Origin
Nicholasville, KY
Morning in Nicholasville on Wednesday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nicholasville, KY to Morehead, KY
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 19m
Distance
172.1 mi
277 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 8m
★
6 AM
3h 20m
8 AM
3h 44m
10 AM
3h 28m
12 PM
3h 26m
3 PM
3h 30m
5 PM
3h 43m
8 PM
3h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nicholasville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Morehead, KY
Mike Fox
Trip Overview
The drive from Nicholasville, KY to Morehead, KY covers 172.1 miles and takes about 3h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Oak Street, North 3rd Street, Keene Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.91 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
86 miles from Nicholasville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 19m drive with frequent turns across 172.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Oak Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Nicholasville, KY to Morehead, KY is easy. At 3h 19m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Nicholasville, KY to Morehead, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Oak Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North 3rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Keene Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pinchard Pike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Keene-Versailles Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pinckard Pike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Troy Pike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bluegrass Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West Oak Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nicholasville, KY and Morehead, KY.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto West Oak Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
West Oak Street
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto North 3rd Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North 3rd Street
4
Continue on Keene Road
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Keene Road
5
Continue on Keene Road
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Keene Road
6
Turn left onto Pinchard Pike
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Pinchard Pike
7
Continue on Keene-Versailles Road
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Keene-Versailles Road
8
Continue on Pinckard Pike
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Pinckard Pike
9
At the end of the road, turn right onto Troy Pike
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Troy Pike
10
Take the ramp slight left
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
11
Merge slight left onto Bluegrass Parkway
68 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
Bluegrass Parkway
12
Keep slight left
0.9 mi
·
1 min
13
Merge slight left
1.2 mi
·
1 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
15
Keep slight right to continue on US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
16
Keep slight left to continue on Paducah, Elizabethtown
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Paducah, Elizabethtown
17
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
84 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
18
Take the exit slight right toward KY 181: Greenville, Sacramento
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
KY 181: Greenville, Sacramento
19
Turn right onto St-1065
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
St-1065
20
Turn right onto St-1047
0.8 mi
·
3 min
·
St-1047
21
Turn left onto St-1131
387 ft
·
18 sec
·
St-1131
22
Turn left onto St-1122
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
St-1122
23
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 86 miles from Nicholasville, KY, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
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 86 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morehead, 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.
+
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 Nicholasville, KY
This is one driving day of about 172.1 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Nicholasville, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86 mi from Nicholasville, KY · 1h 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86 miles from Nicholasville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Morehead, KY
The final approach into Morehead, 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 Morehead, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.91 one way
$53.81 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.54 | $59.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $33.12 | $66.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.00 | $76.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.6 | 0 | $18.07 | $8.26 |
| Efficient EV | 43 | 0 | $15.06 | $6.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.8 | 0 | $24.09 | $11.01 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Morehead, KY
Morning in Morehead on Wednesday
Local time
7:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
3h 19m 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 Morehead, KY covers 172.1 miles and takes about 3h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Oak Street, North 3rd Street, Keene Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86 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 $26.91 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Nicholasville, KY to Morehead, KY is easy. At 3h 19m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Nicholasville, KY to Morehead, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Nicholasville, KY to Morehead, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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