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Trip from Hodgenville, KY to Lexington-Fayette, 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 49m

Distance

87.4 mi

141 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 41m ★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 56m
5 PM
2h 5m
8 PM
1h 45m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in LaRue County, Kentucky, United States

Hodgenville, KY

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, United States

Lexington-Fayette, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 87.4-mile drive from Hodgenville, KY to Lexington-Fayette, KY is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 49 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Bluegrass Parkway, Bardstown Road, and New Haven Road, this route offers a comfortable journey through the Southeast region of Kentucky. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, it's an economical option for a quick excursion. The drive is well-suited for a single day, allowing ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. You'll experience a mixed driving profile, making it an engaging, though not overly demanding, road trip.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

43.7 miles from Hodgenville, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Bluegrass Parkway 50.5 mi 54m
Bardstown Road 10 mi 14m
New Haven Road 10 mi 14m
New Circle Road 7.1 mi 10m
Versailles Road 4.6 mi 6m
Lexington Road 1.7 mi 2m
South Main Street 1.7 mi 2m
East Main Street 0.6 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Bluegrass Parkway — 50.5 mi, about 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hodgenville, KY and Lexington-Fayette, KY.

1

Start on US 31E; KY 84; KY 210

17 ft · 0 sec · East Main Street
2

Enter roundabout onto East Main Street

442 ft · 7 sec · East Main Street
3

Continue on East Main Street

0.5 mi · 45 sec · East Main Street
4

Continue on US 31E; KY 84

10 mi · 14 min · Bardstown Road
5

Continue on US 31E

1.7 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
6

Continue on US 31E

10 mi · 14 min · New Haven Road
7

Take the ramp onto US 31E Truck

0.3 mi · 38 sec · US 31E Truck
8

Merge onto Bluegrass Parkway; US 31E Truck

50 mi · 54 min · Bluegrass Parkway; US 31E Truck
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Toward US 60 West: Frankfort
10

Turn right onto US 60

1.7 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road
11

Continue on US 60

4.6 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
12

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road
13

Merge onto KY 4

7.1 mi · 10 min · New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Turn right onto Floyd Drive

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Floyd Drive
15

Turn left

0.1 mi · 41 sec
16

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of just under two hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart Hodgenville, KY, in the morning and arrive in Lexington-Fayette, KY, with plenty of daylight remaining. With no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps when you feel the need to stretch your legs after the 50.5-mile stretch on the Bluegrass Parkway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $14, and ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably.

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 43.7 miles from Hodgenville, KY, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.5 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 19 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 43.7 miles or 56m 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 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lexington-Fayette, KY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Hodgenville, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Hodgenville, KY

This is one driving day of about 87.4 miles and 1h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Hodgenville, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Bluegrass Parkway for about 50.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Bloomfield, KY, KY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomfield, KY

44 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

Bardstown, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bloomfield, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.7 miles from Hodgenville, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Laha's Red Castle

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hodgenville, Kentucky

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route $1 to $10

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+12703589201

Visit website

El Acapulco

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hodgenville, Kentucky

0.6 mi

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Bardstown, Kentucky

1.4 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Leestown Coffee House

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lexington, Kentucky

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 81.2

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

+18595545900

Visit website

Third Street Stuff

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lexington, Kentucky

1.9 mi

Old School Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lexington, Kentucky

2.4 mi

Laha's Red Castle

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route $1 to $10

Hodgenville, Kentucky

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+12703589201

Visit website

El Acapulco

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hodgenville, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+12703586565

Visit website

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 25

Bardstown, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+15023501333

Visit website

Cinco De Mayo Mexican Bar And Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 25

Bardstown, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15023501145

Visit website

Toogie's Table

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 25

Bardstown, Kentucky

Hours: 5–8:30 pm

+15022750891

Visit website

Charlie Brown's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 87.4

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+18592695701

Visit website

Kreso's Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 25

Bardstown, Kentucky

Hours: 11:30 am–2 pm

+15023489594

Mi Lindo Cuernavaca tienda taqueria

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 25

Bardstown, Kentucky

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+15023316034

Visit website

Leestown Coffee House

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 81.2

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

+18595545900

Visit website

Third Street Stuff

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87.4

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 6:30 am–7:30 pm

+18592555301

Visit website

Old School Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87.4

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+18593091968

Visit website

Fresh Coffee, Pastries & More

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 25

Bardstown, Kentucky

Hours: 7:30 am–3 pm

+15023316345

Visit website

Chaotic Good: Coffee, Comics and Games

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 81.2

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 8:30 am–10 pm

+18593038668

Visit website

The Greenery: Coffee + Social Space

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87.4

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

Visit website

The Amsden

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 68.7

Versailles, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+18594232969

Visit website

Funky Rooster Coffee Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87.4

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

+18594071100

Visit website

Jacobson Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 87.4

Lexington, Kentucky

+18592882900

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 80.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Main Street

Enter roundabout onto East Main Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
73.1 mi into trip | ~1h 27m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 60 West: Frankfort

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward US 60 West: Frankfort
4
73.2 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in | US 60 / Lexington Road

Turn right onto US 60 / Lexington Road

Navigation decision point

4
79.5 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in

Take the exit toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road
5
80.1 mi into trip | ~1h 37m in | KY 4 / New Circle Road

Merge onto KY 4 / New Circle Road

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.66 one way

$27.33 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $15.00 $30.01
premium $4.89 $16.82 $33.64
diesel $5.61 $19.30 $38.59

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26.2 0 $9.18 $4.20
Efficient EV 21.9 0 $7.65 $3.50
EV Truck/SUV 35 0 $12.24 $5.59

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Hodgenville, KY

Morning in Hodgenville on Sunday

Local time

6:37 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lexington-Fayette, KY

Morning in Lexington-Fayette on Sunday

Local time

6:37 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Bloomfield, KY

44 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

23 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 49m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

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...

1 mi from route ~3 min detour Free near mile 3
View on nps.gov
Camp Nelson National Monument

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...

17 mi from route ~43 min detour Free near mile 75.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

The character of this 87.4-mile drive is predominantly highway, with 58% of the route on faster roads like the Bluegrass Parkway. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 50.5 miles on the Bluegrass Parkway, offering a period of consistent travel. The profile is described as a 'Mixed drive,' suggesting a blend of highway speeds and potentially some more winding or local road sections as you transition. Expect a varied driving experience that moves along briskly for significant portions.

58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.5 mi on Bluegrass Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.

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 1h 49m 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: near the start (East Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 73.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 73.2 miles (US 60 / Lexington Road): Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 87.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (58%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 50.5 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 (East Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 73.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 73.2 miles (US 60 / Lexington Road): Navigation decision point.

Yes — Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park and 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-Fayette, 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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