This 76.7-mile drive from Lexington-Fayette, KY, to Buckner, KY, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. It's a perfect option for a day trip, with no need to break it up or plan for an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $12, making it an economical choice. The route is primarily highway-focused, offering a consistent driving experience. Since both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region of Kentucky, you'll remain in familiar territory throughout your travels.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.3 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
59.8 mi
1h 4m
Lagrange Road
5.5 mi
8m
Gene Snyder Freeway
4.5 mi
5m
La Grange Road
2.2 mi
3m
East New Circle Road
1.4 mi
2m
North Broadway
1.2 mi
2m
W Highway 146
0.8 mi
1m
Floyd Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 59.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington-Fayette, KY and Buckner, KY.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi·42 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Floyd Drive
0.2 mi·24 sec·Floyd Drive
3
Turn left onto KY 4
1.4 mi·2 min·East New Circle Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto US 27; US 68
1.2 mi·2 min·North Broadway
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left
0.5 mi·55 sec
Toward I 75 North, I 64 West: Cincinnati, Louisville
6
Merge onto I 64; I 75
4.1 mi·4 min·I 64; I 75
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
56 mi·59 min·I 64
Toward I 64 West: Frankfort, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
9
Merge onto I 265; KY 841
4.5 mi·5 min·Gene Snyder Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Exit 30Toward KY 146: Anchorage, Pewee Valley
11
Turn right onto La Grange Road
1.3 mi·1 min·La Grange Road
12
Continue on KY 146
0.3 mi·22 sec·Lagrange Road
13
Continue on KY 146
0.9 mi·1 min·La Grange Road
14
Continue on KY 146
1.2 mi·1 min·Lagrange Road
15
Turn left onto KY 22; KY 146
196 ft·6 sec·Dogwood Lane
16
Turn right onto KY 146
4.0 mi·5 min·Lagrange Road
17
Continue on KY 146
0.8 mi·1 min·W Highway 146
18
Turn left onto Old Cedar Point Road
76 ft·3 sec·Old Cedar Point Road
19
Arrive at destination
Old Cedar Point Road
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 30 minute duration, flexibility is key for this trip. You can depart at your leisure, but consider leaving mid-morning to avoid potential rush hour traffic around urban areas. With no designated stops in the data, you'll have the freedom to pull over as needed, though the longest stretch is under an hour, so extensive breaks might not be necessary. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $12 estimated cost suggests a fairly direct, uninterrupted journey. A practical tip: since you'll be on I 64 for a substantial portion, ensure your vehicle is in good condition before setting off, as services might be less frequent on this particular interstate segment.
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 38.3 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.8 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.3 miles or 44m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buckner, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lexington-Fayette, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lexington-Fayette, KY
This is one driving day of about 76.7 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 59.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 67.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Floyd Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Floyd Drive
Navigation decision point
6
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|US 27; US 68 / North Broadway
Turn right onto US 27; US 68 / North Broadway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left toward I 75 North, I 64 West: Cincinnati, Louisville
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 North, I 64 West: Cincinnati, Louis...
8
7.4 mi into trip|~11m in|I 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West: Frankfort, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 64 West: Frankfort, Louisville
6
67.8 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward KY 146: Anchorage, Pewee Valley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 30
Toward KY 146: Anchorage, Pewee Valley
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.99 one way
$23.98 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.17
$26.33
premium
$4.89
$14.76
$29.52
diesel
$5.61
$16.93
$33.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23
0
$8.05
$3.68
Efficient EV
19.2
0
$6.71
$3.07
EV Truck/SUV
30.7
0
$10.74
$4.91
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 16, 2026
Origin
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Morning
in Lexington-Fayette on Sunday
Local time
10:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
W 7 to 15 mph56% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Buckner, KY
Morning
in Buckner on Sunday
Local time
10:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 30m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 85% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll spend a significant amount of time on I 64, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 59.8 miles. This suggests a consistent pace and minimal distractions. The main roads you'll navigate include I 64, Lagrange Road, and the Gene Snyder Freeway, all contributing to a predominantly high-speed travel experience. The character of the drive remains largely consistent, emphasizing efficiency over varied scenery.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.8 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Lagrange Road. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Floyd Drive.
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 76.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (Floyd Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 27; US 68 / North Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY and Buckner, KY, road signs point toward Louisville and Pewee Valley.
Louisville
7.4 mi in|~11m|via I 64
Pewee Valley
67.8 mi in|~1h 16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 76.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.8 miles on I 64. 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 Buckner, 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: at 0.1 miles (Floyd Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 27; US 68 / North Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — 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 Buckner, KY before heading back.
