Origin
Hendron, KY
Night in Hendron on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hendron, 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
4h 52m
Distance
261.4 mi
421 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 39m
★
6 AM
4h 53m
8 AM
5h 20m
10 AM
5h 2m
12 PM
5h 0m
3 PM
5h 4m
5 PM
5h 18m
8 PM
4h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hendron, KY
Ellie Burgin
Trip Overview
This 259.9-mile journey from Hendron, KY to Lexington, KY is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take around 4 hours and 2 minutes. You'll be sticking to local roads for the entire duration, with a projected fuel cost of $39. The drive offers a glimpse into the Southeast region of Kentucky. With just one planned stop, this route is designed for a straightforward travel experience, making it a good option if you're looking for a less highway-intensive way to get from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
130.7 miles from Hendron, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky Parkway | 99.2 mi | 1h 46m |
| Bluegrass Parkway | 70.7 mi | 1h 15m |
| I 69 | 38.3 mi | 41m |
| I 24 | 34 mi | 36m |
| New Circle Road | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Versailles Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Lexington Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| I 65 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Western Kentucky Parkway
— 99.2 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hendron, KY and Lexington, KY.
1
Start on At Massa Drive
305 ft
·
14 sec
·
At Massa Drive
2
Turn right onto Felix Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Felix Avenue
3
Turn left onto KY 994
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Old Mayfield Road
4
Turn left onto Elmdale Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Elmdale Road
5
Turn right
0.4 mi
·
1 min
6
Turn left onto US 45
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Lone Oak Road
7
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward Nashville
8
Merge onto I 24
34 mi
·
36 min
·
I 24
9
Take the exit onto I 69
38 mi
·
41 min
·
I 69
Exit 42
Toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton
10
Keep slight right at fork onto Western Kentucky Parkway
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit 106A-B
Toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
99 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit 106B
Toward Elizabethtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 137B
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Use the right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
14
Merge onto I 65
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 65
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 93
Toward Lexington, Bardstown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
71 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
Bluegrass Parkway
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward US 60 West: Frankfort
18
Turn right onto US 60
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Road
19
Continue on US 60
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
21
Merge onto KY 4
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 18
Toward KY 1974: Lexington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto KY 1974
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Tates Creek Road
24
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Gainesway Drive
25
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
261 ft
·
9 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
26
Arrive at destination
Coldstream Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration and local road profile, consider an early morning departure from Hendron to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential traffic congestion closer to Lexington. With only one stop recommended and no long highway stretches, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads can sometimes have fewer services than major highways. A practical tip for this route is to ensure your navigation system is up-to-date, as relying solely on road signs for a turn-heavy drive can be challenging.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 130.7 miles from Hendron, KY, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 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 58 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.7 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 56m
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 Hendron, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hendron, KY
This is one driving day of about 261.4 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Hendron, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Western Kentucky Parkway for about 99.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
131 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 130.7 miles from Hendron, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Western Kentucky Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.2 miles.
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 215 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 259.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left toward Nashville
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward Nashville
8
74.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
Western Kentucky Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Western Kentucky Parkway toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 106A-B
Toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville
8
174.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 137B
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
8
176.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 15m in
Take the exit toward Lexington, Bardstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 93
Toward Lexington, Bardstown
7
259.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 49m 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
$40.87 one way
$81.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $44.87 | $89.74 |
| premium | $4.89 | $50.30 | $100.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $57.71 | $115.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.4 | 0 | $27.45 | $12.55 |
| Efficient EV | 65.4 | 0 | $22.87 | $10.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 104.6 | 1 | $36.60 | $16.73 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Night in Lexington on Saturday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Beaver Dam, KY
131 mi in
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
19 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
4h 52m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
For over a century people from around the world have come to rural Central Kentucky to honor the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 180.3
View on nps.gov
Camp Nelson National Monument
National Monument
The US Army established Camp Nelson as a fortified supply depot in April 1863. Over the next 3 years, the site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for United States Colored Troops a...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 261.4
View on nps.gov
Mammoth Cave National Park
National Park
Rolling hills, deep river valleys, and the world's longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, e...
21 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 144.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, as it features a 0% highway share. You'll be navigating primarily via Felix Avenue, Old Mayfield Road, and Elmdale Road. Since there isn't a significant highway component, the pace will be more relaxed, allowing you to experience the local character of the areas you pass through more directly. This type of driving often means more frequent turns and a more intimate connection with the landscape, rather than long stretches of high-speed travel.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.2 mi on Western Kentucky Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Western Kentucky Parkway and Bluegrass Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 261.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 74.8 miles (Western Kentucky Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hendron, KY and Lexington, KY, road signs point toward Princeton, Elizabethtown, Louisville and Bardstown.
Princeton
36.5 mi in
|
~43m
|
via I 69
Elizabethtown
75.2 mi in
|
~1h 25m
|
via Western Kentucky Parkway
Louisville
174.1 mi in
|
~3h 11m
Bardstown
176.4 mi in
|
~3h 15m
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 4h 52m. Total distance: 261.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.2 miles on Western Kentucky Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 74.8 miles (Western Kentucky Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Camp Nelson National Monument and Mammoth Cave National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Lexington, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Lexington, KY
More trips to Lexington, KY
Explore more options from Hendron, KY or browse trips ending in Lexington, KY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KY road trips.