The drive from Nicholasville, KY to Hodgenville, KY covers 84.9 miles and takes about 1h 47m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Bluegrass Parkway, New Haven Road, Bardstown Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.2 miles on Bluegrass Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.27 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
42.5 miles from Nicholasville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 84.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Nicholasville, KY to Hodgenville, KY covers 84.9 miles and takes about 1h 47m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bluegrass Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 47.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near KY 169 / West Oak Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Nicholasville, KY to Hodgenville, KY is easy. At 1h 47m with 56% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (KY 169 / West Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (KY 169 / North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.3 miles (KY 33 / Troy Pike): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|KY 169 / West Oak Street
Turn left onto KY 169 / West Oak Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|KY 169 / North 3rd Street
At end of road, turn right onto KY 169 / North 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
13.3 mi into trip|~19m in|KY 33 / Troy Pike
At end of road, turn right onto KY 33 / Troy Pike
Navigation decision point
5
62.1 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|US 31E Truck
Take the exit onto US 31E Truck toward Bardstown, New Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Bardstown, New Haven
4
62.5 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|US 31E / New Haven Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 31E / New Haven Road
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 Nicholasville, KY and Hodgenville, KY, road signs point toward Bardstown and New Haven.
Bardstown
62.1 mi in|~1h 12m|via US 31E Truck
New Haven
62.1 mi in|~1h 12m|via US 31E Truck
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Bluegrass Parkway
47.2 mi
50m
New Haven Road
10.3 mi
15m
Bardstown Road
10 mi
14m
Keene Road
5.3 mi
7m
Pinckard Pike
4.5 mi
6m
Keene-Versailles Road
2.1 mi
2m
North Main Street
1.8 mi
2m
Troy Pike
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Bluegrass Parkway
— 47.2 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nicholasville, KY and Hodgenville, KY.
1
Start on US 27 Business
0.1 mi·20 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto KY 169
0.2 mi·19 sec·West Oak Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto KY 169
0.8 mi·1 min·North 3rd Street
4
Continue on KY 169
5.1 mi·7 min·Keene Road
5
Continue on KY 169; KY 1267
0.2 mi·20 sec·Keene Road
6
Turn left onto KY 169
0.4 mi·39 sec·Pinchard Pike
7
Continue on KY 169
2.1 mi·2 min·Keene-Versailles Road
8
Continue on KY 169
4.5 mi·6 min·Pinckard Pike
9
At end of road, turn right onto KY 33
1.3 mi·2 min·Troy Pike
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·45 sec
11
Merge onto Bluegrass Parkway
47 mi·50 min·Bluegrass Parkway
12
Take the exit onto US 31E Truck
0.3 mi·46 sec·US 31E Truck
Toward Bardstown, New Haven
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 31E
10 mi·15 min·New Haven Road
14
Continue on US 31E
1.7 mi·2 min·North Main Street
15
Continue on US 31E
10 mi·14 min·Bardstown Road
16
Continue on US 31E; KY 84
0.5 mi·46 sec·East Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 31E; KY 84; KY 210
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 42.5 miles from Nicholasville, KY, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.2 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.5 miles or 51m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hodgenville, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Nicholasville, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Nicholasville, KY
This is one driving day of about 84.9 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Nicholasville, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Bluegrass Parkway for about 47.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.5 mi from Nicholasville, KY
· 51m 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.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
For over a century people from around the world have come to rural Central Kentucky to honor the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped...
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
$13.27 one way
$26.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.57
$29.15
premium
$4.89
$16.34
$32.68
diesel
$5.61
$18.74
$37.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.5
0
$8.91
$4.08
Efficient EV
21.2
0
$7.43
$3.40
EV Truck/SUV
34
0
$11.89
$5.43
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Nicholasville, KY
Afternoon
in Nicholasville on Friday
Local time
3:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hodgenville, KY
Afternoon
in Hodgenville on Friday
Local time
3:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Bloomfield, KY
42 mi in
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
21 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 47m 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 Nicholasville, KY to Hodgenville, KY covers 84.9 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bluegrass Parkway, New Haven Road, Bardstown Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.5 miles from Nicholasville, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.27 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.
The drive from Nicholasville, KY to Hodgenville, KY is easy. At 1h 47m with 56% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (KY 169 / West Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (KY 169 / North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.3 miles (KY 33 / Troy Pike): Navigation decision point.
Between Nicholasville, KY and Hodgenville, KY, road signs point toward Bardstown and New Haven.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park and Camp Nelson National Monument.
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.
