This 77.9-mile drive from Nicholasville, KY to Providence, KY is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 46 minutes. The route primarily utilizes I 64, Eminence Pike, and Campbellsburg Road, with about 30% of the journey on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this is an economical option for a quick excursion within the Southeast region of Kentucky. Its mixed drive profile suggests a blend of faster highway speeds and more local road conditions, making it a straightforward and efficient trip for those looking to cover ground without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39 miles from Nicholasville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
22.1 mi
23m
Eminence Pike
8.7 mi
12m
Campbellsburg Road
6.6 mi
9m
Frankfort Road
6 mi
6m
Keene Road
5.3 mi
7m
Pinckard Pike
4.5 mi
6m
Eminence Road
3.7 mi
5m
Carrollton Road
2.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 22.1 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nicholasville, KY and Providence, 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
2.1 mi·3 min·Troy Pike
10
Continue on KY 33
1.4 mi·2 min·South Main Street
11
Continue on US 60 Business; US 62
0.6 mi·51 sec·Frankfort Street
12
Continue on US 60 Business; US 62
472 ft·7 sec·US 60 Business; US 62
13
Turn left onto US 60; US 62
6.0 mi·6 min·Frankfort Road
14
Continue on US 60
1.8 mi·2 min·Frankfort Highway
15
Continue on US 60
0.8 mi·1 min·Versailles Road
16
Turn left
0.3 mi·43 sec
17
Merge onto I 64
22 mi·23 min·I 64
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 35Toward KY 53: ShelbyvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto KY 53
1.8 mi·2 min·Mount Eden Road
20
Continue on KY 55 Business
1.2 mi·1 min·Boone Station Road
21
Continue on KY 55 Business
8.7 mi·12 min·Eminence Pike
22
Continue on KY 55
1.9 mi·2 min·Main Street
23
Continue on KY 55
3.7 mi·5 min·Eminence Road
24
Continue on US 421; KY 55
0.3 mi·25 sec·South Main Street
25
Continue on US 421; KY 55
6.6 mi·9 min·Campbellsburg Road
26
Continue on US 421; KY 55
0.3 mi·28 sec·Main Street
27
Turn straight onto KY 55
2.9 mi·5 min·Carrollton Road
28
Turn slight left
398 ft·17 sec
29
Turn straight onto KY 316
1.4 mi·3 min·KY 316
30
Turn right onto Wiley Road
47 ft·2 sec·Wiley Road
31
Arrive at destination
Wiley Road
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just under two hours, this trip offers a great deal of flexibility. You can depart Nicholasville, KY at your leisure and still arrive in Providence, KY with plenty of daylight. There are no specific mandatory stops suggested, but you'll want to keep an eye on your fuel, especially since the longest stretch on I 64 is 22.1 miles. The estimated fuel cost of $12 is quite low, so topping up before you leave Nicholasville should be sufficient for the entire 77.9-mile journey. Be mindful of the road type changes as indicated by the "Mixed drive" profile to adjust your driving accordingly.
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 39 miles from Nicholasville, KY, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.1 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39 miles or 50m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Providence, 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 77.9 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Nicholasville, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 22.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 77.9 — 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
7
48.6 mi into trip|~1h in
Take the exit toward KY 53: Shelbyville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward KY 53: Shelbyville
4
77.9 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|Wiley Road
Turn right onto Wiley Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.18 one way
$24.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.37
$26.74
premium
$4.89
$14.99
$29.98
diesel
$5.61
$17.20
$34.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.4
0
$8.18
$3.74
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.82
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.91
$4.99
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 19, 2026
Origin
Nicholasville, KY
Late night
in Nicholasville on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Mostly Cloudy
W 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 19 at 4:30AM EDT by NWS Louisville KY
Destination
Providence, KY
Late night
in Providence on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Clear
W 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 19 at 4:30AM EDT by NWS Louisville KY
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 46m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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?
Expect a varied driving experience on this route, which features a "Mixed drive" profile. Approximately 30% of the 77.9 miles are spent on highways, offering stretches of faster travel. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 22.1 miles on I 64, providing a consistent pace. As you transition from major highways like I 64 to roads such as Eminence Pike and Campbellsburg Road, the character of the drive will likely shift, offering a blend of efficient travel and more local road conditions.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.1 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near KY 169 / West Oak Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 46m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 0.3 miles (KY 169 / North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.3 miles (KY 33 / Troy Pike): Navigation decision point.
Nicholasville is a city of 31,000 (2019) in Jessamine County in the Bluegrass Region. The city serves as both a residential area for Lexington-area commuters and as an employment and shopping center for central Kentucky.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.1 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. 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 Providence, KY before heading back.
