Origin
Lexington, KY
Late night in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lexington, KY to Paintsville, 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 12m
Distance
113.7 mi
183 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 3m
★
6 AM
2h 12m
8 AM
2h 31m
10 AM
2h 19m
12 PM
2h 17m
3 PM
2h 20m
5 PM
2h 30m
8 PM
2h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paintsville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lexington, KY to Paintsville, KY is 113.7 miles and takes about 2h 12m via Mountain Parkway and I 64, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, traversing the Southeast region as you head toward Paintsville. Given its relatively short distance and straightforward highway focus, this is a solid day trip. You'll spend most of your time on the Mountain Parkway, which is a well-maintained highway ideal for covering ground efficiently. Plan for a simple, direct journey with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.9 miles from Lexington, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Parkway | 76.7 mi | 1h 22m |
| New Paintsville Road | 12.1 mi | 13m |
| I 64 | 9.7 mi | 10m |
| Man O War Boulevard | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Winchester Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| KY 40 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Haley Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Pimlico Parkway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Mountain Parkway
— 76.7 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, KY and Paintsville, 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
77 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
Mountain Parkway
Toward Mountain Parkway east , Prestonsburg, Campton
10
Turn left onto US 460
0.9 mi
·
58 sec
·
Rock House Road
11
Continue on US 460
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
Wheeler Branch Road
12
Continue on US 460
12 mi
·
13 min
·
New Paintsville Road
13
Continue on KY 40
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
KY 40
14
Keep slight left at fork onto KY 40
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
3rd Street
15
Turn right onto Court Street
495 ft
·
21 sec
·
Court Street
16
Arrive at destination
Court Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over two hours, this route offers excellent flexibility. You can comfortably leave Lexington in the morning and arrive in Paintsville with plenty of daylight remaining. There are no designated stops mentioned, so you can choose to make a quick fuel stop or push through to Paintsville. The longest stretch without a break is over 76 miles, so consider a brief pause before or during that segment if needed. Given the minimal duration, you have the advantage of easily adjusting your departure time based on your schedule.
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 56.9 miles from Lexington, KY, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.7 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 25 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.9 miles or 1h 8m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paintsville, 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 113.7 miles and 2h 12m.
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 Mountain Parkway for about 76.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.9 miles from Lexington, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Mountain Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.7 miles.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 21.1 — 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
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Man O War Boulevard
Turn left onto Man O War Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.78 one way
$35.55 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.52 | $39.03 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.88 | $43.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.10 | $50.21 |
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: 39.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.94 | $5.46 |
| Efficient EV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.95 | $4.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.5 | 0 | $15.92 | $7.28 |
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.
Destination
Paintsville, KY
Late night in Paintsville on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
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 12m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 79% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 64 and the Mountain Parkway. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 76.7 miles on the Mountain Parkway, offering a consistent pace. The character of the drive is largely that of a well-paved highway, allowing for steady progress. Expect a straightforward driving experience where the focus is on reaching your destination efficiently rather than navigating intricate local roads.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.7 mi on Mountain Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Mountain Parkway and New Paintsville Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Gainesway Drive.
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 12m drive. You will face about 10 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 1.3 miles (Man O War Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Paintsville, 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.
Arriving in Paintsville, KY
Full guide →Paintsville is a city in the Kentucky Appalachians. It's one of those eastern Kentucky towns that is feeling the effects of the downturn in the coal industry.
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 12m. Total distance: 113.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.7 miles on Mountain Parkway. 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Gainesway Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Pimlico Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (Man O War Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Paintsville, 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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