Trip from Frankfort, KY to Campbellsville, KY

Drive Time

1h 31m

Distance

78.4 mi

126 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 25m ★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 27m

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

Downtown Frankfort, KY, KY

Frankfort, KY

Mike Fox

Downtown Campbellsville, KY, KY

Campbellsville, KY

Vietnam Hidden Light

Trip Overview

Spanning 78.4 miles, this journey from Frankfort to Campbellsville is a straightforward trek that takes approximately 1 hour and 31 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget about $12 for fuel to cover the trip, making it an affordable regional connection within Kentucky. Navigating through the Southeast, you will transition between the state capital and the heart of the region. Whether you are headed out for business or a change of scenery, the trip is short enough to offer plenty of flexibility in your schedule.

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

39.2 miles from Frankfort, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a varied driving experience that shifts from major thoroughfares to more technical local roads. You will spend about 22% of your travel time on highways, primarily utilizing the Bluegrass Parkway, Triple 5 Highway, and Lawrenceburg Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 16.8-mile segment on the Bluegrass Parkway, which provides a brief reprieve before the route transitions into a turn-heavy local drive. Staying alert is essential, as the character of the road changes significantly once you move off the main parkway and onto the winding local sections. It is a drive that demands your attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 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 16.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KY 420 / Mero Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 (KY 420 / Mero Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 35.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These 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

6
35.7 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward KY 555: Springfield, Lebanon

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 42 Toward KY 555: Springfield, Lebanon
5
50.8 mi into trip | ~1h in | KY 55 / Western Bypass

Enter roundabout onto KY 55 / Western Bypass

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
60.2 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Frankfort, KY to Campbellsville, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Lebanon along the way.

Lebanon

35.7 mi in | ~42m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Bluegrass Parkway 16.8 mi 17m
Triple 5 Highway 14.7 mi 16m
Lawrenceburg Road 6.1 mi 7m
New Lebanon Road 6.1 mi 6m
New Campbellsville Road 5.3 mi 6m
Old Frankfort Road 4.5 mi 5m
Campbellsville Road 3.1 mi 3m
Veterans Memorial Highway 3.1 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Bluegrass Parkway — 16.8 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Frankfort, KY and Campbellsville, 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

17 mi · 17 min · Bluegrass Parkway
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Exit 42 Toward KY 555: Springfield, Lebanon
12

Turn left onto KY 555

13 mi · 15 min · Triple 5 Highway
13

Keep slight left at fork onto US 150

95 ft · 1 sec · US 150
14

Keep slight right at fork onto KY 555

1.4 mi · 1 min · Triple 5 Highway
15

Enter roundabout onto KY 55

141 ft · 2 sec · Western Bypass
16

Continue on KY 55

1.7 mi · 1 min · Western Bypass
17

Continue on KY 55

2.8 mi · 3 min · Lebanon Road
18

Continue on KY 55

2.8 mi · 3 min · Springfield Road
19

Turn right onto KY 2154

0.9 mi · 1 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
20

Turn left

93 ft · 2 sec
21

Turn right

429 ft · 5 sec
22

Continue on KY 2154

1.0 mi · 1 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
23

Turn slight right

217 ft · 3 sec
24

Turn left

131 ft · 1 sec
25

Keep slight right at fork

195 ft · 2 sec
26

Turn straight onto KY 2154

1.2 mi · 1 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
27

Turn right onto US 68; KY 55

0.7 mi · 54 sec · Campbellsville Road
28

Continue on US 68; KY 55

1.0 mi · 1 min · Jane Todd Crawford Trail
29

Continue on US 68; KY 55

2.4 mi · 2 min · Campbellsville Road
30

Continue on US 68; KY 55

5.3 mi · 6 min · New Campbellsville Road
31

Continue on US 68; KY 55

6.1 mi · 6 min · New Lebanon Road
32

Continue on US 68

1.5 mi · 1 min · East Broadway Street
33

Arrive at destination

US 68

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of choosing a departure time that best suits your personal rhythm. Because there are no designated stops scheduled in the data, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave to keep your $12 budget on track. Given the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, pace yourself accordingly and watch for changes in road signage as you transition between highways and smaller routes. You can easily complete the entire 78.4-mile trek in one go, but keep an eye on the clock if you are traveling during peak local traffic hours. Take advantage of the route's brevity by planning your arrival to maximize your time once you reach Campbellsville.

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 39.2 miles from Frankfort, KY, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.8 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 78.4 miles or 1h 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.2 miles or 46m 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 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Campbellsville, 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 78.4 miles and 1h 31m.

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 16.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.2 mi from Frankfort, KY · 46m into the drive

Downtown Nicholasville, KY, KY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Nicholasville, KY

39 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

Nicholasville, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 78.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Nicholasville, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.2 miles from Frankfort, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Campbellsville, KY

The final approach into Campbellsville, 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 Campbellsville, 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

$11.91 one way

$23.82 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $13.13 $26.25
premium $4.80 $14.80 $29.60
diesel $5.64 $17.42 $34.84

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: 27.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.5 0 $8.23 $3.76
Efficient EV 19.6 0 $6.86 $3.14
EV Truck/SUV 31.4 0 $10.98 $5.02

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Frankfort, KY

Evening in Frankfort on Sunday

Local time

6:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Campbellsville, KY

Evening in Campbellsville on Sunday

Local time

6:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°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

4 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 31m 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 Campbellsville, KY covers 78.4 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bluegrass Parkway, Triple 5 Highway, Lawrenceburg Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.2 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 $11.91 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 78.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 (KY 420 / Mero Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 35.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Frankfort, KY to Campbellsville, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Lebanon along the way.

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