Trip from Lexington, KY to Albany, KY

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 21m

Distance

114.6 mi

184 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min

4 AM

2h 12m ★

6 AM

2h 22m

8 AM

2h 41m

10 AM

2h 29m

12 PM

2h 27m

3 PM

2h 30m

5 PM

2h 40m

8 PM

2h 16m

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 Clinton County, Kentucky, United States

Albany, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 114.6-mile journey from Lexington, KY to Albany, KY is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 21 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via Gainesway Drive, Tates Creek Road, and KY 4 West. With a projected fuel cost of around $17, this drive offers an economical option for exploring Kentucky. The route is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a more engaged driving experience rather than a straight-line dash. Since both locations are within the Southeast region, you'll experience a consistent regional feel throughout your travel.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

57.3 miles from Lexington, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Hustonville Road	51.1 mi	58m
US 127	26.2 mi	30m
Lexington Road	15.1 mi	19m
Nicholasville Bypass	6 mi	7m
North Main Street	3.8 mi	6m
Cross Street	2.8 mi	4m
Nicholasville Road	2.5 mi	3m
Chenault Bridge Road	1.4 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Hustonville Road — 51.1 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Coldstream Drive

261 ft · 11 sec · Coldstream Drive

Turn right onto Gainesway Drive

1.0 mi · 2 min · Gainesway Drive

Turn right onto KY 1974

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Tates Creek Road

Turn left

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Toward KY 4 West: New Circle Road

Merge onto KY 4

0.9 mi · 1 min · New Circle Road

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 49 sec

Exit 19 Toward US 27: Nicholasville, Lexington Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto US 27

2.5 mi · 3 min · Nicholasville Road

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 27

4.5 mi · 5 min · Lexington Road

Turn left onto US 27 Business

3.8 mi · 6 min · North Main Street

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto US 27

6.0 mi · 7 min · Nicholasville Bypass

Continue on US 27

6.4 mi · 7 min · Lexington Road

Turn right onto KY 34

1.4 mi · 2 min · Chenault Bridge Road

Continue on KY 34

3.6 mi · 5 min · Lexington Road

Continue on KY 34

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lexington Road

Continue on KY 34

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Lexington Avenue

Turn left onto KY 34

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Wilderness Road

Turn right onto US 150; KY 34; KY 52

0.4 mi · 47 sec · West Main Street

Turn left onto US 127

1.0 mi · 1 min · South 4th Street

Continue on US 127

51 mi · 58 min · Hustonville Road

Turn right onto US 127

24 mi · 27 min · US 127

Turn left onto US 127; KY 90

0.6 mi · 48 sec · US 127; KY 90

Turn sharp right onto US 127

1.7 mi · 2 min · US 127

Turn left onto US 127 Business

2.8 mi · 4 min · Cross Street

Turn left onto KY 350

231 ft · 17 sec · Jefferson Street

Turn left onto US 127 Business; KY 350

206 ft · 5 sec · South Washington Street

Turn right onto KY 350

108 ft · 2 sec · East Cumberland Street

Arrive at destination

KY 350

Trip Plan

For this 2 hour and 21 minute drive, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best, given its manageable length. With no designated stops and a short duration, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you head towards Albany, KY, and plan for quick stops as needed. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you should anticipate frequent changes in direction; it's wise to have your navigation set up before you depart to smoothly handle the many turns along Gainesway Drive, Tates Creek Road, and KY 4 West.

