Origin
Burlington, KY
Afternoon in Burlington on Saturday
Local time
2:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burlington, KY to Lexington, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
80.3 mi
129 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 31m
★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burlington, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Burlington, KY to Lexington, KY is 80.3 miles and takes about 1h 37m via I 71, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive connects two points within Kentucky's Southeast region, offering a quick transition from one area to the next. It's primarily a highway-focused journey, making it ideal for those prioritizing efficiency. With just one recommended day, this route is perfectly suited for a day trip or a simple relocation, requiring minimal planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.1 miles from Burlington, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 64.4 mi | 1h 9m |
| Burlington Pike | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| 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 |
| Alumni Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 64.4 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, KY and Lexington, 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
64 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 71; I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 115
Toward KY 922: Airport, Lexington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto KY 922
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Newtown Pike
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on KY 922
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Oliver Lewis Way
9
Continue on Bolivar Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Bolivar Street
10
At end of road, turn right onto South Upper Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Upper Street
11
Continue on South Limestone
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Limestone
12
Turn right onto Avenue of Champions
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Avenue of Champions
13
Continue on Euclid Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Euclid Avenue
14
Turn right onto East High Street
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
East High Street
15
Continue on Tates Creek Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Tates Creek Road
16
Turn slight left
493 ft
·
18 sec
17
Continue on Alumni Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Alumni Drive
18
Turn right onto Chinoe Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Chinoe Road
19
Continue on Greentree Road
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Greentree Road
20
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Gainesway Drive
21
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
261 ft
·
9 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
22
Arrive at destination
Coldstream Drive
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of about 1 hour and 37 minutes, this is a very flexible trip. You can easily depart anytime, as there's ample daylight to complete the 80.3-mile journey. No overnight stay is recommended, and with 0 planned stops, you can decide on breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $13, and it's a good idea to fill up before you leave Burlington, KY, to ensure a smooth drive to Lexington, KY.
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 40.1 miles from Burlington, KY, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.4 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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.1 miles or 47m 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 17m
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 Burlington, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Burlington, KY
This is one driving day of about 80.3 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Burlington, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 71 for about 64.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.1 miles from Burlington, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 75.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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...
8
70.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m 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 20m in
|
KY 922 / Newtown Pike
Turn right onto KY 922 / Newtown Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
75.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
South Upper Street
At end of road, turn right onto South Upper Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.55 one way
$25.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 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.
Destination
Lexington, KY
Afternoon in Lexington on Saturday
Local time
2:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°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
20 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 37m 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.
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
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 80% of the journey on major roads like I 71. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 64.4 miles on I 71, which sets the tone for much of the trip. While the profile is described as highway-focused, expect some segments on Burlington Pike and Newtown Pike as you approach your destination. This mix suggests a generally fast-paced drive with a brief shift to more local road character near the end.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 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 64.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Burlington Pike. 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 37m 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 70.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Burlington, KY to Lexington, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Louisville along the way.
Louisville
4.6 mi in
|
~7m
About the Cities
Arriving in Lexington, KY
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 80.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Burlington, KY to Lexington, KY covers 80.3 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 71, Burlington Pike, Newtown Pike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.1 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 $12.55 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 37m 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 70.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Burlington, KY to Lexington, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Louisville along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include 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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