The drive from Lexington, KY to Hazard, KY covers 114.4 miles and takes about 2h 15m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on KY 15, Mountain Parkway, I 64 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.3 miles on KY 15.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.89 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
57.2 miles from Lexington, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 114.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 15m highway drive covering 114.4 miles, with most of the trip on KY 15 and Mountain Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 45.3 miles on KY 15.
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.
KY 15 is the longest continuous segment at about 45.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on KY 15 and Mountain Parkway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Gainesway Drive.
Driving Effort6/10
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 114.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 6.6 miles (US 60 / Winchester Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles (Mountain Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These 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 left onto Gainesway Drive
Navigation decision point
7
6.6 mi into trip|~11m in|US 60 / Winchester Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 60 / Winchester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
21.1 mi into trip|~29m in|Mountain Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Mountain Parkway toward Mountain Parkway east , Prestonsburg, Campton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Mountain Parkway east , Prestonsburg, Ca...
5
113.6 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|KY 451
At end of road, turn left onto KY 451
Navigation decision point
5
114.3 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|Laurel Street
Turn left onto Laurel Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lexington, KY and Hazard, KY, road signs point toward Mountain Parkway East, Prestonsburg and Campton.
Mountain Parkway East
21.1 mi in|~29m|via Mountain Parkway
Prestonsburg
21.1 mi in|~29m|via Mountain Parkway
Campton
21.1 mi in|~29m|via Mountain Parkway
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
KY 15
45.3 mi
51m
Mountain Parkway
42.6 mi
45m
I 64
9.7 mi
10m
Man O War Boulevard
5.3 mi
8m
Park Road
3.2 mi
3m
Winchester Road
3.1 mi
4m
Haley Road
1.4 mi
2m
KY 15 Spur
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
KY 15
— 45.3 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, KY and Hazard, KY.
1
Start on Coldstream Drive
261 ft·13 sec·Coldstream Drive
2
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
0.1 mi·24 sec·Gainesway Drive
3
Turn left onto Pimlico Parkway
1.2 mi·2 min·Pimlico Parkway
4
Turn left onto Man O War Boulevard
5.3 mi·8 min·Man O War Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 60
3.1 mi·4 min·Winchester Road
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto KY 859
1.4 mi·2 min·Haley Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
8
Merge onto I 64
9.7 mi·10 min·I 64
9
Keep slight right at fork onto Mountain Parkway
43 mi·45 min·Mountain Parkway
Toward Mountain Parkway east , Prestonsburg, Campton
10
Take the exit onto KY 15 Spur
1.2 mi·1 min·KY 15 Spur
11
Continue on KY 15
520 ft·6 sec·KY 15
Use the straight lane.
12
Merge onto KY 15
17 mi·19 min·KY 15
13
At end of road, turn left onto KY 15; KY 30
3.2 mi·3 min·Park Road
14
Continue on KY 15
27 mi·30 min·KY 15
15
Continue on KY 15
1.4 mi·1 min·KY 15
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
17
At end of road, turn left onto KY 451
0.4 mi·37 sec·KY 451
18
Continue on KY 15 Business
0.1 mi·12 sec·Memorial Drive
19
Turn right onto KY 1762
0.2 mi·33 sec·L O Davis Drive
20
Turn left onto Laurel Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·Laurel Street
21
Arrive at destination
Laurel Street
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 57.2 miles from Lexington, KY, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.3 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 25 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.2 miles or 1h 8m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hazard, 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 114.4 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Lexington, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on KY 15 for about 45.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.2 mi from Lexington, KY
· 1h 8m into the drive
The midpoint is around 57.2 miles from Lexington, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hazard, KY
The final approach into Hazard, 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 Hazard, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.89 one way
$35.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.64
$39.27
premium
$4.89
$22.02
$44.03
diesel
$5.61
$25.26
$50.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.3
0
$12.01
$5.49
Efficient EV
28.6
0
$10.01
$4.58
EV Truck/SUV
45.8
0
$16.02
$7.32
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Lexington, KY
Evening
in Lexington on Friday
Local time
8:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hazard, KY
Evening
in Hazard on Friday
Local time
8:59 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
5 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
2h 15m 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 Hazard, KY covers 114.4 miles and takes about 2h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are KY 15, Mountain Parkway, I 64. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.2 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 $17.89 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 114.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 6.6 miles (US 60 / Winchester Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles (Mountain Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Lexington, KY and Hazard, KY, road signs point toward Mountain Parkway East, Prestonsburg and Campton.
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.
