Origin
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Afternoon in Lexington-Fayette on Sunday
Local time
4:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lexington-Fayette, KY to Bardstown, KY
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
63.2 mi
102 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Kristopher Hines
Bardstown, KY
Brady Wilson
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Lexington-Fayette to Bardstown, you will cover 63.2 miles in approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. This highway-focused route is perfect for a single-day trip, allowing you to easily depart in the morning and return by evening. You should budget about $10 for fuel to complete the journey. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of Kentucky, the transition between them is seamless and straightforward. Whether you are heading out for a short getaway or a quick errand, this drive is efficient and requires minimal logistical planning.
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
31.6 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a drive defined by speed and efficiency, as roughly 73% of your journey is spent on highways. You will navigate out of the city via East New Circle Road and Versailles Road before settling onto the Bluegrass Parkway. The core of this trip is a 46.2-mile stretch on the Parkway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of your travel. This highway-focused profile means you can maintain a steady pace for the vast majority of the 1 hour and 15-minute commute. While the road is consistent, you will experience a transition from urban city streets to the more open, high-speed flow of the Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 46.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bluegrass Parkway and East New Circle Road. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Floyd Drive.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.2 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 0.1 miles (Floyd Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (KY 4 / East New Circle Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Floyd Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Floyd Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
KY 4 / East New Circle Road
Turn left onto KY 4 / East New Circle Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
7.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward US 60 West: Versailles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward US 60 West: Versailles
5
7.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
US 60 / Versailles Road
Merge onto US 60 / Versailles Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / none lanes.
4
13.7 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward Elizabethtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Elizabethtown
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Lexington-Fayette, KY to Bardstown, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Elizabethtown along the way.
Elizabethtown
13.7 mi in
|
~20m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass Parkway | 46.2 mi | 49m |
| East New Circle Road | 7.2 mi | 10m |
| Versailles Road | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Springfield Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Lexington Road | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| East Stephen Foster Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Floyd Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Court Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Bluegrass Parkway
— 46.2 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington-Fayette, KY and Bardstown, KY.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi
·
42 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Floyd Drive
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Floyd Drive
3
Turn left onto KY 4
7.2 mi
·
10 min
·
East New Circle Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 5B
Toward US 60 West: Versailles
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto US 60
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Versailles Road
Use the left / none lanes.
6
Continue on US 60
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lexington Road
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward Elizabethtown
8
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
46 mi
·
49 min
·
Bluegrass Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Bardstown
10
Merge onto US 150; US 31E Truck
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Springfield Road
11
Continue on US 150
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Stephen Foster Avenue
12
Enter roundabout onto US 31E; US 62; US 150
201 ft
·
3 sec
·
Court Square
13
Arrive at destination
US 31E; US 62; US 150
Trip Plan
Because this is a short trip with no mandatory stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule. You can easily complete the entire 63.2-mile distance in one go without needing to plan for rest breaks or mid-trip refueling. Since the drive is primarily on the Bluegrass Parkway, keep an eye on your speed as you transition from local roads like Versailles Road onto the highway. Aim to fill your tank before leaving Lexington to keep your fuel costs near the estimated $10 mark. Taking advantage of the direct highway connections will ensure you reach Bardstown with plenty of time to spare for your planned activities.
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 31.6 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY, or about 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.2 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 63.2 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.6 miles or 40m 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 4m
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 Lexington-Fayette, 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY
This is one driving day of about 63.2 miles and 1h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lexington-Fayette, 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 46.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.6 mi from Lexington-Fayette, KY · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 63.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.6 miles from Lexington-Fayette, 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
$9.60 one way
$19.20 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $10.58 | $21.16 |
| premium | $4.80 | $11.93 | $23.86 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $14.04 | $28.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
| Efficient EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.53 | $2.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.85 | $4.04 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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
4:14 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 15m 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY to Bardstown, KY covers 63.2 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bluegrass Parkway, East New Circle Road, Versailles 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 31.6 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.60 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 63.2 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 0.1 miles (Floyd Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (KY 4 / East New Circle Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Lexington-Fayette, KY to Bardstown, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Elizabethtown along the way.
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