This 80.3-mile drive from Taylor Mill, KY to Lexington, KY is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 43 minutes. Designed as a single-day excursion, you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $13, making it an economical option. The route is primarily highway-focused, offering a direct path through the Southeast region of Kentucky. It's a practical choice for anyone looking for an efficient way to get between these two points without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.2 miles from Taylor Mill, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
55.8 mi
59m
Taylor Mill Road
7.8 mi
13m
Walton Nicholson Pike
4.1 mi
6m
Newtown Pike
3.3 mi
4m
Chinoe Road
1.2 mi
2m
Tates Creek Road
0.9 mi
1m
Oliver Lewis Way
0.8 mi
1m
Euclid Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 55.8 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Taylor Mill, KY and Lexington, KY.
1
Start on KY 3716
0.7 mi·1 min·Taylor Mill Road
2
Turn left onto KY 16
7.1 mi·12 min·Taylor Mill Road
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on KY 16
4.1 mi·6 min·Walton Nicholson Pike
4
Continue on KY 16
0.4 mi·37 sec·Walton Nicholson Road
5
Turn right onto US 25; KY 16
0.6 mi·54 sec·Dixie Highway
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on US 25; KY 16
0.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
7
Turn right onto Old Beaver Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·Old Beaver Road
8
Continue on Stephenson Mill Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Stephenson Mill Road
9
Keep slight left at fork onto School Road
0.5 mi·1 min·School Road
10
Turn right onto KY 14; KY 16
0.4 mi·42 sec·Mary Grubbs Highway
Use the right lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 75 South: LexingtonUse the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 75
56 mi·59 min·I 75
Toward I 75 South: LexingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 115Toward KY 922: Airport, LexingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto KY 922
3.3 mi·4 min·Newtown Pike
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on KY 922
0.8 mi·1 min·Oliver Lewis Way
16
Continue on Bolivar Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Bolivar Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto South Upper Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·South Upper Street
18
Continue on South Limestone
0.2 mi·32 sec·South Limestone
19
Turn right onto Avenue of Champions
0.3 mi·42 sec·Avenue of Champions
20
Continue on Euclid Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Euclid Avenue
21
Turn right onto East High Street
0.1 mi·13 sec·East High Street
22
Continue on Tates Creek Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Tates Creek Road
23
Turn slight left
493 ft·18 sec
24
Continue on Alumni Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Alumni Drive
25
Turn right onto Chinoe Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Chinoe Road
26
Continue on Greentree Road
0.2 mi·32 sec·Greentree Road
27
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
0.3 mi·41 sec·Gainesway Drive
28
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
261 ft·9 sec·Coldstream Drive
29
Arrive at destination
Coldstream Drive
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your day in Lexington. Since there are no specific recommended stops, you can easily break up the drive with quick fuel or rest breaks as needed, especially during the 55.8-mile stretch on I-75. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be spaced out on longer highway segments. Your estimated fuel cost is $13, so budget accordingly for this efficient journey.
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 40.2 miles from Taylor Mill, KY, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 18 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.2 miles or 53m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lexington, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Taylor Mill, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Taylor Mill, KY
This is one driving day of about 80.3 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Taylor Mill, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 55.8 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.2 and 70.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
14.2 mi into trip|~24m in|KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway
Turn right onto KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
14.6 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 South: Lexington
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 75 South: Lexington
6
14.8 mi into trip|~25m in|I 75
Merge onto I 75 toward I 75 South: Lexington
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 South: Lexington
8
70.7 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward KY 922: Airport, 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 115
Toward KY 922: Airport, Lexington
6
70.9 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|KY 922 / Newtown Pike
Turn right onto KY 922 / Newtown Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.55 one way
$25.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.78
$27.57
premium
$4.89
$15.45
$30.91
diesel
$5.61
$17.73
$35.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.1
0
$8.43
$3.85
Efficient EV
20.1
0
$7.03
$3.21
EV Truck/SUV
32.1
0
$11.24
$5.14
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Taylor Mill, KY
Late night
in Taylor Mill on Tuesday
Local time
5:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Cloudy
S 6 to 10 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lexington, KY
Late night
in Lexington on Tuesday
Local time
5:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
S 2 to 8 mph5% chanceLive forecast
72°F
Williamstown, KY
40 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 43m 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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 80.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this route, with about 70% of the drive utilizing major roadways like I-75. The longest stretch you'll encounter without a significant turn or exit is a continuous 55.8 miles on I-75. This means much of your time will be spent on faster-paced roads, allowing for consistent travel. While primarily interstate, the initial and final segments might involve local roads like Taylor Mill Road and Walton Nicholson Pike, offering a slight change of pace before rejoining the highway.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.8 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Taylor Mill Road. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 14.2 miles in near KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 14.2 miles (KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 80.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.8 miles on I 75. 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 14.2 miles (KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
