Origin
Lexington, KY
Morning in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
7:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lexington, KY to Beattyville, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
73.2 mi
118 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 26m
★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 47m
10 AM
1h 38m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Beattyville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 73.2-mile trip from Lexington to Beattyville, Kentucky, is a straightforward, one-day journey that should take about 1 hour and 32 minutes to complete. With no highway driving and an estimated fuel cost of $11, it offers a relaxed local experience. The route is designed for a single day, so you won't need to plan for an overnight stay. It's a good option if you're looking for a relatively short drive within the Southeast region of Kentucky. The drive's character suggests it's more about navigating local roads than covering long distances quickly.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.6 miles from Lexington, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Parkway | 32.6 mi | 34m |
| Natural Bridge Road | 18 mi | 25m |
| I 64 | 9.7 mi | 10m |
| Man O War Boulevard | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Winchester Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Haley Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Broadway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Pimlico Parkway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Mountain Parkway
— 32.6 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, KY and Beattyville, KY.
1
Start on Coldstream Drive
261 ft
·
13 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
2
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Gainesway Drive
3
Turn left onto Pimlico Parkway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Pimlico Parkway
4
Turn left onto Man O War Boulevard
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Man O War Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 60
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Winchester Road
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto KY 859
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Haley Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
8
Merge onto I 64
9.7 mi
·
10 min
·
I 64
9
Keep slight right at fork onto Mountain Parkway
33 mi
·
34 min
·
Mountain Parkway
Toward Mountain Parkway east , Prestonsburg, Campton
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
11
Keep slight right at fork
162 ft
·
4 sec
12
Turn right onto KY 11
18 mi
·
25 min
·
Natural Bridge Road
13
Continue on KY 11
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto Main Street
76 ft
·
4 sec
·
Main Street
15
Turn right onto Bradford Street
86 ft
·
3 sec
·
Bradford Street
16
Arrive at destination
Bradford Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 32 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with this trip from Lexington to Beattyville. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid rush hour traffic in Lexington and arrive in Beattyville with plenty of daylight. Since there are no designated stops and the drive is under 75 miles, you can easily complete it in one go, keeping your fuel cost around $11. Keep an eye on your GPS, as the 'turn-heavy' nature of the route means you'll be making frequent turns.
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 36.6 miles from Lexington, KY, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.6 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.6 miles or 46m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beattyville, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lexington, KY
This is one driving day of about 73.2 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Lexington, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Mountain Parkway for about 32.6 miles.
Where to Stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.6 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 73.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Gainesway Drive
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
Navigation decision point
7
6.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
US 60 / Winchester Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 60 / Winchester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
21.1 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Mountain Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Mountain Parkway toward Mountain Parkway east , Prestonsburg, Campton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Mountain Parkway east , Prestonsburg, Ca...
5
53.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
73.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
Bradford Street
Turn right onto Bradford Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.44 one way
$22.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.57 | $25.13 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.09 | $28.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.16 | $32.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 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 | 0 | $7.69 | $3.51 |
| Efficient EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.3 | 0 | $10.25 | $4.68 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Beattyville, KY
Morning in Beattyville on Sunday
Local time
7:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Stanton, KY
37 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
6 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 32m 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.
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 73.2-mile route. With 0% highway share, you'll be on local roads for the entire journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent navigation adjustments. This means you'll likely experience a more engaging drive as you weave through communities rather than cruising on a highway. It's a route where paying attention to your navigation will be key to a smooth experience.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.6 mi on Mountain 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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Gainesway Drive.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 73.2 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: near the start (Gainesway Drive): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles (US 60 / Winchester Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles (Mountain Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lexington, KY and Beattyville, KY, road signs point toward Mountain Parkway East, Prestonsburg and Campton.
Mountain Parkway East
21.1 mi in
|
~29m
|
via Mountain Parkway
Prestonsburg
21.1 mi in
|
~29m
|
via Mountain Parkway
Campton
21.1 mi in
|
~29m
|
via Mountain Parkway
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 1h 32m. Total distance: 73.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). 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 32.6 miles on Mountain 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 Beattyville, 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 (Gainesway Drive): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles (US 60 / Winchester Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles (Mountain Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Beattyville, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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