Origin
Nicholasville, KY
Late night in Nicholasville on Sunday
Local time
12:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nicholasville, KY to Elizabethtown, 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 40m
Distance
85.7 mi
138 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nicholasville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabethtown, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Nicholasville, KY to Elizabethtown, KY is 85.7 miles and takes about 1h 40m via Bluegrass Parkway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Kentucky, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a largely highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward journey ideal for a single day. Expect a consistent travel experience with minimal need for complex navigation. This route is a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient connection between these two points without significant detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.9 miles from Nicholasville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass Parkway | 67.6 mi | 1h 12m |
| Keene Road | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Pinckard Pike | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| North Mulberry Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Keene-Versailles Road | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Troy Pike | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| North 3rd Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Pinchard Pike | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Bluegrass Parkway
— 67.6 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nicholasville, KY and Elizabethtown, KY.
1
Start on US 27 Business
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto KY 169
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
West Oak Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto KY 169
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North 3rd Street
4
Continue on KY 169
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Keene Road
5
Continue on KY 169; KY 1267
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Keene Road
6
Turn left onto KY 169
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Pinchard Pike
7
Continue on KY 169
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Keene-Versailles Road
8
Continue on KY 169
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Pinckard Pike
9
At end of road, turn right onto KY 33
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Troy Pike
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
11
Merge onto Bluegrass Parkway
68 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
Bluegrass Parkway
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
13
Merge onto I 65
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
I 65
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 94
Toward US 62, KY 61: Elizabethtown
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
212 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 62: Historic Downtown Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto US 62; KY 61
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Mulberry Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 62; KY 61
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 40 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times for this trip. Aiming to leave mid-morning should allow you to avoid any potential rush hour traffic and still arrive with plenty of daylight. With only 85.7 miles and a low fuel cost of around $13, you won't need many stops. However, it's always wise to take advantage of rest areas on the Bluegrass Parkway if needed, as the longest stretch without a turn is quite significant. Plan your fuel stop before leaving Nicholasville to ensure a smooth journey.
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 42.9 miles from Nicholasville, KY, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.6 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.9 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elizabethtown, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Nicholasville, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Nicholasville, KY
This is one driving day of about 85.7 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Nicholasville, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Bluegrass Parkway for about 67.6 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 42.9 miles from Nicholasville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Bluegrass Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.6 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 83.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
KY 169 / West Oak Street
Turn left onto KY 169 / West Oak Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
KY 169 / North 3rd Street
At end of road, turn right onto KY 169 / North 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
13.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
KY 33 / Troy Pike
At end of road, turn right onto KY 33 / Troy Pike
Navigation decision point
9
83.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward US 62, KY 61: Elizabethtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 94
Toward US 62, KY 61: Elizabethtown
9
83.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 62: Historic Downtown Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward US 62: Historic Downtown Elizabethtown,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.40 one way
$26.80 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.71 | $29.42 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.49 | $32.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.92 | $37.84 |
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: 30 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 | 25.7 | 0 | $9.00 | $4.11 |
| Efficient EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.50 | $3.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.3 | 0 | $12.00 | $5.48 |
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
Elizabethtown, KY
Late night in Elizabethtown on Sunday
Local time
12:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
21 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 40m 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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
For over a century people from around the world have come to rural Central Kentucky to honor the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 76.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 79% of the journey utilizing faster roads. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Bluegrass Parkway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 67.6 miles. This means you can expect a relatively smooth and consistent pace for much of the trip. The roads are designed for efficient travel, allowing you to cover ground quickly. While the majority is highway, be aware that the initial and final segments might involve local roads, so keep an eye on your navigation.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.6 mi on Bluegrass Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bluegrass Parkway and Keene Road. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near KY 169 / West Oak Street.
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 85.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.1 miles (KY 169 / West Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (KY 169 / North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.3 miles (KY 33 / Troy Pike): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Elizabethtown, KY
Full guide →Elizabethtown is a small town in the Kentucky Derby Region. Abraham Lincoln's parents Thomas and Nancy had their daughter Sarah here in 1807 and then Abraham nearby at Sinking Spring Farm in 1809.
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 40m. Total distance: 85.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.6 miles on Bluegrass 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 Elizabethtown, 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 0.1 miles (KY 169 / West Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (KY 169 / North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.3 miles (KY 33 / Troy Pike): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Camp Nelson National Monument and Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. 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 Elizabethtown, 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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