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 57.3 miles from Lexington, KY, or about 1h 14m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.1 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 25 miles or 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 57.3 miles or 1h 14m 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 56m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Lexington, 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 Lexington, KY

This is one driving day of about 114.6 miles and 2h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Lexington, KY.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Hustonville Road for about 51.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Liberty, KY

57 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

Lancaster, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Liberty, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.3 miles from Lexington, 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

Bread of Life Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Liberty, Kentucky

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 65.5

Hours: 10:30 am–8 pm

+16067876110

Visit website

El Guadalajara

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Russell Springs, Kentucky

0.9 mi

Acapulco Mexican Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Russell Springs, Kentucky

1.1 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Dry Stack Coffee Roastery + Coffee Bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Danville, Kentucky

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 32.8

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+18592092200

Visit website

Common Grounds Coffee House

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lexington, Kentucky

1.9 mi

Caffiends Coffee House

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lexington, Kentucky

2.8 mi

Bread of Life Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 65.5

Liberty, Kentucky

Hours: 10:30 am–8 pm

+16067876110

Visit website

El Guadalajara

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 81.9

Russell Springs, Kentucky

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+12708667775

Visit website

Acapulco Mexican Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 81.9

Russell Springs, Kentucky

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+12702900942

Visit website

Angie's Family Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 114.6

Albany, Kentucky

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+16065571239

Village Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 57.3

Liberty, Kentucky

Hours: 5:30 am–2 pm

+16067876085

Charlie Brown's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+18592695701

Visit website

Aloy Mak Thai Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 57.3

Liberty, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+16067878014

Visit website

Reel Java Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 90.1

Jamestown, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12703432267

Visit website

Dry Stack Coffee Roastery + Coffee Bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 32.8

Danville, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+18592092200

Visit website

Common Grounds Coffee House

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

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

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

Caffiends Coffee House

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+18596081008

Visit website

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 114.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

2.6 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the exit toward US 27: Nicholasville, Lexington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 19 Toward US 27: Nicholasville, Lexington

2.9 mi into trip | ~5m in | US 27 / Nicholasville Road

Turn left onto US 27 / Nicholasville Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

9.9 mi into trip | ~15m in | US 27 Business / North Main Street

Turn left onto US 27 Business / North Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

110 mi into trip | ~2h 15m in | US 127

Turn sharp right onto US 127

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

114.6 mi into trip | ~2h 21m in | US 127 Business; KY 350 / South Washington Street

Turn left onto US 127 Business; KY 350 / South Washington Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.92 one way

$35.83 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$19.67	$39.34
premium	$4.89	$22.05	$44.11
diesel	$5.61	$25.30	$50.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	34.4	$12.03	$5.50
Efficient EV	28.7	$10.03	$4.58
EV Truck/SUV	45.8	$16.04	$7.33

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 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

Lexington, KY

Late night in Lexington on Sunday

Local time

3:45 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Albany, KY

Late night in Albany on Sunday

Local time

2:45 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

76°F

Liberty, KY

57 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

1 hour earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

23 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

2h 21m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this entire 114.6-mile route, with 0% highway share. This means you'll be making numerous turns and adjustments as you travel through local roads. The absence of long highway stretches means you’ll be constantly interacting with the road, likely at lower speeds than you'd find on an interstate. This type of driving requires your full attention, as you'll be navigating more complex intersections and transitions between different local roadways.

Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 51.1 mi on Hustonville Road.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.

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 2h 21m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 miles (US 27 / Nicholasville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles (US 27 Business / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Lexington, KY

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 114.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (23%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 51.1 miles on Hustonville Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Albany, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Lexington, KY or browse trips ending in Albany, KY.

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Trip from Lexington, KY to Albany, KY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Bread of Life Cafe

Dry Stack Coffee Roastery + Coffee Bar

Bread of Life Cafe

El Guadalajara

Acapulco Mexican Grill

Angie's Family Restaurant

Village Restaurant

Charlie Brown's Restaurant

Aloy Mak Thai Restaurant

Reel Java Restaurant

Dry Stack Coffee Roastery + Coffee Bar

Common Grounds Coffee House

Caffiends Coffee House

Mercantile Coffee & Feed

McLeod's Coffee House

Funky Rooster Coffee Bar

Old School Coffee

Third Street Stuff

Jacobson Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Lexington, KY

Albany, KY

1 hour earlier

23 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 21m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Starting in Lexington, KY

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Albany, KY

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