Origin
Frankfort, KY
Afternoon in Frankfort on Sunday
Local time
4:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Frankfort, KY to Bardstown, KY
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
55.4 mi
89 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Frankfort, KY
Mike Fox
Bardstown, KY
Brady Wilson
Trip Overview
The drive from Frankfort, KY to Bardstown, KY covers 55.4 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Bluegrass Parkway, Lawrenceburg Road, Old Frankfort Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.8 miles on Bluegrass Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.41 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
27.7 miles from Frankfort, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 4m highway drive covering 55.4 miles, with most of the trip on Bluegrass Parkway and Lawrenceburg Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 33.8 miles on Bluegrass Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bluegrass Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 33.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bluegrass Parkway and Lawrenceburg Road. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KY 420 / Mero Street.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Frankfort, KY to Bardstown, KY is easy. At 1h 4m with 61% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KY 420 / Mero Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 52.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
KY 420 / Mero Street
Turn left onto KY 420 / Mero Street
Navigation decision point
5
18.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
52.8 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward Bardstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Bardstown
4
53.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
US 150; US 31E Truck / Springfield Road
Merge onto US 150; US 31E Truck / Springfield Road
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
55.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
US 31E; US 62; US 150 / Court Square
Enter roundabout onto US 31E; US 62; US 150 / Court Square
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass Parkway | 33.8 mi | 36m |
| Lawrenceburg Road | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| Old Frankfort Road | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| West Frankfort Connector | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Bypass North | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| Frankfort Road | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Springfield Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East Stephen Foster Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Bluegrass Parkway
— 33.8 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Frankfort, KY and Bardstown, KY.
1
Start on Elk Alley
26 ft
·
6 sec
·
Elk Alley
2
Turn left onto KY 420
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
Mero Street
3
Continue on US 127; US 421
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
West Frankfort Connector
4
Continue on US 127
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Lawrenceburg Road
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on US 127
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Frankfort Road
6
Continue on US 127 Bypass
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Bypass North
7
Continue on US 127 Bypass; US 62 Truck
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Old Frankfort Road
8
Continue on US 127; KY 513
510 ft
·
10 sec
·
US 127; KY 513
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
10
Merge onto Bluegrass Parkway
34 mi
·
36 min
·
Bluegrass Parkway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Bardstown
12
Merge onto US 150; US 31E Truck
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Springfield Road
13
Continue on US 150
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Stephen Foster Avenue
14
Enter roundabout onto US 31E; US 62; US 150
201 ft
·
3 sec
·
Court Square
15
Arrive at destination
US 31E; US 62; US 150
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 27.7 miles from Frankfort, KY, or about 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.8 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 55.4 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 27.7 miles or 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bardstown, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Frankfort, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Frankfort, KY
This is one driving day of about 55.4 miles and 1h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Frankfort, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Bluegrass Parkway for about 33.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.7 mi from Frankfort, KY · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 55.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.7 miles from Frankfort, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bardstown, KY
The final approach into Bardstown, KY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Bardstown, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.41 one way
$16.83 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $9.28 | $18.55 |
| premium | $4.80 | $10.46 | $20.92 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.31 | $24.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.82 | $2.66 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.85 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.76 | $3.55 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Bardstown, KY
Afternoon in Bardstown on Sunday
Local time
4:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
22 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 4m 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 Frankfort, KY to Bardstown, KY covers 55.4 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bluegrass Parkway, Lawrenceburg Road, Old Frankfort 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 27.7 miles from Frankfort, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.41 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 Frankfort, KY to Bardstown, KY is easy. At 1h 4m with 61% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KY 420 / Mero Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 52.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Frankfort, KY to Bardstown, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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