Trip from Lexington-Fayette, KY to Carrollton, KY

Drive Time

1h 42m

Distance

73.2 mi

118 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 35m ★
6 AM
1h 43m
8 AM
1h 58m
10 AM
1h 48m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 49m
5 PM
1h 57m
8 PM
1h 38m

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

Downtown Lexington-Fayette, KY, KY

Lexington-Fayette, KY

Kristopher Hines

Downtown Carrollton, KY, KY

Carrollton, KY

Vietnam Hidden Light

Trip Overview

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 .

Drive Character

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.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 9/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These 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

6
1.7 mi into trip | ~3m in | US 27; US 68 / North Broadway

Turn right onto US 27; US 68 / North Broadway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
8
7.4 mi into trip | ~11m in | I 64

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

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 64 West: Frankfort, Louisville
8
24.1 mi into trip | ~29m in

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 58 Toward US 60: Versailles, Frankfort
6
24.3 mi into trip | ~29m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Frankfort

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward Frankfort

Towns Along This Route

Between Lexington-Fayette, KY and Carrollton, KY, road signs point toward Louisville and Frankfort.

Louisville

7.4 mi in | ~11m | via I 64

Frankfort

24.1 mi in | ~29m

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: I 64 — 20.7 mi, about 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lexington-Fayette, KY and Carrollton, 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

1.4 mi · 2 min · East New Circle Road
Use the straight lane.
4

Turn right onto US 27; US 68

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Broadway
Use the right lane.
5

Turn left

0.5 mi · 55 sec
Toward I 75 North, I 64 West: Cincinnati, Louisville
6

Merge onto I 64; I 75

4.1 mi · 4 min · I 64; I 75
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 64

17 mi · 17 min · I 64
Toward I 64 West: Frankfort, Louisville Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Exit 58 Toward US 60: Versailles, Frankfort Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork

233 ft · 7 sec
Toward Frankfort
10

Merge onto US 60

2.5 mi · 4 min · Versailles Road
11

Continue on US 421

1.5 mi · 2 min · Wilkinson Boulevard
12

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec
13

Keep slight left at fork

410 ft · 11 sec
14

Turn left onto US 127

16 mi · 18 min · US 127
15

Turn left onto KY 355

6.6 mi · 11 min · KY 355
16

Turn right onto KY 22; KY 355

299 ft · 10 sec · Waverly Road
17

Turn left onto KY 355

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Crittenden Street
18

Continue on KY 355

12 mi · 21 min · KY 355
19

At end of road, turn left onto KY 227

8.4 mi · 12 min · KY 227
20

At end of road, turn left onto US 42; KY 36

0.9 mi · 1 min · Highland Avenue
21

Arrive at destination

US 42; KY 36

Trip Plan

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.

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 36.6 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.7 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 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.

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 73.2 miles and 1h 42m.

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 I 64 for about 20.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Warsaw, KY, KY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Warsaw, KY

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Louisville, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 73.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Warsaw, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.6 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Carrollton, KY

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.12 one way

$22.24 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 13 hours ago

Origin

Lexington-Fayette, KY

Afternoon in Lexington-Fayette on Sunday

Local time

4:14 PM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Carrollton, KY

Afternoon in Carrollton on Sunday

Local time

4:14 PM

EDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

2 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 42m 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 Carrollton, KY covers 73.2 miles and takes about 1h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, KY 355, US 127. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.6 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 $11.12 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 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.
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.
Between Lexington-Fayette, KY and Carrollton, KY, road signs point toward Louisville and Frankfort.

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