Origin
Frankfort, KY
Late night in Frankfort on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Frankfort, KY to Bardstown, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
55.4 mi
89 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Frankfort, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Bardstown, KY
Brady Wilson
Trip Overview
Connecting Frankfort and Bardstown is a straightforward 55.4-mile journey that takes roughly 1 hour and 4 minutes to complete. Because the trip is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, leaving you plenty of time to explore your destination upon arrival. You can expect to spend about $8 on fuel, making this a very budget-friendly trip across Kentucky’s Southeast region. While the drive is simple, using a mix of Lawrenceburg Road, Old Frankfort Road, and the Bluegrass Parkway keeps the pace moving efficiently. Whether you are heading out for a quick getaway or a local errand, this route provides a practical, no-fuss connection between two of the state's historic hubs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass Parkway | 33.8 mi | 36m |
| Lawrenceburg Road | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| Old Frankfort Road | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| West Frankfort Connector | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Bypass North | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| Frankfort Road | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Springfield Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East Stephen Foster Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Bluegrass Parkway
— 33.8 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Frankfort, KY and Bardstown, KY.
1
Start on Elk Alley
26 ft
·
6 sec
·
Elk Alley
2
Turn left onto KY 420
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
Mero Street
3
Continue on US 127; US 421
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
West Frankfort Connector
4
Continue on US 127
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Lawrenceburg Road
5
Continue on US 127
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Frankfort Road
6
Continue on US 127 Bypass
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Bypass North
7
Continue on US 127 Bypass; US 62 Truck
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Old Frankfort Road
8
Continue on US 127; KY 513
510 ft
·
10 sec
·
US 127; KY 513
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
10
Merge onto Bluegrass Parkway
34 mi
·
36 min
·
Bluegrass Parkway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Bardstown
12
Merge onto US 150; US 31E Truck
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Springfield Road
13
Continue on US 150
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Stephen Foster Avenue
14
Enter roundabout onto US 31E; US 62; US 150
201 ft
·
3 sec
·
Court Square
15
Arrive at destination
US 31E; US 62; US 150
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.7 miles from Frankfort, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 55.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
KY 420 / Mero Street
Turn left onto KY 420 / Mero Street
Navigation decision point
5
18.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
52.8 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward Bardstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Bardstown
4
53.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
US 150; US 31E Truck / Springfield Road
Merge onto US 150; US 31E Truck / Springfield Road
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
55.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
US 31E; US 62; US 150 / Court Square
Enter roundabout onto US 31E; US 62; US 150 / Court Square
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.66 one way
$17.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.51 | $19.02 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.66 | $21.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.23 | $24.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.82 | $2.66 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.85 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.76 | $3.55 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Bardstown, KY
Late night in Bardstown on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°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
25 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 4m 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?
This trip features a balanced mix of local roads and high-speed transit, with highways accounting for 61% of your total mileage. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Bluegrass Parkway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the drive at 33.8 miles. After navigating the initial stretches of Lawrenceburg and Old Frankfort roads, the transition to the parkway allows for a more consistent cruising speed. Expect a functional, highway-focused drive that prioritizes efficiency over technical, winding backroads. It is a predictable experience behind the wheel, ideal for those who prefer steady momentum throughout their travels.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.8 mi on Bluegrass Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bluegrass Parkway and Lawrenceburg Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KY 420 / Mero Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Frankfort, KY to Bardstown, KY is easy. At 1h 4m with 61% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KY 420 / Mero Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 52.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 55.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.8 miles on Bluegrass Parkway. 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: near the start (KY 420 / Mero Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 52.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bardstown, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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