Origin
Nicholasville, KY
Late night in Nicholasville on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nicholasville, KY to Irvington, 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 19m
Distance
116.4 mi
187 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
6 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 10m
★
6 AM
2h 19m
8 AM
2h 39m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 27m
5 PM
2h 38m
8 PM
2h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nicholasville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Irvington, KY
Vietnam Hidden Light
Trip Overview
Nicholasville, KY to Irvington, KY is 116.4 miles and takes about 2h 19m via Bluegrass Parkway and US 60, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, connecting the Southeast region to itself. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on well-maintained parkways and highways, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a relatively quick hop between these two areas. You won't encounter major cities or complex interchanges, so it's a good choice for a relaxed, single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.2 miles from Nicholasville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass Parkway | 67.6 mi | 1h 12m |
| Joe Prather Highway | 10.4 mi | 12m |
| US 60 | 10.2 mi | 11m |
| Keene Road | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| North Dixie Highway | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| Pinckard Pike | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Ring Road | 4 mi | 6m |
| Flaherty Road | 2.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Bluegrass Parkway
— 67.6 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nicholasville, KY and Irvington, 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
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Mulberry Street
17
Turn right onto KY 3005
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Ring Road
18
Turn right onto US 31W
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
North Dixie Highway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 31W
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
North Dixie Highway
20
Turn left onto KY 313
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Joe Prather Highway
21
Continue on KY 144
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Flaherty Road
22
Turn left onto US 60
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 60
23
Turn right onto KY 2202
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Woodlawn Street
24
Continue on KY 79
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
1st Avenue
25
Turn right onto Walnut Street
28 ft
·
1 sec
·
Walnut Street
26
Arrive at destination
Walnut Street
Trip Plan
Since this drive is only about 2 hours and 19 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Nicholasville mid-morning should get you to Irvington with plenty of daylight to spare. You'll be on the Bluegrass Parkway for a significant portion, so consider filling up your fuel tank before you begin, as services can be spaced out on parkways. With only about 116 miles, you likely won't need many stops, but there are opportunities to pull over if needed, especially once you transition to US 60.
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 58.2 miles from Nicholasville, KY, or about 1h 8m 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 26 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.2 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Irvington, 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.
+
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 Nicholasville, KY
This is one driving day of about 116.4 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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
58 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.2 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 116.4 — 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
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,...
5
116.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m in
|
Walnut Street
Turn right onto Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.20 one way
$36.40 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.98 | $39.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.40 | $44.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.70 | $51.40 |
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: 40.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
6 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Subway - Tesla Supercharger
Elizabethtown, KY
Tesla
8 DCFC
Burger King - Tesla Supercharger
Elizabethtown, KY
Tesla
8 DCFC
Pinnacle Ford
Nicholasville, KY
FORD_CHARGE
6 DCFC
Bob Swope Ford
Elizabethtown, KY
Blink Network
4 DCFC
Swope Hyundai
Elizabethtown, KY
Blink Network
2 DCFC
Don Franklin Bardstown Chevrolet Buick
Bardstown, KY
EV Connect
1 DCFC
Tesla: 2
Blink Network: 2
FORD_CHARGE: 1
EV Connect: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.9 | 0 | $12.22 | $5.59 |
| Efficient EV | 29.1 | 0 | $10.19 | $4.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.6 | 0 | $16.30 | $7.45 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Irvington, KY
Night in Irvington on Saturday
Local time
11:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Bloomfield, KY
58 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
2h 19m 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
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 76.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 67% of this 116.4-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 67.6 miles, primarily on the Bluegrass Parkway. After leaving the parkway, expect to transition to Joe Prather Highway and then US 60, which will feel more like a typical surface road with more local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections as you get closer to Irvington.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 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?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bluegrass Parkway and Joe Prather Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near KY 169 / West Oak Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 116.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (KY 169 / West Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.3 miles (KY 33 / Troy Pike): Navigation decision point; at 83.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
On the drive from Nicholasville, KY to Irvington, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Elizabethtown along the way.
Elizabethtown
83.5 mi in
|
~1h 36m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 116.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m 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 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 Irvington, KY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (KY 169 / West Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.3 miles (KY 33 / Troy Pike): Navigation decision point; at 83.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Irvington, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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