The drive from Lexington, KY to Audubon Park, KY covers 79.6 miles and takes about 1h 39m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Frankfort Road, New Circle Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 44.8 miles on I 64.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.44 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
39.8 miles from Lexington, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 79.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 39m highway drive covering 79.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and Frankfort Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 44.8 miles on I 64.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 44.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Frankfort Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near KY 4 / New Circle Road.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 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; at 71.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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 straight / slight right lanes.
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
7
71.5 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward I 264 East: Watterson Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12
Toward I 264 East: Watterson Expressway
7
77.4 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward KY 864: Poplar Level Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 14
Toward KY 864: Poplar Level Road
9
77.6 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Louisville Zoo, Louisville Mega Cavern
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Louisville Zoo, Louisville Mega Cavern
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
44.8 mi
49m
Frankfort Road
6 mi
6m
New Circle Road
5.8 mi
7m
Versailles Road
5.5 mi
7m
Henry Watterson Expressway
4.9 mi
6m
Lexington Road
3.6 mi
4m
Frankfort Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Versailles Bypass
1.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 44.8 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, KY and Audubon Park, 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 straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 5BToward US 60 West: VersaillesUse the right lane.
7
Continue on US 60
4.7 mi·6 min·Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
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
0.8 mi·1 min·Versailles Road
13
Turn left
0.3 mi·43 sec
14
Merge onto I 64
45 mi·49 min·I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 12Toward I 264 East: Watterson ExpresswayUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 264 West: Watterson Expressway
17
Merge onto I 264
4.9 mi·6 min·Henry Watterson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 14Toward KY 864: Poplar Level RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
366 ft·5 sec
Toward Louisville Zoo, Louisville Mega CavernUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Turn straight onto Poplar Level Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Poplar Level Road
21
Turn left onto Audubon Parkway
120 ft·5 sec·Audubon Parkway
22
Turn slight left onto Nightingale Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Nightingale Road
23
Keep slight left at fork onto Cardinal Drive
0.2 mi·37 sec·Cardinal Drive
24
Turn right onto Dove Road
0.1 mi·34 sec·Dove Road
25
Arrive at destination
Dove Road
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 39.8 miles from Lexington, KY, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.8 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.8 miles or 50m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Audubon Park, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lexington, KY
This is one driving day of about 79.6 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Lexington, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 44.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.8 mi from Lexington, KY
· 50m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 2.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.44 one way
$24.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.66
$27.33
premium
$4.89
$15.32
$30.64
diesel
$5.61
$17.57
$35.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.9
0
$8.36
$3.82
Efficient EV
19.9
0
$6.96
$3.18
EV Truck/SUV
31.8
0
$11.14
$5.09
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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 17, 2026
Origin
Lexington, KY
Afternoon
in Lexington on Friday
Local time
4:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
S 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Audubon Park, KY
Afternoon
in Audubon Park on Friday
Local time
4:14 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 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 39m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lexington, KY to Audubon Park, KY covers 79.6 miles and takes about 1h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Frankfort Road, New Circle Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.8 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 $12.44 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 79.6 miles you will encounter 15 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: 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; at 71.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lexington, KY to Audubon Park, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
