US 60: Frankfort, Versailles

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 58 Toward US 60: Frankfort, Versailles
6
48.9 mi into trip | ~56m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Versailles

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward Versailles
7
73 mi into trip | ~1h 26m 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

$11.55 one way

$23.10 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.32 $12.67 $25.33
premium $4.93 $14.45 $28.91
diesel $5.60 $16.42 $32.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.4 0 $7.82 $3.58
Efficient EV 18.6 0 $6.52 $2.98
EV Truck/SUV 29.8 0 $10.43 $4.77

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 Sep 2, 2026

Origin

Fern Creek, KY

Afternoon in Fern Creek on Friday

Local time

4:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Clear

SW 3 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued September 2 at 2:41AM EDT by NWS Jackson KY

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 2:25AM EDT until September 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV

Destination

Lexington, KY

Afternoon in Lexington on Friday

Local time

4:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Clear

SW 2 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued September 2 at 2:41AM EDT by NWS Jackson KY

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 2:25AM EDT until September 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV

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

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

1h 30m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

74.5 mi in 1h 30m, mostly highway — 38.5 mi of that is on I 64.

62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.5 mi on I 64.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Gene Snyder Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.5 miles you will encounter 16 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 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

998 ft 594 ft

Total Climb

553 ft

Total Descent

297 ft

Highest Point

998 ft

~69.2 mi in

Elevation Range

404 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Fern Creek, KY to Lexington, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Versailles along the way.

Versailles

48.6 mi in | ~55m

About the Cities

Starting in Fern Creek, KY

Full guide →

Arriving in Lexington, KY

Full guide →

Founded 1974

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.

Top landmarks

  • • African Cemetery No. 2 — cemetery in Lexington, Kentucky
  • • Lexington Cemetery — botanical garden and cemetery in Lexington, Kentucky
  • • Hancock School — historic former school building in Lexington, Massachusetts, United States

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 30m. Total distance: 74.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 38.5 miles on I 64. 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 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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