Origin
Lexington, KY
Late night in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lexington, KY to Brooks, 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 41m
Distance
85.3 mi
137 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brooks, KY
Timur Zh
Trip Overview
This 85.3-mile drive from Lexington, KY to Brooks, KY is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 41 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, it's an economical option for a single-day excursion. The primary roads include I-64 and the Gene Snyder Freeway, making it a familiar driving experience for many. Given its relatively short duration and highway nature, this route is perfectly suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You'll be staying within the Southeast region for this entire journey through Kentucky.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.7 miles from Lexington, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 38.7 mi | 41m |
| Gene Snyder Freeway | 15.3 mi | 17m |
| Frankfort Road | 6 mi | 6m |
| New Circle Road | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| Versailles Road | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| Lexington Road | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| I 65 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Frankfort Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 38.7 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, KY and Brooks, KY.
1
Start on Coldstream Drive
261 ft
·
11 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
2
Turn right onto Gainesway Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Gainesway Drive
3
Turn right onto KY 1974
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Tates Creek Road
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward KY 4 West: New Circle Road
5
Merge onto KY 4
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 5B
Toward US 60 West: Versailles
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on US 60
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on US 60
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Lexington Road
9
Turn slight right onto US 60
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Versailles Bypass
10
Continue on US 60; US 62
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Frankfort Road
11
Continue on US 60
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Frankfort Highway
12
Continue on US 60
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Versailles Road
13
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
14
Merge onto I 64
39 mi
·
41 min
·
I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward Interstate 265, KY 841 South: Gene Snyder Freeway
16
Merge onto I 265; KY 841
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Gene Snyder Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 10B
Toward I 65 South: Nashville
Use the right lane.
18
Merge onto I 65
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 65
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 121
Toward KY 1526: Brooks Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto KY 1526
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
John Harper Highway
21
Continue on KY 1526
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Brooks Hill Road
22
Arrive at destination
KY 1526
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 41-minute drive, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving early in the morning can help you avoid any potential commuter traffic, especially as you approach the Louisville area. Since there are no designated stops, plan your own breaks as needed; a good point to consider a quick stretch might be after the 38.7-mile segment on I-64. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated $13 cost suggests a straightforward fuel strategy, but it's always wise to be aware of your consumption, especially on highway stretches.
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 42.7 miles from Lexington, KY, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.7 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.7 miles or 52m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooks, 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 85.3 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Lexington, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 38.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.7 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 84.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
KY 4 / New Circle Road
Merge onto KY 4 / New Circle Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
7.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward US 60 West: Versailles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward US 60 West: Versailles
5
26.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 64
Merge onto I 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
80.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 65 South: Nashville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 10B
Toward I 65 South: Nashville
7
84.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward KY 1526: Brooks Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 121
Toward KY 1526: Brooks Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.34 one way
$26.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.64 | $29.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.42 | $32.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.83 | $37.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.96 | $4.09 |
| Efficient EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.94 | $5.46 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Brooks, KY
Late night in Brooks on Sunday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°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
20 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 41m 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 drive that is 67% highway, meaning a significant portion of your time will be spent on faster-paced roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 38.7 miles on I-64, offering a good period of consistent travel. While primarily highway, the route incorporates segments of Frankfort Road, which may offer a slight change of pace. Overall, the personality of this drive is direct and efficient, prioritizing getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.7 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Gene Snyder Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near KY 4 / New Circle Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.7 miles (KY 4 / New Circle Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 1h 41m. Total distance: 85.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.7 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 Brooks, 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 1.7 miles (KY 4 / New Circle Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brooks, 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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