If you are looking for a straightforward journey through Kentucky, the 69.2-mile trek from Lexington to Maysville is a perfect day trip. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 34 minutes behind the wheel, making it an ideal choice for a quick weekend outing. You can easily complete this route in a single day, as it doesn't require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $11, it remains an economical way to travel between these two points. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, the environment remains consistent throughout your journey. This trip is best suited for those who prefer local roads over long, monotonous highway hauls.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.6 miles from Lexington, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maysville Road
24.9 mi
32m
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
US 62
4.6 mi
7m
Carlisle Bypass
3.9 mi
5m
Main Street
2.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Maysville Road
— 24.9 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, KY and Maysville, 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
3.9 mi·5 min·Carlisle Bypass
16
Continue on US 68
25 mi·32 min·Maysville Road
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 62
1.7 mi·2 min·US 62
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 62; KY 10
2.9 mi·4 min·US 62; KY 10
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn sharp right onto KY 10
0.8 mi·1 min·Forest Avenue
Use the right lane.
20
Arrive at destination
KY 10
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal schedule. With no mandatory stops required to reach your destination in under two hours, you can drive straight through or take a break whenever the mood strikes. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Lexington, as the $11 estimate is based on average consumption and local road conditions. Since you are navigating local roads rather than major interstates, stay alert for changes in speed limits and road signage. A helpful tip is to ensure your GPS is set to follow the specific sequence of Maysville, Millersburg, and Lexington Roads to stay on the most efficient path.
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 34.6 miles from Lexington, KY, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.9 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 15 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.6 miles or 47m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maysville, 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 69.2 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Lexington, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Maysville Road for about 24.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 68.4 — 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
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.
7
68.4 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|KY 10 / Forest Avenue
Turn sharp right onto KY 10 / Forest Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.82 one way
$21.64 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.88
$23.76
premium
$4.89
$13.32
$26.63
diesel
$5.61
$15.28
$30.56
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: 24.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.8
0
$7.27
$3.32
Efficient EV
17.3
0
$6.06
$2.77
EV Truck/SUV
27.7
0
$9.69
$4.43
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lexington, KY
Afternoon
in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
4:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Maysville, KY
Afternoon
in Maysville on Sunday
Local time
4:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Carlisle, KY
35 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
22 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 34m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is defined by its turn-heavy local nature, offering a much more engaged driving experience than a standard interstate commute. Only about 12% of the journey is spent on highways, meaning you will spend most of your time navigating via Maysville Road, Millersburg Road, and Lexington Road. You will encounter your longest stretch of continuous driving during a 24.9-mile segment on Maysville Road. Because the path relies heavily on local roads, you should prepare for a drive that demands your full attention rather than one where you can simply set cruise control. The character of the road shifts frequently, keeping the pace steady but varied.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.9 mi on Maysville 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 early in the drive near Gainesway Drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 34m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 1.9 miles (KY 4 / New Circle Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.9 miles on Maysville 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 1.9 miles (KY 4 / New Circle Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Maysville, KY before heading back.
