Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
68.9 mi
111 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Middletown, KY
Brady Wilson
Nicholasville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Middletown, KY to Nicholasville, KY covers 68.9 miles and takes about 1h 24m 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, Keene Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.8 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 68.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
The drive from Middletown, KY to Nicholasville, KY covers 68.9 miles and takes about 1h 24m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Madison Avenue.
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 68.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 (North Madison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 60 / Shelbyville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto North Madison Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 60 / Shelbyville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 64 East: Shelbyville, Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 60: Frankfort, Versailles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Versailles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Middletown, KY and Nicholasville, KY, road signs point toward Lexington and Versailles.
Lexington
Versailles
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 38.8 mi | 41m |
| Frankfort Road | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| Keene Road | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Pinckard Pike | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Keene-Versailles Road | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Troy Pike | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Shelbyville Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Frankfort Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Middletown, KY and Nicholasville, KY.
Start on Main Street
Turn right onto North Madison Avenue
Turn right onto US 60
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 265; KY 841
Take the exit
Merge onto I 64
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 60
Continue on US 60
Continue on US 60
Turn slight right onto US 60 Business; US 62
Continue on US 60 Business; US 62
Continue on KY 33
Turn left onto KY 169
Continue on KY 169
Continue on KY 169
Turn right onto KY 169; KY 1267
Continue on KY 169
Continue on KY 169
Turn left onto KY 169
Turn right onto US 27 Business
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.4 mi from Middletown, KY · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 34.4 miles from Middletown, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Nicholasville, KY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$10.77 one way
$21.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.83 | $23.65 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.26 | $26.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.21 | $30.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.23 | $3.31 |
| Efficient EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.6 | 0 | $9.65 | $4.41 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Middletown on Friday
Local time
2:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Nicholasville on Friday
Local time
2:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Cloudy
80°F
Versailles, KY
34 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
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