Knottsville, KY to Nicholasville, KY is 164.1 miles and takes about 3h 22m via Bluegrass Parkway and US 60, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, traversing the Southeast region for its entirety. Expect a drive that's mostly highway, making it a straightforward and efficient journey. If you're looking for a quick connection between these two points with minimal fuss, this route is a solid choice for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
82.1 miles from Knottsville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Bluegrass Parkway
67.6 mi
1h 12m
US 60
39 mi
44m
State Highway 144
18.4 mi
32m
Joe Prather Highway
10.4 mi
12m
Keene Road
5.3 mi
7m
North Dixie Highway
4.9 mi
6m
Pinckard Pike
4.5 mi
6m
Flaherty Road
2.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Bluegrass Parkway
— 67.6 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knottsville, KY and Nicholasville, KY.
1
Start on KY 144
12 mi·21 min·State Highway 144
2
Continue on KY 144
5.7 mi·9 min·State Highway 144
3
At end of road, turn left onto KY 144
0.8 mi·1 min·State Highway 144
4
Continue on US 60; KY 144
14 mi·15 min·US 60; KY 144
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 60; KY 259
2.8 mi·3 min·US 60; KY 259
6
Continue on US 60; KY 79
22 mi·25 min·US 60; KY 79
7
Turn right onto KY 144
2.4 mi·2 min·Flaherty Road
8
Continue on KY 313
10 mi·12 min·Joe Prather Highway
9
Turn right onto US 31W
0.4 mi·24 sec·South Dixie Boulevard
Use the right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W
0.1 mi·7 sec·South Dixie Boulevard
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W
1.4 mi·1 min·South Dixie Boulevard
12
Continue on US 31W
476 ft·6 sec·North Dixie Highway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W
4.8 mi·6 min·North Dixie Highway
14
Continue on US 31W
1.0 mi·1 min·West Dixie Avenue
15
Turn left onto US 62; KY 61
2.1 mi·3 min·North Mulberry Street
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
17
Merge onto I 65
0.6 mi·38 sec·I 65
18
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 93Toward Lexington, BardstownUse the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
68 mi·1 hr 12 min·Bluegrass Parkway
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 68Toward KY 33: Versailles
21
Turn straight onto KY 33
1.1 mi·2 min·Troy Pike
22
Turn left onto KY 169
4.5 mi·6 min·Pinckard Pike
23
Continue on KY 169
2.1 mi·2 min·Keene-Versailles Road
24
Continue on KY 169
0.4 mi·40 sec·Pinchard Pike
25
Turn right onto KY 169; KY 1267
0.2 mi·21 sec·Keene Road
26
Continue on KY 169
5.1 mi·7 min·Keene Road
27
Continue on KY 169
0.8 mi·1 min·North 3rd Street
28
Turn left onto KY 169
0.2 mi·22 sec·West Oak Street
29
Turn right onto US 27 Business
0.1 mi·12 sec·North Main Street
30
Arrive at destination
US 27 Business
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 3 hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to allow for flexibility should you decide to make a brief stop, though only one is officially noted. The longest stretch without a break is over 67 miles, so plan accordingly for fuel and rest before you begin. Given the relatively short duration and highway-focused nature, there are no critical points to watch for beyond standard road safety, making it a convenient trip to plan.
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 82.1 miles from Knottsville, KY, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.6 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 36 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.1 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nicholasville, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Knottsville, 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 Knottsville, KY
This is one driving day of about 164.1 miles and 3h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Knottsville, 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 Bluegrass Parkway for about 67.6 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.7 and 164 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
17.7 mi into trip|~31m in|KY 144 / State Highway 144
At end of road, turn left onto KY 144 / State Highway 144
Navigation decision point
5
70.2 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|US 31W / South Dixie Boulevard
Turn right onto US 31W / South Dixie Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
80.8 mi into trip|~1h 46m 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 / right lanes.
Exit 93
Toward Lexington, Bardstown
5
149.3 mi into trip|~3h in
Take the exit toward KY 33: Versailles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 68
Toward KY 33: Versailles
5
164 mi into trip|~3h 22m in|US 27 Business / North Main Street
Turn right onto US 27 Business / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.66 one way
$51.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.17
$56.34
premium
$4.89
$31.58
$63.16
diesel
$5.61
$36.23
$72.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.2
0
$17.23
$7.88
Efficient EV
41
0
$14.36
$6.56
EV Truck/SUV
65.6
0
$22.97
$10.50
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 18, 2026
Origin
Knottsville, KY
Night
in Knottsville on Saturday
Local time
11:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Nicholasville, KY
Late night
in Nicholasville on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
S 6 to 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
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
9 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
3h 22m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 164.1
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...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 84.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 77% of the total mileage on faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 67.6 miles on the Bluegrass Parkway, offering a continuous, uninterrupted driving experience. While much of the route involves higher-speed travel, you'll also encounter sections on US 60 and State Highway 144, which may offer a slightly different road feel. Overall, anticipate a consistent pace for most of the 164.1 miles.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.6 mi on Bluegrass Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bluegrass Parkway and US 60. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.7 miles in near KY 144 / State Highway 144.
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 164.1 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 17.7 miles (KY 144 / State Highway 144): Navigation decision point; at 70.2 miles (US 31W / South Dixie Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 80.8 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.
Between Knottsville, KY and Nicholasville, KY, road signs point toward Lexington and Bardstown.
Lexington
80.8 mi in|~1h 46m
Bardstown
80.8 mi in|~1h 46m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 22m. Total distance: 164.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.6 miles on Bluegrass 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 Nicholasville, 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 17.7 miles (KY 144 / State Highway 144): Navigation decision point; at 70.2 miles (US 31W / South Dixie Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 80.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Camp Nelson National Monument and Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Nicholasville, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
