Origin
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Morning in Lexington-Fayette on Wednesday
Local time
6:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lexington-Fayette, KY to Henderson, KY
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 58m
Distance
209.9 mi
338 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 46m
★
6 AM
3h 58m
8 AM
4h 24m
10 AM
4h 8m
12 PM
4h 5m
3 PM
4h 9m
5 PM
4h 23m
8 PM
3h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Henderson, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lexington-Fayette, KY to Henderson, KY covers 209.9 miles and takes about 3h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Bluegrass Parkway, Western Kentucky Parkway, I 165 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 70.6 miles on Bluegrass Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.82 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
105 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 58m highway drive covering 209.9 miles, with most of the trip on Bluegrass Parkway and Western Kentucky Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 70.6 miles on Bluegrass Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 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 70.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bluegrass Parkway and Western Kentucky Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 209.9 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 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 87 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
8
87 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
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 91C-A
Toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Wes...
8
87.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 91C-B
Toward US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western...
6
87.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Paducah, Elizabethtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Paducah, Elizabethtown
7
175.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 60 West, US 231 South: Henderson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 70B
Toward US 60 West, US 231 South: Henderson
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lexington-Fayette, KY and Henderson, KY, road signs point toward Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West and Audubon Parkway West: Henderson.
Elizabethtown
13.7 mi in
|
~20m
Paducah
87 mi in
|
~1h 40m
Western Kentucky Parkway West
87.3 mi in
|
~1h 41m
Audubon Parkway West: Henderson
182.8 mi in
|
~3h 26m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass Parkway | 70.6 mi | 1h 15m |
| Western Kentucky Parkway | 59.1 mi | 1h 3m |
| I 165 | 28.2 mi | 30m |
| Audubon Parkway | 23.2 mi | 24m |
| East New Circle Road | 7.2 mi | 10m |
| Wendell Ford Expressway | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| Versailles Road | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| 2nd Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Bluegrass Parkway
— 70.6 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington-Fayette, KY and Henderson, 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 lane.
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
71 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
Bluegrass Parkway
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
10
Merge onto I 65
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 65
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 91C-A
Toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 91C-B
Toward US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward Paducah, Elizabethtown
14
Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway
59 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 77A
Toward I 165 North: Owensboro
16
Merge onto I 165
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 165
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 70B
Toward US 60 West, US 231 South: Henderson
18
Merge onto US 60; US 231
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Wendell Ford Expressway
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 10
Toward Audubon Parkway West: Henderson
20
Continue on Audubon Parkway
23 mi
·
24 min
·
Audubon Parkway
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1A
Toward US 41 North: Henderson
22
Merge onto I 69; US41
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 69; US41
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 14
Toward KY 351: Zion, Henderson
24
Turn slight right onto KY 351
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
2nd Street
25
Turn left onto US 60; US 41 Alt
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
North Green Street
26
Turn left onto Washington Street
213 ft
·
10 sec
·
Washington Street
27
Turn left
98 ft
·
7 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 105 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.6 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Henderson, 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 209.9 miles and 3h 58m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Bluegrass Parkway for about 70.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 105 mi from Lexington-Fayette, KY · 2h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105 miles from Lexington-Fayette, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Bluegrass Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.6 miles.
Arriving in Henderson, KY
The final approach into Henderson, 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 Henderson, 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
$32.82 one way
$65.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $36.03 | $72.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $40.39 | $80.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.34 | $92.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63 | 0 | $22.04 | $10.08 |
| Efficient EV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.37 | $8.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84 | 1 | $29.39 | $13.43 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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
Henderson, KY
Late night in Henderson on Wednesday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
2 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
3h 58m 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 Henderson, KY covers 209.9 miles and takes about 3h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bluegrass Parkway, Western Kentucky Parkway, I 165. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 105 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 $32.82 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 209.9 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 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 87 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Lexington-Fayette, KY and Henderson, KY, road signs point toward Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West and Audubon Parkway West: Henderson.
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