Origin
Lexington, KY
Morning in Lexington on Wednesday
Local time
6:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
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Drive Time
4h 24m
Distance
232.4 mi
374 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Morganfield, KY
Wikimedia Commons
This 232.4-mile journey from Lexington to Morganfield, Kentucky, is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can comfortably be completed in about 4 hours and 24 minutes. With 82% of the route on highways, it's designed for efficient travel, making it an ideal one-day trip. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $36, so it's an economical option for exploring the Southeast region of Kentucky. You'll primarily be navigating the Bluegrass Parkway, Western Kentucky Parkway, and I-165, offering a smooth ride for most of the way. This route offers a practical way to cover a significant distance within the state without requiring an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
116.2 miles from Lexington, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
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Expect a highway-centric experience for most of this 232.4-mile trip. With 82% of the drive on major roadways like the Bluegrass Parkway, Western Kentucky Parkway, and I-165, you'll find a consistent pace for much of the 4-hour-plus journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 70.6 miles on the Bluegrass Parkway, allowing for extended periods of steady driving. While the profile is predominantly highway, this often means efficient travel rather than dramatic scenic changes, providing a clear path from your starting point in the Southeast to your destination.
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 7.6 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 232.4 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 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward US 60 West: Versailles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
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
Keep slight left at fork toward Paducah, Elizabethtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lexington, KY and Morganfield, KY, road signs point toward Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West and Audubon Parkway West: Henderson.
Elizabethtown
Paducah
Western Kentucky Parkway West
Audubon Parkway West: Henderson
| 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 | 24 mi | 26m |
| South Green Street | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| Wendell Ford Expressway | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| New Circle Road | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| Henderson Bypass | 4.7 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, KY and Morganfield, KY.
Start on Coldstream Drive
Turn right onto Gainesway Drive
Turn right onto KY 1974
Turn left
Merge onto KY 4
Take the exit
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Take the exit
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway
Take the exit
Merge onto I 165
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 60; US 231
Take the exit
Continue on Audubon Parkway
Continue on Audubon Parkway
Merge onto I 69; US 41
Take the exit onto US 41
Continue on KY 425
Turn left onto US 60
Turn left onto KY 56
Arrive at destination
For this 232.4-mile drive, departing in the morning is recommended to take full advantage of the 4-hour 24-minute duration and arrive with daylight to spare. The route is designed for efficiency, so you'll likely only need one planned stop, perhaps around the halfway mark, to stretch your legs or refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 70.6 miles on the Bluegrass Parkway, to ensure a smooth continuation of your trip. Given its manageable length and highway focus, this route offers flexibility, allowing you to adjust your pace as needed.
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.
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 116.2 miles or 2h 12m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morganfield, KY than in the middle of the route.
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 232.4 miles and 4h 24m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 116.2 mi from Lexington, KY · 2h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 116.2 miles from Lexington, 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.
The final approach into Morganfield, 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 Morganfield, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$36.33 one way
$72.67 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $39.89 | $79.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $44.72 | $89.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.31 | $102.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.7 | 0 | $24.40 | $11.16 |
| Efficient EV | 58.1 | 0 | $20.34 | $9.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93 | 1 | $32.54 | $14.87 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Lexington on Wednesday
Local time
6:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Morganfield on Wednesday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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