Origin
Lexington, KY
Evening in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
5:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lexington, KY to Frankfort, KY
Drive Time
43m
Distance
31.4 mi
50 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Frankfort, KY
Mike Fox
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion between Lexington and Frankfort, Kentucky, you are looking at a straightforward 31.4-mile journey. Expect to spend about 43 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via Versailles Road, Frankfort Road, and New Circle Road. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is an incredibly economical way to travel between these two Southeastern cities. Because the drive is short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your own schedule rather than rushing to beat daylight.
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
15.7 miles from Lexington, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since this route features 0% highway driving, you will be navigating local roads for the entire 31.4-mile duration. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 6.6-mile segment on Versailles Road. This path requires your full attention as you move through the various turns and changes in road character. It is an ideal route if you prefer staying off the major interstates and navigating at a more measured, local pace.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Versailles Road is the longest continuous segment at about 6.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Gainesway Drive.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 31.4 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Gainesway Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (KY 4 / New Circle Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Gainesway Drive
Turn right onto Gainesway Drive
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
KY 4 / New Circle Road
Merge onto KY 4 / New Circle Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
7.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward US 60 West: Versailles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward US 60 West: Versailles
5
31.2 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
West Clinton Street
Turn left onto West Clinton Street
Navigation decision point
5
31.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
Elk Alley
Turn right onto Elk Alley
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Versailles Road | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| Frankfort Road | 6 mi | 6m |
| New Circle Road | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| Lexington Road | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Frankfort Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| East-West Connector | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Versailles Bypass | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| Gainesway Drive | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Versailles Road
— 6.6 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, KY and Frankfort, KY.
1
Start on Coldstream Drive
261 ft
·
11 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
2
Turn right onto Gainesway Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Gainesway Drive
3
Turn right onto KY 1974
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Tates Creek Road
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward KY 4 West: New Circle Road
5
Merge onto KY 4
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
New Circle Road
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 5B
Toward US 60 West: Versailles
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on US 60
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Versailles Road
Use the left / none lanes.
8
Continue on US 60
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Lexington Road
9
Turn slight right onto US 60
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Versailles Bypass
10
Continue on US 60; US 62
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Frankfort Road
11
Continue on US 60
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Frankfort Highway
12
Continue on US 60
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Versailles Road
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
14
Turn straight onto KY 676
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
East-West Connector
15
Turn right onto KY 1659
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Drive
16
Turn left onto US 60
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
17
Turn right onto East Broadway Street
449 ft
·
21 sec
·
East Broadway Street
18
Turn right onto KY 420
465 ft
·
16 sec
·
High Street
19
Turn left onto West Clinton Street
245 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Clinton Street
20
Turn right onto Elk Alley
443 ft
·
19 sec
·
Elk Alley
21
Arrive at destination
Elk Alley
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, 43-minute trip, you do not need to worry about planning complex rest stops or long-distance fueling strategies. Since you will spend only $5 on fuel, fill up before you leave Lexington to avoid any mid-trip errands. Keep in mind that the route is turn-heavy, so stay alert for changing road conditions as you transition between Versailles Road and Frankfort Road. Take advantage of the trip's brevity by keeping your plans flexible; you have the freedom to head out whenever it suits your day without needing to account for heavy traffic fatigue. Always double-check your GPS before setting off to ensure you stay on the intended local path.
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 15.7 miles from Lexington, KY, or about 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.6 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 31.4 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.7 miles or 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frankfort, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lexington, 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, KY
This is one driving day of about 31.4 miles and 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lexington, 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 Versailles Road for about 6.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.7 mi from Lexington, KY · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.7 miles from Lexington, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Frankfort, KY
The final approach into Frankfort, 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 Frankfort, 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
$4.77 one way
$9.54 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $5.26 | $10.52 |
| premium | $4.80 | $5.93 | $11.86 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.98 | $13.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Frankfort, KY
Evening in Frankfort on Sunday
Local time
5:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
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
43m 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, KY to Frankfort, KY covers 31.4 miles and takes about 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Versailles Road, Frankfort Road, New Circle Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.7 miles from Lexington, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.77 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 31.4 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Gainesway Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (KY 4 / New Circle Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lexington, KY to Frankfort, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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