Origin
Carrollton, KY
Morning in Carrollton on Friday
Local time
10:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carrollton, KY to Lexington, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 34m
Distance
74.7 mi
120 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 27m
★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 48m
8 PM
1h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carrollton, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carrollton, KY to Lexington, KY covers 74.7 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Park Avenue, Owenton Road, KY 355 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.68 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
37.3 miles from Carrollton, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 74.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 34m drive with frequent turns across 74.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Park Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Carrollton, KY to Lexington, KY is easy. At 1h 34m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carrollton, KY to Lexington, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Park Avenue | — | — |
| Owenton Road | — | — |
| KY 355 | — | — |
| Crittenden Street | — | — |
| Waverly Road | — | — |
| Main Street | — | — |
| Wilkinson Boulevard | — | — |
| Versailles Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Park Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carrollton, KY and Lexington, KY.
1
Start on Highland Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Highland Avenue
2
Turn right onto Park Avenue
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Park Avenue
3
Continue on Owenton Road
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Owenton Road
4
Turn right onto KY 355
12 mi
·
21 min
·
KY 355
5
Continue on Crittenden Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Crittenden Street
6
Turn right onto Waverly Road
299 ft
·
8 sec
·
Waverly Road
7
Turn left onto Main Street
6.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Main Street
8
Turn right
16 mi
·
18 min
9
Continue straight
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
10
Take the exit left
39 ft
·
2 sec
11
Turn right
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
12
Merge slight left onto Wilkinson Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilkinson Boulevard
13
Continue on Versailles Road
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Versailles Road
14
Continue on Frankfort Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Frankfort Highway
15
Continue on Frankfort Road
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Frankfort Road
16
Continue on Versailles Bypass
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Versailles Bypass
17
Turn slight left onto Lexington Road
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Lexington Road
18
Continue on Versailles Road
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Versailles Road
19
Take the exit slight right toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
KY 4 South: New Circle Road
20
Merge slight left onto New Circle Road
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
New Circle Road
21
Take the exit slight right toward KY 1974: Lexington
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
KY 1974: Lexington
22
Turn right onto Tates Creek Road
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Tates Creek Road
23
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Gainesway Drive
24
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
262 ft
·
9 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
25
Arrive at your destination
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 37.3 miles from Carrollton, KY, or about 47m into the drive.
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 16 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.3 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 20m
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 Carrollton, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Carrollton, KY
This is one driving day of about 74.7 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Carrollton, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.3 mi from Carrollton, KY · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 37.3 miles from Carrollton, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lexington, KY
The final approach into Lexington, 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
$11.68 one way
$23.36 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.82 | $25.65 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.38 | $28.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.49 | $32.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.84 | $3.59 |
| Efficient EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.54 | $2.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.9 | 0 | $10.46 | $4.78 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Morning in Lexington on Friday
Local time
10:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°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
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 34m 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 Carrollton, KY to Lexington, KY covers 74.7 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Park Avenue, Owenton Road, KY 355. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.3 miles from Carrollton, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.68 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.
The drive from Carrollton, KY to Lexington, KY is easy. At 1h 34m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carrollton, KY to Lexington, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Carrollton, KY to Lexington, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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