Origin
Burlington, KY
Late night in Burlington on Saturday
Local time
3:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burlington, KY to Frankfort, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
71.9 mi
116 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burlington, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Frankfort, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Burlington, KY to Frankfort, KY covers 71.9 miles and takes about 1h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Frankfort Highway, I 71, US 127 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.3 miles on Frankfort Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.24 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 71.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The drive from Burlington, KY to Frankfort, KY covers 71.9 miles and takes about 1h 28m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Frankfort Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 24.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KY 18 / Washington Street.
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 1h 28m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KY 18 / Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles (I 71; I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
KY 18 / Washington Street
Turn right onto KY 18 / Washington Street
Navigation decision point
7
4.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louis...
5
6.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 71; I 75
Merge onto I 71; I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
13.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 71
Take the exit onto I 71 toward I 71 South: Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 173
Toward I 71 South: Louisville
6
27.9 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward US 127: Owenton, Glencoe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 62
Toward US 127: Owenton, Glencoe
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Burlington, KY and Frankfort, KY, road signs point toward Louisville and Glencoe.
Louisville
4.6 mi in
|
~7m
Glencoe
27.9 mi in
|
~35m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfort Highway | 24.3 mi | 27m |
| I 71 | 21.7 mi | 23m |
| US 127 | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Warsaw Road | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| Burlington Pike | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| KY 2261 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Roland Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Frankfort Highway
— 24.3 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, KY and Frankfort, KY.
1
Start on KY 338
68 ft
·
5 sec
·
Jefferson Street
2
Turn right onto KY 18
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Washington Street
3
Continue on KY 18
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Burlington Pike
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
1.6 mi
·
3 min
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 71; I 75
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
I 71; I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto I 71
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 71
Exit 173
Toward I 71 South: Louisville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 62
Toward US 127: Owenton, Glencoe
8
Turn left onto US 127
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
US 127
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 127
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Warsaw Road
10
Continue on US 127; KY 227
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Roland Avenue
11
Turn slight left onto US 127; KY 227
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
12
Turn right onto US 127
24 mi
·
27 min
·
Frankfort Highway
13
Continue on KY 2261
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
KY 2261
14
Continue on KY 420
435 ft
·
17 sec
·
Mero Street
15
Turn left onto Ann Street
468 ft
·
14 sec
·
Ann Street
16
Turn left onto West Clinton Street
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Clinton Street
17
Turn left onto Elk Alley
443 ft
·
19 sec
·
Elk Alley
18
Arrive at destination
Elk Alley
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.9 mi from Burlington, KY · 44m 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.9 miles from Burlington, 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
$11.24 one way
$22.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.34 | $24.68 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.84 | $27.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.87 | $31.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 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 | 21.6 | 0 | $7.55 | $3.45 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.29 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.07 | $4.60 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Frankfort, KY
Late night in Frankfort on Saturday
Local time
3:07 AM
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
1 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 28m 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 Burlington, KY to Frankfort, KY covers 71.9 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Frankfort Highway, I 71, US 127. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.9 miles from Burlington, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.24 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 is a straightforward 1h 28m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KY 18 / Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles (I 71; I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Burlington, KY and Frankfort, KY, road signs point toward Louisville and Glencoe.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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