Origin
Beattyville, KY
Evening in Beattyville on Sunday
Local time
6:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
1h 28m
Distance
72.3 mi
116 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Beattyville, KY
Vietnam Hidden Light
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Kristopher Hines
If you are planning to travel from Beattyville to Lexington-Fayette, you are looking at a straightforward 72.3-mile trip. With an estimated travel time of 1 hour and 28 minutes, this journey is perfectly suited for a single-day outing. You can expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel, making it an affordable connection between these two Southeast Kentucky locations. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, including the Mountain Parkway, Slade Road, and I-64. Because the drive is relatively short, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay; it is designed for a quick, efficient transition between the regions.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
36.1 miles from Beattyville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 67% of your time spent on major roads. You will navigate a mix of travel styles, starting with local roads like Slade Road before transitioning onto the high-speed corridors. The longest uninterrupted portion of your journey occurs on the Mountain Parkway, where you will cover 32.7 miles of open road. Behind the wheel, you will notice the transition from the quieter stretches near Beattyville to the more structured, high-traffic environment of the interstate system as you approach Lexington. It is a predictable, consistent experience that favors steady momentum over technical maneuvering.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Mountain Parkway and Slade Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 72.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (KY 11; KY 52 / Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto KY 11; KY 52 / Broadway
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 South: Richmond, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 60: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto US 60 / Winchester Road
Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Beattyville, KY to Lexington-Fayette, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Knoxville along the way.
Knoxville
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Parkway | 32.7 mi | 35m |
| Slade Road | 18.1 mi | 25m |
| I 64 | 15.5 mi | 16m |
| Winchester Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Broadway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| East New Circle Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| I 75 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Floyd Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Beattyville, KY and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
Start on Bradford Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Turn left onto KY 11; KY 52
Continue on KY 11
Take the ramp
Merge onto Mountain Parkway
Merge onto I 64
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 75
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 60
Take the exit
Merge onto KY 4
Turn left onto Floyd Drive
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Since the total drive time is under 90 minutes, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to stress about pacing multiple stops, as the direct nature of the route allows you to reach your destination without significant breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Beattyville to ensure you stay within your $11 budget for the trip. Given that the Mountain Parkway makes up your longest stretch, try to time your drive to avoid peak commuter hours on I-64 to ensure the final leg into Lexington remains smooth. The lack of required stops gives you the freedom to head out whenever it best fits your personal schedule.
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.
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 72.3 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.1 miles or 45m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lexington-Fayette, KY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Beattyville, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Beattyville, KY
This is one driving day of about 72.3 miles and 1h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.1 mi from Beattyville, KY · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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.
A short stop after about 72.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 36.1 miles from Beattyville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Lexington-Fayette, KY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lexington-Fayette, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$10.98 one way
$21.96 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $12.11 | $24.21 |
| premium | $4.80 | $13.65 | $27.30 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $16.06 | $32.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.33 | $2.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.12 | $4.63 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Beattyville on Sunday
Local time
6:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Lexington-Fayette on Sunday
Local time
6:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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Return Trip
Lexington-Fayette, KY to Beattyville, KYPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from Beattyville, KY or browse trips ending in Lexington-Fayette, KY.
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