Origin
Florence, KY
Late night in Florence on Friday
Local time
12:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Florence, KY to Monticello, KY
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
75.1 mi
121 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 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Florence, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Monticello, KY
Vietnam Hidden Light
Trip Overview
This straightforward 75.1-mile drive from Florence, KY to Monticello, KY takes about 1 hour and 28 minutes, making it a perfect option for a single-day trip. You'll primarily be on I-71, with a brief transition onto Newtown Pike and Clays Mill Road. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this highway-focused journey is efficient and budget-friendly. Both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region of Kentucky, so you'll be staying within familiar territory throughout this trip. It's a convenient route for a quick getaway or a practical way to connect these two Kentucky locations.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 75.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 88% of the drive utilizing interstate or similar high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 64.4 miles on I-71. This means you'll have ample opportunity for consistent speed and minimal interruptions for much of the journey. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of Newtown Pike and Clays Mill Road offers a slight variation in pace as you approach your destination. Overall, it's a functional drive designed for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Newtown Pike. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 42; US 127.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (US 42; US 127): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles (I 71; I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 42; US 127
Turn right onto US 42; US 127
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louis...
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 71; I 75
Merge onto I 71; I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
66.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m 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
66.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
KY 922 / Newtown Pike
Turn right onto KY 922 / Newtown Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
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 Florence, KY to Monticello, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Lexington along the way.
Lexington
66.2 mi in
|
~1h 12m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 64.4 mi | 1h 9m |
| Newtown Pike | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Clays Mill Road | 2.8 mi | 6m |
| US 42 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South Broadway | 1 mi | 2m |
| Oliver Lewis Way | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Harrodsburg Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Halifax Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 64.4 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, KY and Monticello, KY.
1
Start on Main Street
28 ft
·
3 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 42; US 127
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 42; US 127
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on US 42; US 127
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 42; US 127
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville
Use the left 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
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
10
Turn straight onto US 27; US 68
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Broadway
11
Continue on US 68
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Harrodsburg Road
12
Turn slight left
265 ft
·
11 sec
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on Clays Mill Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Clays Mill Road
14
Turn slight right onto Clays Mill Road
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Clays Mill Road
15
Turn left onto Monticello Boulevard
234 ft
·
8 sec
·
Monticello Boulevard
16
Turn right onto Holwyn Road
375 ft
·
19 sec
·
Holwyn Road
17
Turn left onto Halifax Drive
507 ft
·
17 sec
·
Halifax Drive
18
Arrive at destination
Halifax Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.5 mi from Florence, KY · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.5 miles from Florence, 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.
Arriving in Monticello, KY
The final approach into Monticello, 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
$11.74 one way
$23.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.89 | $25.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.45 | $28.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.58 | $33.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 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 | $7.89 | $3.60 |
| Efficient EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.57 | $3.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30 | 0 | $10.51 | $4.81 |
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
Monticello, KY
Late night in Monticello on Friday
Local time
12:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Williamstown, KY
38 mi in
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
6 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 28m 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 Florence, KY to Monticello, KY covers 75.1 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 71, Newtown Pike, Clays Mill Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.5 miles from Florence, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.74 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.1 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 42; US 127): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles (I 71; I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Florence, KY to Monticello, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Lexington along the way.
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