Origin
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Afternoon in Lexington-Fayette on Sunday
Local time
4:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
1h 42m
Distance
73.2 mi
118 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Kristopher Hines
Carrollton, KY
Vietnam Hidden Light
If you are looking to travel from Lexington-Fayette to Carrollton, you are looking at a straightforward 73.2-mile trek through Kentucky. Clocking in at approximately 1 hour and 42 minutes, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you won’t need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend about $11 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. The route primarily utilizes I-64, US-127, and KY-355 to navigate between these two Southeast locations. Because the drive is relatively short, it serves as an efficient connection if you are moving between these specific areas of the state.
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
36.6 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .
This is a highway-focused drive, with 88% of your travel time spent on major roads. You will find that the rhythm of the trip is defined by consistent momentum rather than technical maneuvering. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 20.7 miles along I-64. As you transition from the interstate to the secondary roads like US-127 and KY-355, the character of the pavement changes, shifting from high-speed transit to more localized highway travel. Overall, you can anticipate a steady and predictable experience behind the wheel for the duration of the 73.2-mile path.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and KY 355. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Floyd Drive.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 73.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Floyd Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 27; US 68 / North Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn right onto Floyd Drive
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 27; US 68 / North Broadway
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West: Frankfort, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 60: Versailles, Frankfort
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Frankfort
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Between Lexington-Fayette, KY and Carrollton, KY, road signs point toward Louisville and Frankfort.
Louisville
Frankfort
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 20.7 mi | 22m |
| KY 355 | 18.9 mi | 33m |
| US 127 | 16.2 mi | 18m |
| KY 227 | 8.4 mi | 12m |
| Versailles Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Wilkinson Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East New Circle Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Broadway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington-Fayette, KY and Carrollton, KY.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn right onto Floyd Drive
Turn left onto KY 4
Turn right onto US 27; US 68
Turn left
Merge onto I 64; I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 60
Continue on US 421
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto US 127
Turn left onto KY 355
Turn right onto KY 22; KY 355
Turn left onto KY 355
Continue on KY 355
At end of road, turn left onto KY 227
At end of road, turn left onto US 42; KY 36
Arrive at destination
Since this is a relatively quick trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any mandatory stops, as the 1 hour and 42-minute duration allows you to reach your destination comfortably in one go. Keep in mind that because the vast majority of the route is highway-based, your fuel efficiency should remain fairly consistent throughout the 73.2 miles. To ensure a smooth experience, verify your route navigation before heading out, especially when transitioning between I-64 and the state-level roads. Taking advantage of the shorter travel time allows you to arrive in Carrollton with plenty of your day still left to spare.
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.
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 73.2 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.6 miles or 45m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carrollton, KY than in the middle of the route.
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 73.2 miles and 1h 42m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.6 mi from Lexington-Fayette, KY · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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.
A short stop after about 73.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 36.6 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Carrollton, 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 Carrollton, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$11.12 one way
$22.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $12.26 | $24.51 |
| premium | $4.80 | $13.82 | $27.64 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $16.26 | $32.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22 | 0 | $7.69 | $3.51 |
| Efficient EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.3 | 0 | $10.25 | $4.68 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Lexington-Fayette on Sunday
Local time
4:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Carrollton on Sunday
Local time
4:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Along the Route
62°F
Warsaw, KY
37 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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