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Trip from Carrollton, KY to Nicholasville, KY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 48m

Distance

75 mi

121 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 41m ★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Carroll County, Kentucky

Carrollton, KY

Wikimedia Commons

city in Jessamine County, Kentucky, United States

Nicholasville, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Carrollton, KY to Nicholasville, KY covers 75 miles and takes about 1h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 127, KY 355, Owenton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.2 miles on US 127. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.73 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

37.5 miles from Carrollton, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 75 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (38%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile.

Drive Character

The drive from Carrollton, KY to Nicholasville, KY covers 75 miles and takes about 1h 48m, 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 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 127 is the longest continuous segment at about 16.2 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 around 0.9 miles in near KY 36; KY 227 / Park Avenue.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 48m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (KY 36; KY 227 / Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 21.8 miles (KY 22; KY 355 / Waverly Road): Navigation decision point; at 44.8 miles (US 127): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in | KY 36; KY 227 / Park Avenue

Turn right onto KY 36; KY 227 / Park Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
21.8 mi into trip | ~35m in | KY 22; KY 355 / Waverly Road

Turn right onto KY 22; KY 355 / Waverly Road

Navigation decision point

6
44.8 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | US 127

Take the exit onto US 127

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

4
61.6 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in | KY 169 / Pinckard Pike

Turn left onto KY 169 / Pinckard Pike

Navigation decision point

5
74.9 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in | US 27 Business / North Main Street

Turn right onto US 27 Business / North Main Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 127 16.2 mi 18m
KY 355 12.3 mi 21m
Owenton Road 8 mi 11m
Main Street 6.6 mi 11m
Frankfort Road 5.9 mi 6m
Keene Road 5.3 mi 7m
Pinckard Pike 4.5 mi 6m
Versailles Road 3.3 mi 5m
Longest stretch: US 127 — 16.2 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Carrollton, KY and Nicholasville, KY.

1

Start on US 42; KY 36

0.9 mi · 1 min · Highland Avenue
2

Turn right onto KY 36; KY 227

0.4 mi · 36 sec · Park Avenue
3

Continue on KY 36; KY 227

8.0 mi · 11 min · Owenton Road
4

Turn right onto KY 355

12 mi · 21 min · KY 355
5

Continue on KY 355

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Crittenden Street
6

Turn right onto KY 22; KY 355

299 ft · 8 sec · Waverly Road
7

Turn left onto KY 22; KY 355

6.6 mi · 11 min · Main Street
8

Turn right onto US 127

16 mi · 18 min · US 127
9

Continue on KY 2261

0.1 mi · 14 sec · KY 2261
10

Take the exit onto US 127

40 ft · 1 sec · US 127
11

Turn right

0.3 mi · 46 sec
12

Merge onto US 421

1.2 mi · 1 min · Wilkinson Boulevard
13

Continue on US 60; US 421

3.3 mi · 5 min · Versailles Road
14

Continue on US 60

1.8 mi · 2 min · Frankfort Highway
15

Continue on US 60

5.9 mi · 6 min · Frankfort Road
16

Turn slight right onto US 60 Business; US 62

0.8 mi · 1 min · Frankfort Street
17

Continue on US 60 Business; US 62

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
18

Continue on KY 33

2.1 mi · 3 min · Troy Pike
19

Turn left onto KY 169

4.5 mi · 6 min · Pinckard Pike
20

Continue on KY 169

2.1 mi · 2 min · Keene-Versailles Road
21

Continue on KY 169

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Pinchard Pike
22

Turn right onto KY 169; KY 1267

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Keene Road
23

Continue on KY 169

5.1 mi · 7 min · Keene Road
24

Continue on KY 169

0.8 mi · 1 min · North 3rd Street
25

Turn left onto KY 169

0.2 mi · 22 sec · West Oak Street
26

Turn right onto US 27 Business

0.1 mi · 12 sec · North Main Street
27

Arrive at destination

US 27 Business

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 37.5 miles from Carrollton, KY, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.2 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 17 miles or 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 37.5 miles or 57m 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 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nicholasville, 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 75 miles and 1h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Carrollton, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 127 for about 16.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 37.5 mi from Carrollton, KY · 57m into the drive

Downtown Owenton, KY, KY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Owenton, KY

38 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

Owenton, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Frankfort, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.5 miles from Carrollton, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Nicholasville, KY

The final approach into Nicholasville, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Two Rivers Restaurant

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Carrollton, Kentucky

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 8 am–7 pm

+15027326400

Mi Viejo Carrollton

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carrollton, Kentucky

2.4 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Mercantile Coffee & Feed

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Nicholasville, Kentucky

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 75

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

Visit website

The Amsden

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Versailles, Kentucky

0.4 mi

Two Rivers Restaurant

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Carrollton, Kentucky

Hours: 8 am–7 pm

+15027326400

Mi Viejo Carrollton

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Carrollton, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15026622079

Visit website

Mercantile Coffee & Feed

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 75

Nicholasville, Kentucky

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

Visit website

The Amsden

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 58.9

Versailles, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+18594232969

Visit website

Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 42.8

Frankfort, Kentucky

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+15028753009

Visit website

Engine House

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 42.8

Frankfort, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

+15023529512

Visit website

Woodford Reserve Distillery

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 53.6

Versailles, Kentucky

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18598791812

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.73 one way

$23.45 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $12.87 $25.75
premium $4.89 $14.43 $28.87
diesel $5.61 $16.56 $33.12

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: 26.2 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 22.5 0 $7.87 $3.60
Efficient EV 18.8 0 $6.56 $3.00
EV Truck/SUV 30 0 $10.50 $4.80

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Carrollton, KY

Morning in Carrollton on Saturday

Local time

10:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Nicholasville, KY

Morning in Nicholasville on Saturday

Local time

10:47 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 48m 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 Nicholasville, KY covers 75 miles and takes about 1h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 127, KY 355, Owenton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 37.5 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 $11.73 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 48m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (KY 36; KY 227 / Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 21.8 miles (KY 22; KY 355 / Waverly Road): Navigation decision point; at 44.8 miles (US 127): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

The route from Carrollton, KY to Nicholasville, 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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