Origin
Shelbyville, KY
Late night in Shelbyville on Sunday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shelbyville, KY to Lexington, 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 4m
Distance
51.7 mi
83 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shelbyville, KY
Get Lost Mike
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Shelbyville and Lexington, Kentucky, you are looking at a straightforward 51.7-mile trek. The journey typically takes about 1 hour and 4 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a simple day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will mainly navigate via I-64, Frankfort Road, and New Circle Road to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, this trip is quite economical for solo drivers or small groups. Both cities are located within the Southeast region, so you will remain in a familiar geographic context throughout the drive. Overall, this is a highly manageable route that offers a balance of efficiency and ease for your travel schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 22.5 mi | 24m |
| Frankfort Road | 6 mi | 6m |
| New Circle Road | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Versailles Road | 5 mi | 6m |
| Lexington Road | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Mount Eden Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| Frankfort Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Versailles Bypass | 1.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 22.5 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shelbyville, KY and Lexington, KY.
1
Start on 10th Street
197 ft
·
12 sec
·
10th Street
2
Turn left onto US 60; KY 53; KY 55 Business
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue on US 60; KY 53; KY 55 Business
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Frankfort Road
4
Turn right onto KY 53
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Mount Eden Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
6
Merge onto I 64
22 mi
·
24 min
·
I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 58
Toward US 60: Frankfort, Versailles
8
Keep slight right at fork
249 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Versailles
9
Merge onto US 60
0.6 mi
·
45 sec
·
Versailles Road
10
Continue on US 60
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Frankfort Highway
11
Continue on US 60
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Frankfort Road
12
Continue on US 60
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Versailles Bypass
13
Turn slight left onto US 60
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Lexington Road
14
Continue on US 60
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
16
Merge onto KY 4
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 18
Toward KY 1974: Lexington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto KY 1974
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Tates Creek Road
19
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Gainesway Drive
20
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
261 ft
·
9 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
21
Arrive at destination
Coldstream Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from Shelbyville, 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
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 50.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 64
Merge onto I 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
25.8 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward US 60: Frankfort, Versailles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 58
Toward US 60: Frankfort, Versailles
6
26.1 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Versailles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Versailles
5
44.6 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
KY 4 / New Circle Road
Merge onto KY 4 / New Circle Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
50.2 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward KY 1974: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward KY 1974: Lexington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.08 one way
$16.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.87 | $17.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.95 | $19.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.41 | $22.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.24 | $3.31 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Lexington, KY
Late night in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°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
6 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 4m 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?
Expect a mixed-drive experience that transitions through different road types as you head east. Approximately 43% of your journey is spent on major highways, providing a blend of interstate speed and more localized travel. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 22.5 miles on I-64, which allows for consistent cruising before the route shifts toward Frankfort Road and New Circle Road. The road personality changes from the open flow of the interstate to the more controlled environment of local corridors as you approach Lexington. Navigating this mix requires you to stay alert as the pace shifts from higher-speed highway segments to the more varied conditions of the final approach.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.5 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near I 64.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 3.3 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Shelbyville, KY to Lexington, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Versailles along the way.
Versailles
25.8 mi in
|
~29m
About the Cities
Arriving 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.
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 4m. Total distance: 51.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.5 miles on I 64. 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 Lexington, 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 3.3 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Lexington, 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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