Origin
Stanford, KY
Late night in Stanford on Sunday
Local time
4:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stanford, 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
52m
Distance
41.2 mi
66 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stanford, KY
Clément Proust
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Stanford to Lexington, you are looking at a straightforward 41.2-mile journey that typically takes about 52 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to move between these two Southeast Kentucky locations without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $6 for fuel, making this an incredibly cost-effective excursion. Since both towns reside in the same region, the transition is seamless and familiar. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you to your destination efficiently, ideal for those who prefer simple logistics over long-haul planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 27 | 27 mi | 30m |
| Lexington Road | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| South Main Street | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Nicholasville Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Gainesway Drive | 1 mi | 2m |
| New Circle Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Lancaster Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Tates Creek Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 27
— 27 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stanford, KY and Lexington, KY.
1
Start on East Depot Street
64 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Depot Street
2
Turn right onto KY 1247
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lancaster Street
3
Turn left onto US 27
27 mi
·
30 min
·
US 27
4
Turn right onto US 27 Business
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
South Main Street
5
Turn right onto US 27
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Lexington Road
6
Continue on US 27
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Nicholasville Road
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward KY 4 East: New Circle Road
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto KY 4
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
New Circle Road
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 18
Toward KY 1974: Lexington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto KY 1974
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Tates Creek Road
11
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Gainesway Drive
12
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
261 ft
·
9 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
13
Arrive at destination
Coldstream Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.6 miles from Stanford, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 38.3 and 41.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
38.3 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward KY 4 East: New Circle Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward KY 4 East: New Circle Road
7
39.6 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
4
39.9 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
KY 1974 / Tates Creek Road
Turn right onto KY 1974 / Tates Creek Road
Navigation decision point
4
40.1 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
Gainesway Drive
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
Navigation decision point
4
41.1 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
Coldstream Drive
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.44 one way
$12.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.07 | $14.14 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.93 | $15.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.10 | $18.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.33 | $1.98 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
4:46 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
52m 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?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with about 66 percent of your travel time spent on major roads. Your journey relies primarily on US 27, Lexington Road, and South Main Street to navigate the 41.2-mile distance. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 27 miles along US 27. While you spend a significant portion of the drive on faster highway segments, the transition onto local roads like South Main Street ensures you remain engaged as you approach the city. Expect a steady, predictable experience behind the wheel that prioritizes direct movement over winding, technical backroads.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27 mi on US 27.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and Lexington Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 38.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 52m 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 38.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.9 miles (KY 1974 / Tates Creek Road): Navigation decision point.
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 52m. Total distance: 41.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27 miles on US 27. 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: at 38.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.9 miles (KY 1974 / Tates Creek Road): 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 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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