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Trip from Lexington-Fayette, KY to Corbin, KY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 37m

Distance

86.6 mi

139 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 30m ★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m

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 and county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, United States

Lexington-Fayette, KY

Wikimedia Commons

city in Whitley and Knox counties in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky

Corbin, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Lexington-Fayette, KY to Corbin, KY covers 86.6 miles and takes about 1h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, Winchester Road, Corbin Bypass for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 80.3 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.54 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

43.3 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 80.3 mi 1h 26m
Winchester Road 1.8 mi 2m
Corbin Bypass 1.2 mi 1m
North Cherry Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
East New Circle Road 0.5 mi <1m
West Dixie Highway 0.4 mi <1m
Laurel Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
US 25W 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 80.3 mi, about 1h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lexington-Fayette, KY and Corbin, 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 · 26 sec · Floyd Drive
3

Turn right onto KY 4

0.5 mi · 49 sec · East New Circle Road
4

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Exit 13 Toward US 60: Winchester, Lexington
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 20 sec
Toward US 60 East: Winchester
6

Continue on US 60

1.8 mi · 2 min · Winchester Road
Use the left lane.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
8

Merge onto I 75

80 mi · 1 hr 26 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward US 25, US 25E: Corbin, Barbourville
10

Turn left onto US 25E

1.2 mi · 1 min · Corbin Bypass
11

Turn right onto KY 3431

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Cherry Avenue
12

Turn right onto US 25W

0.4 mi · 33 sec · West Dixie Highway
13

Continue on US 25W

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Skinier Street
14

Continue on US 25W

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Laurel Avenue
15

At end of road, turn right onto US 25W; KY 312

0.3 mi · 50 sec · US 25W; KY 312
16

Turn left onto KY 312

247 ft · 5 sec · West Gordon Street
17

Arrive at destination

KY 312

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 43.3 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.3 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 22m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 43.3 miles or 48m 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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Corbin, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Lexington-Fayette, KY

This is one driving day of about 86.6 miles and 1h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 80.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Rockcastle County, Kentucky

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mount Vernon, KY

43 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

Richmond, KY

Fuel and coffee

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

Mount Vernon, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.3 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.3 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Just Love Coffee - Berea, KY

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Berea, Kentucky

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 37.1

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+18597563089

Visit website

Frisch's Big Boy Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

London, Kentucky

0.2 mi

El Dorado

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

London, Kentucky

0.3 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Brewtanicals Coffee House and Plant Lounge

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Richmond, Kentucky

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 24.7

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

+18593027610

Visit website

Third Street Stuff

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lexington, Kentucky

1.9 mi

Purdy's Coffee Co. (Downtown)

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Richmond, Kentucky

1.5 mi

Just Love Coffee - Berea, KY

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 37.1

Berea, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+18597563089

Visit website

Frisch's Big Boy Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 74.2

London, Kentucky

Hours: 7:30 am–9 pm

+16068782620

Visit website

El Dorado

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 74.2

London, Kentucky

Hours: 10:30 am–10:30 pm

+16068772806

Visit website

Seasons Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $30 to $40 mile 86.6

Corbin, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+16065281298

Visit website

Slim Chickens

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route Inexpensiv mile 74.2

London, Kentucky

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+16066570034

Visit website

Koi Express London Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 74.2

London, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16063895507

Visit website

Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant #2

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 74.2

London, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+16066575161

Visit website

Dino's Italian Restaurant & Lounge

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 74.2

London, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16068772525

Brewtanicals Coffee House and Plant Lounge

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 24.7

Richmond, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

+18593027610

Visit website

Third Street Stuff

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 6:30 am–7:30 pm

+18592555301

Visit website

Purdy's Coffee Co. (Downtown)

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 24.7

Richmond, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+18596249920

Visit website

Old School Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+18593091968

Visit website

The Greenery: Coffee + Social Space

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

Visit website

Chaotic Good: Coffee, Comics and Games

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 8:30 am–10 pm

+18593038668

Visit website

Funky Rooster Coffee Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

+18594071100

Visit website

Leestown Coffee House

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10

Lexington, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

+18595545900

Visit website

Kentucky Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 49.5

Mt Vernon, Kentucky

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+16062561000

Visit website

Jacobson Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 6.2

Lexington, Kentucky

+18592882900

Visit website

Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 74.2

London, Kentucky

+16063302130

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 83.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Floyd Drive

At end of road, turn right onto Floyd Drive

Navigation decision point

6
0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the exit toward US 60: Winchester, Lexington

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

Exit 13 Toward US 60: Winchester, Lexington
6
0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 60 East: Winchester

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward US 60 East: Winchester
5
3 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 75

Merge onto I 75

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
83.3 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in

Take the exit toward US 25, US 25E: Corbin, Barbourville

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

Toward US 25, US 25E: Corbin, Barbourville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.54 one way

$27.08 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.87 $29.73
premium $4.89 $16.67 $33.33
diesel $5.61 $19.12 $38.24

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 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 26 0 $9.09 $4.16
Efficient EV 21.7 0 $7.58 $3.46
EV Truck/SUV 34.6 0 $12.12 $5.54

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 17, 2026

Origin

Lexington-Fayette, KY

Afternoon in Lexington-Fayette on Saturday

Local time

4:20 PM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Sunny

S 1 to 6 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Destination

Corbin, KY

Afternoon in Corbin on Saturday

Local time

4:20 PM

EDT

Current temp

78°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

6 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 37m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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...

15 mi from route ~37 min detour Free near mile 20.9
View on nps.gov
Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument

Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument

National Monument

The US won a significant victory early in the Civil War at the Battle of Mill Springs. Explore the rolling fields of Kentucky where the battle took place and learn about that state's strategic importa...

30 mi from route ~75 min detour Free near mile 56.7
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

86.6 mi in 1h 37m, mostly highway — 80.3 mi of that is on I 75.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.3 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Winchester Road. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Floyd Drive.

Driving Effort 5/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

About the Cities

Arriving in Corbin, KY

Full guide →

Corbin, a small city in Kentucky's Daniel Boone Country, is the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 86.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 80.3 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Floyd Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes — Camp Nelson National Monument and Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Corbin, KY before heading back.

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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Explore More

Return Trip

Corbin, KY to Lexington-Fayette, KY

Plan the drive back the other way.

86.5 mi 1h 37m

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