Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
75.8 mi
122 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Florence, KY
Wikimedia Commons
This straightforward 75.8-mile drive from Florence to Lexington, Kentucky, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 29 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-71, the route is heavily highway-focused, making it a quick and efficient journey. With an estimated fuel cost of just $12, this trip is quite budget-friendly for a single driver. Given its relatively short length and limited stops, you can comfortably complete this drive without needing an overnight stay. The journey stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points within Kentucky.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 64.4 mi | 1h 9m |
| Newtown Pike | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| US 42 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Chinoe Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Tates Creek Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Oliver Lewis Way | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Euclid Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Alumni Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, KY and Lexington, KY.
Start on Main Street
Turn right onto US 42; US 127
Continue on US 42; US 127
Turn left
Merge onto I 71; I 75
Take the exit
Turn right onto KY 922
Continue on KY 922
Continue on Bolivar Street
At end of road, turn right onto South Upper Street
Continue on South Limestone
Turn right onto Avenue of Champions
Continue on Euclid Avenue
Turn right onto East High Street
Continue on Tates Creek Road
Turn slight left
Continue on Alumni Drive
Turn right onto Chinoe Road
Continue on Greentree Road
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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.
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 37.9 miles from Florence, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 70.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto US 42; US 127
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward KY 922: Airport, Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto KY 922 / Newtown Pike
Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn right onto South Upper Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Regular Gas
$11.85 one way
$23.70 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.01 | $26.02 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.59 | $29.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.74 | $33.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.96 | $3.64 |
| Efficient EV | 19 | 0 | $6.63 | $3.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.61 | $4.85 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Florence on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Lexington on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
72°F
Williamstown, KY
38 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a highway-dominant experience on this route, with 87% of the drive taking place on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 64.4 miles on I-71, offering a consistent pace. While primarily an interstate experience, the final portion on Newtown Pike and US 42 introduces a slight shift in character before reaching your destination. This profile suggests a drive that is largely about covering distance efficiently rather than a winding, scenic exploration.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Newtown Pike. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 42; US 127.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 29m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 42; US 127): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Founded 1830
Florence is a city of 33,000 people (2019) in Kentucky's Northern Ohio River Region, near Cincinnati. Florence is well known in surrounding cities for a water tower visible from I-71/I-75 that reads "Florence Y'all".
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 75.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
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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