Trip from Burlington, KY to Georgetown, KY

Drive Time

4h 45m

Distance

241.5 mi

389 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

Spanning 241.5 miles across Kentucky, this journey from Burlington to Georgetown is a straightforward trek that typically takes 4 hours and 45 minutes. Since the entire route sits within the same state, you will stay firmly in the Southeast region for the duration of your travel. With a total estimated fuel cost of $37, it is an affordable excursion that easily fits into a single day of driving. While you could certainly stretch the trip out, the duration is manageable enough that you won't necessarily need an overnight stay. Expect to spend most of your time on major corridors like I-71 and the Cumberland Gap Parkway. It is a practical, no-nonsense path for those looking to reach their destination efficiently.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

120.8 miles from Burlington, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 84% of your journey consists of high-speed travel. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 150.7 miles along I-71. The character of the drive shifts as you transition from the interstate onto the Cumberland Gap Parkway and eventually KY 38. While the interstate sections allow for steady progress, the local roads provide a change of pace as you navigate toward Georgetown. You should prepare for a drive that prioritizes speed and directness over technical, winding backroads, making it a reliable choice for drivers who prefer keeping their cruise control engaged for the majority of the trip.

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.

I 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 150.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Cumberland Gap Parkway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KY 18 / Washington Street.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 45m 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: 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 9 key points

These 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.

5

156.9 mi into trip | ~2h 52m in

Take the exit toward US 25, US 25E: Corbin, Barbourville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 25, US 25E: Corbin, Barbourville

5

221.9 mi into trip | ~4h 11m in | KY 38

Enter roundabout onto KY 38

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Burlington, KY to Georgetown, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Barbourville along the way.

Barbourville

156.9 mi in | ~2h 52m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 71	150.7 mi	2h 41m
Cumberland Gap Parkway	30.7 mi	36m
KY 38	19.7 mi	34m
Harlan Road	15.9 mi	18m
Pineville Road	13.1 mi	14m
Burlington Pike	4.4 mi	7m
Corbin Bypass	2 mi	3m
Bob Madon Bypass	1.8 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 71 — 150.7 mi, about 2h 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, KY and Georgetown, 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 none 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

151 mi · 2 hr 41 min · I 71; I 75

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward US 25, US 25E: Corbin, Barbourville

7

Turn left onto US 25E

2.0 mi · 3 min · Corbin Bypass

8

Continue on US 25E

31 mi · 36 min · Cumberland Gap Parkway

9

Continue on US 25E

1.8 mi · 2 min · Bob Madon Bypass

10

Turn left onto US 119

16 mi · 18 min · Harlan Road

11

Continue on US 119

13 mi · 14 min · Pineville Road

12

Turn right onto US 421

1.1 mi · 2 min · US 421

13

Turn left onto KY 38

386 ft · 9 sec · KY 38

14

Enter roundabout onto KY 38

91 ft · 1 sec · KY 38

15

Continue on KY 38

20 mi · 34 min · KY 38

16

Arrive at destination

KY 38

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 4-hour and 45-minute drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the route is efficient, you have the flexibility to leave in the morning or early afternoon without feeling pressured by time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the interstate portions, as the transition to KY 38 may offer fewer service options than the main highway stretches. Because the trip is well under the threshold for a multi-day journey, you can easily complete it in one go while maintaining a relaxed pace. Prioritize a departure time that avoids peak local traffic near your starting point in Burlington to ensure a smooth start to your day.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 120.8 miles from Burlington, KY, or about 2h 14m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 150.7 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 120.8 miles or 2h 14m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Georgetown, KY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Burlington, 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 Burlington, KY

This is one driving day of about 241.5 miles and 4h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Burlington, KY.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 71 for about 150.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 120.8 mi from Burlington, KY · 2h 14m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Knoxville, TN

121 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

Lexington-Fayette, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Nicholasville, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 120.8 miles from Burlington, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 150.7 miles.

Arriving in Georgetown, KY

The final approach into Georgetown, 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 Georgetown, KY.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$36.68 one way

$73.36 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 85 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$40.44	$80.87
premium	$4.80	$45.59	$91.18
diesel	$5.64	$53.65	$107.31

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 84.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	72.5	0	$25.36	$11.59
Efficient EV	60.4	0	$21.13	$9.66
EV Truck/SUV	96.6	1	$33.81	$15.46

Gas CO2

84 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Burlington, KY

Afternoon in Burlington on Sunday

Local time

3:12 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Georgetown, KY

Afternoon in Georgetown on Sunday

Local time

3:12 PM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

17 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

4h 45m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Georgetown, KY covers 241.5 miles and takes about 4h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 71, Cumberland Gap Parkway, KY 38. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 120.8 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 $36.68 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a straightforward 4h 45m drive. You will face about 9 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.

On the drive from Burlington, KY to Georgetown, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Barbourville along the way.

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Return Trip

Georgetown, KY to Burlington, KY

Plan the drive back the other way.

241.3 mi 4h 44m

Explore more options from Burlington, KY or browse trips ending in Georgetown, KY.

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