This 86.8-mile drive from Hodgenville, KY to Lexington, KY is easily manageable as a day trip, taking just under 2 hours to complete. The journey primarily utilizes the Bluegrass Parkway, Bardstown Road, and New Haven Road, with a significant portion of the drive on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, this route offers an economical way to travel between two points within Kentucky's Southeast region. It’s a straightforward trip, perfect for a leisurely afternoon or a quick visit between these two locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.4 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
5.6 mi
7m
Versailles Road
4.4 mi
6m
Lexington Road
1.7 mi
2m
South Main Street
1.7 mi
2m
Gainesway Drive
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Bluegrass Parkway
— 50.5 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hodgenville, KY and Lexington, 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
4.4 mi·6 min·Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
13
Merge onto KY 4
5.6 mi·7 min·New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 18Toward KY 1974: LexingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto KY 1974
0.2 mi·28 sec·Tates Creek Road
16
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1.0 mi·2 min·Gainesway Drive
17
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
261 ft·9 sec·Coldstream Drive
18
Arrive at destination
Coldstream Drive
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of about 1 hour and 48 minutes, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits you. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your day in Lexington, or a mid-morning start to enjoy a relaxed drive. With only 86.8 miles and a $14 fuel cost, you won't need to worry too much about frequent stops for gas. Keep an eye out for the transition points between the parkway and local roads, as these can sometimes involve changes in speed limits and road conditions.
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 43.4 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 43.4 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 28m
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 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 86.8 miles and 1h 48m.
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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 85.3 — 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
5
79.7 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.
7
85.3 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
$13.57 one way
$27.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.90
$29.80
premium
$4.89
$16.70
$33.41
diesel
$5.61
$19.16
$38.33
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: 30.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.11
$4.17
Efficient EV
21.7
0
$7.59
$3.47
EV Truck/SUV
34.7
0
$12.15
$5.56
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
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
6:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lexington, KY
Morning
in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
6:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Bloomfield, KY
43 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
21 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 48m 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
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...
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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 83.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 58% of it on highway. You'll experience a 50.5-mile stretch on the Bluegrass Parkway, offering a consistent pace for a good portion of your journey. The road transitions between the efficiency of the parkway and potentially more localized roads like Bardstown Road and New Haven Road, offering varied driving experiences. This blend means you'll get both open road cruising and opportunities to engage with the local landscape as you approach Lexington.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 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?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.8 miles you will encounter 10 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: 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.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 86.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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: 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, KY before heading back.
