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Trip from Hodgenville, 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 46m

Distance

84.8 mi

136 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 39m ★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m

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 LaRue County, Kentucky, United States

Hodgenville, KY

Wikimedia Commons

city in Jessamine County, Kentucky, United States

Nicholasville, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Hodgenville, KY to Nicholasville, KY covers 84.8 miles and takes about 1h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Bluegrass Parkway, Bardstown Road, New Haven Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.3 miles on Bluegrass Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.26 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

42.4 miles from Hodgenville, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 84.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (56%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Hodgenville, KY to Nicholasville, KY covers 84.8 miles and takes about 1h 46m, 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 19 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 47.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Hodgenville, KY to Nicholasville, KY is easy. At 1h 46m with 56% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 22.6 miles (Bluegrass Parkway; US 31E Truck / Bluegrass Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 70 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Main Street

Enter roundabout onto East Main Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

3
22.6 mi into trip | ~33m in | Bluegrass Parkway; US 31E Truck / Bluegrass Parkway

Merge onto Bluegrass Parkway; US 31E Truck / Bluegrass Parkway

Merge point - match speed before joining

5
70 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in

Take the exit toward KY 33: Versailles

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 68 Toward KY 33: Versailles
4
71.4 mi into trip | ~1h 27m in | KY 169 / Pinckard Pike

Turn left onto KY 169 / Pinckard Pike

Navigation decision point

5
84.7 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in | US 27 Business / North Main Street

Turn right onto US 27 Business / North Main Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Bluegrass Parkway 47.3 mi 50m
Bardstown Road 10 mi 14m
New Haven Road 10 mi 14m
Keene Road 5.3 mi 7m
Pinckard Pike 4.5 mi 6m
Keene-Versailles Road 2.1 mi 2m
South Main Street 1.7 mi 2m
Troy Pike 1.1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Bluegrass Parkway — 47.3 mi, about 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 31E; KY 84; KY 210

17 ft · 0 sec · East Main Street
2

Enter roundabout onto East Main Street

442 ft · 7 sec · East Main Street
3

Continue on East Main Street

0.5 mi · 45 sec · East Main Street
4

Continue on US 31E; KY 84

10 mi · 14 min · Bardstown Road
5

Continue on US 31E

1.7 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
6

Continue on US 31E

10 mi · 14 min · New Haven Road
7

Take the ramp onto US 31E Truck

0.3 mi · 38 sec · US 31E Truck
8

Merge onto Bluegrass Parkway; US 31E Truck

47 mi · 50 min · Bluegrass Parkway; US 31E Truck
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 68 Toward KY 33: Versailles
10

Turn straight onto KY 33

1.1 mi · 2 min · Troy Pike
11

Turn left onto KY 169

4.5 mi · 6 min · Pinckard Pike
12

Continue on KY 169

2.1 mi · 2 min · Keene-Versailles Road
13

Continue on KY 169

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Pinchard Pike
14

Turn right onto KY 169; KY 1267

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Keene Road
15

Continue on KY 169

5.1 mi · 7 min · Keene Road
16

Continue on KY 169

0.8 mi · 1 min · North 3rd Street
17

Turn left onto KY 169

0.2 mi · 22 sec · West Oak Street
18

Turn right onto US 27 Business

0.1 mi · 12 sec · North Main Street
19

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 42.4 miles from Hodgenville, KY, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.3 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 19 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 42.4 miles or 54m 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 28m

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 Hodgenville, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Hodgenville, KY

This is one driving day of about 84.8 miles and 1h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Hodgenville, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Bluegrass Parkway for about 47.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 42.4 mi from Hodgenville, KY · 54m into the drive

Downtown Bloomfield, KY, KY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomfield, KY

42 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.

Popular next leg

Bloomfield, KY to Nicholasville, KY

52.6 mi · 1h 4m

Pacing Suggestions

Bardstown, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bloomfield, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.4 miles from Hodgenville, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

National Historical Park

For over a century people from around the world have come to rural Central Kentucky to honor the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped...

1 mi from route ~3 min detour Free near mile 2.9
View on nps.gov
Camp Nelson National Monument

Camp Nelson National Monument

National Monument

The US Army established Camp Nelson as a fortified supply depot in April 1863. Over the next 3 years, the site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for United States Colored Troops a...

6 mi from route ~15 min detour Free near mile 84.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.26 one way

$26.52 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.56 $29.11
premium $4.89 $16.32 $32.64
diesel $5.61 $18.72 $37.45

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.4 0 $8.90 $4.07
Efficient EV 21.2 0 $7.42 $3.39
EV Truck/SUV 33.9 0 $11.87 $5.43

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Hodgenville, KY

Evening in Hodgenville on Friday

Local time

8:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Nicholasville, KY

Evening in Nicholasville on Friday

Local time

8:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Bloomfield, KY

42 mi in

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

21 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 46m 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 Hodgenville, KY to Nicholasville, KY covers 84.8 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Bluegrass Parkway, Bardstown Road, New Haven Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 42.4 miles from Hodgenville, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.26 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 Hodgenville, KY to Nicholasville, KY is easy. At 1h 46m with 56% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 22.6 miles (Bluegrass Parkway; US 31E Truck / Bluegrass Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 70 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

The route from Hodgenville, KY to Nicholasville, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park and Camp Nelson National Monument.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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