Origin
Campbellsville, KY
Afternoon in Campbellsville on Saturday
Local time
2:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Campbellsville, 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 40m
Distance
85.6 mi
138 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Campbellsville, KY
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Campbellsville, KY to Lexington, KY covers 85.6 miles and takes about 1h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Bluegrass Parkway, Triple 5 Highway, New Lebanon Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.4 miles on Bluegrass Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.8 miles from Campbellsville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass Parkway | 29.4 mi | 31m |
| Triple 5 Highway | 14.6 mi | 16m |
| New Lebanon Road | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| New Circle Road | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| New Campbellsville Road | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| Versailles Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Campbellsville Road | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Lebanon Road | 2.8 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Bluegrass Parkway
— 29.4 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Campbellsville, KY and Lexington, KY.
1
Start on US 68
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Broadway Street
2
Continue on US 68; KY 55
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
New Lebanon Road
3
Continue on US 68; KY 55
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
New Campbellsville Road
4
Continue on US 68; KY 55
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Campbellsville Road
5
Continue on US 68; KY 55
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Jane Todd Crawford Trail
6
Continue on US 68; KY 55
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
Campbellsville Road
7
Turn left onto KY 2154
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Lebanon Bypass
8
Turn left
150 ft
·
2 sec
9
Keep slight right at fork
166 ft
·
2 sec
10
Turn straight onto KY 2154
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
11
Turn slight right
185 ft
·
2 sec
12
Turn left
308 ft
·
4 sec
13
Turn straight onto KY 2154
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
14
Turn left onto KY 55
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Springfield Road
15
Continue on KY 55
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Lebanon Road
16
Continue on KY 55
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Western Bypass
17
Enter roundabout onto KY 555
118 ft
·
2 sec
·
Triple 5 Highway
18
Continue on KY 555
0.9 mi
·
59 sec
·
Triple 5 Highway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto KY 555
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
Triple 5 Highway
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 150
110 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 150
21
Continue on KY 555
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Triple 5 Highway
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
23
Merge onto Bluegrass Parkway
29 mi
·
31 min
·
Bluegrass Parkway
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward US 60 West: Frankfort
25
Turn right onto US 60
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Road
26
Continue on US 60
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
27
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
28
Merge onto KY 4
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 18
Toward KY 1974: Lexington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Turn right onto KY 1974
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Tates Creek Road
31
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Gainesway Drive
32
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
261 ft
·
9 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
33
Arrive at destination
Coldstream Drive
Trip Plan
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 42.8 miles from Campbellsville, KY, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.4 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 19 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.8 miles or 49m 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 21m
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 Campbellsville, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Campbellsville, KY
This is one driving day of about 85.6 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Campbellsville, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Bluegrass Parkway for about 29.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.8 miles from Campbellsville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 185 decision points cluster between mile 18.2 and 84.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
18.2 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
27.6 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
KY 555 / Triple 5 Highway
Enter roundabout onto KY 555 / Triple 5 Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
71.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 60 West: Frankfort
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 60 West: Frankfort
5
78.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
KY 4 / New Circle Road
Merge onto KY 4 / New Circle Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
84.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward KY 1974: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward KY 1974: Lexington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.38 one way
$26.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.69 | $29.39 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.47 | $32.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.90 | $37.80 |
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: 29.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.7 | 0 | $8.99 | $4.11 |
| Efficient EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.49 | $3.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.2 | 0 | $11.98 | $5.48 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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
2:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Bloomfield, KY
43 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
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 40m 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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 82.7
View on nps.gov
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
For over a century people from around the world have come to rural Central Kentucky to honor the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 14.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
85.6 mi in 1h 40m — 34% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Bluegrass Parkway.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.4 mi on Bluegrass Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.6 miles you will encounter 18 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 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 27.6 miles (KY 555 / Triple 5 Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 71.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 40m. Total distance: 85.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.4 miles on Bluegrass Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lexington, KY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 27.6 miles (KY 555 / Triple 5 Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 71.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Camp Nelson National Monument and Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lexington, KY before heading back.
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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