Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
73.8 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Northfield, KY
Tom Fisk
Lexington-Fayette, KY to Northfield, KY is 73.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 28 minutes via I 64, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region and the state of Kentucky, making it a straightforward drive. You'll primarily be on major highways, so expect a quick transit between these two points. Given the relatively short duration and focused highway profile, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time for activities at your destination. Plan for efficient travel with minimal detours.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 66.1 mi | 1h 11m |
| Henry Watterson Expressway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East New Circle Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Broadway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Newmarket Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Floyd Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Stannye Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Northfield Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington-Fayette, KY and Northfield, KY.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn right onto Floyd Drive
Turn left onto KY 4
Turn right onto US 27; US 68
Turn left
Merge onto I 64; I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 264
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto US 42
Turn left onto Northfield Drive
Turn right onto Newmarket Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Stannye Drive
Turn left onto Stannye Court
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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.
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 36.9 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.4 and 73 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Keep slight left at fork toward I 264 East, US 60 West: Watterson Expressway, Saint Matthews
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 42, KY 22: Brownsboro Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 42: Brownsboro Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward US 42 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$11.54 one way
$23.08 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.67 | $25.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.20 | $28.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.29 | $32.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.75 | $3.54 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.46 | $2.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.33 | $4.72 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Lexington-Fayette on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Northfield on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey utilizing major roadways like I 64 and Henry Watterson Expressway. You'll experience a significant stretch of uninterrupted highway travel, with the longest continuous segment measuring 66.1 miles on I 64. The profile suggests a consistent pace for most of the trip, characterized by efficient driving conditions. While the majority is high-speed highway, the initial and final portions might involve more local road transitions as you enter and exit your respective areas.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Henry Watterson Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.4 miles in near I 64.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.8 miles you will encounter 19 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 7.4 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lexington-Fayette, KY to Northfield, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Louisville along the way.
Louisville
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 73.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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