Origin
Richmond, KY
Late night in Richmond on Tuesday
Local time
4:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richmond, KY to Carlisle, KY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
57 mi
92 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richmond, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Carlisle, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 57-mile drive from Richmond, KY to Carlisle, KY takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes, making it a perfect one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with West Main Street and Lexington Road leading you onto US 27 for a good portion of the journey. With no highway driving, expect a more relaxed pace. The estimated fuel cost is around $9, which is quite budget-friendly. This route is ideal for a spontaneous outing or a leisurely exploration within the Southeast region of Kentucky.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 22.9 mi | 24m |
| Lexington Road | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| Millersburg Road | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| Paris Pike | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| Concrete Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| US 68 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Millersburg Bypass | 2.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 22.9 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, KY and Carlisle, KY.
1
Start on KY 388
104 ft
·
6 sec
·
North 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on US 25 Business; US 421 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Road
4
Turn left onto US 25; US 421
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Lexington Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
6
Merge onto I 75
23 mi
·
24 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 113
Toward US 27, US 68: Paris, Lexington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 27; US 68
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Broadway
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
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Carlisle Bypass
16
Turn right onto KY 36
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Concrete Road
17
Continue on KY 32; KY 36
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
KY 36
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.5 miles from Richmond, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 53.2 — 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
|
US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street
Turn right onto US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
25.6 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward US 27, US 68: Paris, Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 113
Toward US 27, US 68: Paris, Lexington
4
53.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
KY 36 / Concrete Road
Turn right onto KY 36 / Concrete Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.91 one way
$17.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.78 | $19.57 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.97 | $21.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.58 | $25.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.98 | $2.74 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $4.99 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.98 | $3.65 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Carlisle, KY
Late night in Carlisle on Tuesday
Local time
4:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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 10m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive on this 57-mile route. With a highway share of 0%, you'll be on surface streets and US 27 for the entire journey. There isn't a 'longest stretch' to note, as the route is characterized by frequent turns and changes in road type as you navigate through communities. Expect this drive to feel very connected to the local landscape, rather than a fast-paced transit.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.9 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Richmond, KY to Carlisle, KY is easy. At 1h 10m with 44% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.6 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 Richmond, KY to Carlisle, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Lexington along the way.
Lexington
25.6 mi in
|
~29m
About the Cities
Starting in Richmond, KY
Full guide →Richmond is a city in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky, about 30 miles (50 km) south of Lexington. The county seat of Madison County, Richmond is best known as the home of Eastern Kentucky University.
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 10m. Total distance: 57 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.9 miles on I 75. 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 (US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Carlisle, 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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