Origin
Bardstown, KY
Afternoon in Bardstown on Friday
Local time
4:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bardstown, KY to Frankfort, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
55.3 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bardstown, KY
Brady Wilson
Frankfort, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bardstown, KY to Frankfort, KY covers 55.3 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Bluegrass Parkway, US 127 Bypass, US 62 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.1 miles on Bluegrass Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.65 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 55.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 5m highway drive covering 55.3 miles, with most of the trip on Bluegrass Parkway and US 127 Bypass. The longest continuous stretch is about 34.1 miles on Bluegrass Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bluegrass Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 34.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bluegrass Parkway and US 127 Bypass. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 36.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 55.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 36.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.9 miles (KY 420 / East Main Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 55 miles (KY 420 / High Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
36.8 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward US 127 North: Lawrenceburg, Frankfort
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 59B
Toward US 127 North: Lawrenceburg, Frankfort
6
54.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
KY 420 / East Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto KY 420 / East Main Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
55 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
KY 420 / High Street
Turn right onto KY 420 / High Street
Navigation decision point
5
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
West Clinton Street
Turn left onto West Clinton Street
Navigation decision point
5
55.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
Elk Alley
Turn right onto Elk Alley
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass Parkway | 34.1 mi | 36m |
| US 127 Bypass | 14.1 mi | 16m |
| US 62 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Louisville Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| US 127 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| West 2nd Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Capital Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| High Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Bluegrass Parkway
— 34.1 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bardstown, KY and Frankfort, KY.
1
Start on US 31E; US 62; US 150
329 ft
·
5 sec
·
Court Square
2
Continue on US 62; US 150
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 62; US 150
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
4
Merge onto Bluegrass Parkway
34 mi
·
36 min
·
Bluegrass Parkway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 59B
Toward US 127 North: Lawrenceburg, Frankfort
6
Merge onto US 127; KY 513
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 127; KY 513
7
Continue on US 127 Bypass
14 mi
·
16 min
·
US 127 Bypass
8
Take the exit
189 ft
·
5 sec
9
Turn slight right onto US 60
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Louisville Road
10
Continue on US 60
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West 2nd Street
11
Turn left onto US 60; KY 420
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Capital Avenue
12
At end of road, turn left onto KY 420
158 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Main Street
13
Turn right onto KY 420
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
High Street
14
Turn left onto West Clinton Street
245 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Clinton Street
15
Turn right onto Elk Alley
443 ft
·
19 sec
·
Elk Alley
16
Arrive at destination
Elk Alley
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.6 mi from Bardstown, KY · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.6 miles from Bardstown, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Frankfort, KY
The final approach into Frankfort, KY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.65 one way
$17.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.49 | $18.98 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.64 | $21.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.21 | $24.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.81 | $2.65 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Frankfort, KY
Afternoon in Frankfort on Friday
Local time
4:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
25 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 5m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bardstown, KY to Frankfort, KY covers 55.3 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bluegrass Parkway, US 127 Bypass, US 62. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.6 miles from Bardstown, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.65 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 36.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.9 miles (KY 420 / East Main Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 55 miles (KY 420 / High Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Bardstown, KY to Frankfort, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park and Camp Nelson National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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