Origin
Lexington, KY
Late night in Lexington on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lexington, KY to Carlisle, KY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
39.3 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carlisle, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 39.3-mile drive from Lexington, KY to Carlisle, KY is a quick trip, estimated to take around 55 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, with no need for an overnight stay. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with a 0% highway share, suggesting a more connected-to-the-landscape journey. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $6, making it an economical option. This route is situated entirely within the Southeast region. Given its short length and turn-heavy profile, it offers flexibility for when you depart and how you pace yourself.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Millersburg Road | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| Lexington Road | 6.8 mi | 8m |
| Paris Pike | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| New Circle Road | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| Concrete Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| US 68 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Millersburg Bypass | 2.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Millersburg Road
— 6.9 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, KY and Carlisle, 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
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Pimlico Parkway
4
Turn left onto Yellowstone Parkway
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Yellowstone Parkway
5
Turn left onto Alumni Drive
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Alumni Drive
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward KY 4 East
7
Merge onto KY 4
5.2 mi
·
8 min
·
New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto US 27; US 68
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broadway
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on US 27; US 68
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Paris Pike
10
Continue on US 27; US 68
6.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Lexington Road
11
Continue on US 68 Business
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
12
Continue on US 68 Business
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Millersburg Road
13
Continue on US 68
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Millersburg Bypass
14
Continue on US 68
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 68
15
Continue on US 68
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Carlisle Bypass
16
Turn right onto KY 36
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Concrete Road
17
Continue on KY 32; KY 36
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
KY 36
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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
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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 7.1 — 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
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Pimlico Parkway
Turn left onto Pimlico Parkway
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Yellowstone Parkway
Turn left onto Yellowstone Parkway
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m 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.
6
7.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 27; US 68 / North Broadway
Turn right onto US 27; US 68 / North Broadway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.14 one way
$12.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.75 | $13.49 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.56 | $15.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.68 | $17.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.44 | $1.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.50 | $2.52 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Carlisle, KY
Late night in Carlisle on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Paris, KY
20 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
55m 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 the entirety of this 39.3-mile journey. With no highway segments, you'll be experiencing the local road network directly. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the profile indicates frequent changes in direction rather than long, straightaways. This means you'll be actively steering and navigating through various local roads, including Gainesway Drive, Pimlico Parkway, and Yellowstone Parkway, rather than cruising on high-speed interstates. The drive will likely feel more engaged and less about covering ground quickly.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.9 mi on Millersburg Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Gainesway Drive.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lexington, KY to Carlisle, KY is easy. At 55m with 9% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Gainesway Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Pimlico Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Yellowstone Parkway): Navigation decision point.
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 55m. Total distance: 39.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (9%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.9 miles on Millersburg Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (Pimlico Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Yellowstone Parkway): Navigation decision point.
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 Carlisle, 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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