The drive from Nicholasville, KY to Tompkinsville, KY covers 125.3 miles and takes about 2h 30m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Hustonville Road, Cumberland Parkway, North Main Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.2 miles on Hustonville Road.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.59 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
62.7 miles from Nicholasville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 125.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Nicholasville, KY to Tompkinsville, KY covers 125.3 miles and takes about 2h 30m, 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 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hustonville Road 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 14.6 miles in near KY 34 / Chenault Bridge Road.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Nicholasville, KY to Tompkinsville, KY is easy. At 2h 30m with 33% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14.6 miles (KY 34 / Chenault Bridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (US 127 / South 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 70.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
14.6 mi into trip|~17m in|KY 34 / Chenault Bridge Road
Turn right onto KY 34 / Chenault Bridge Road
Navigation decision point
4
21.9 mi into trip|~29m in|US 127 / South 4th Street
Turn left onto US 127 / South 4th Street
Navigation decision point
4
70.1 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward Cumberland Parkway West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Cumberland Parkway West
5
102.5 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward US 68: Edmonton, Greensburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 68: Edmonton, Greensburg
4
102.8 mi into trip|~2h in|US 68 / Greensburg Road
Turn left onto US 68 / Greensburg 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 Tompkinsville, KY, road signs point toward Cumberland Parkway West and Greensburg.
Cumberland Parkway West
70.1 mi in|~1h 24m
Greensburg
102.5 mi in|~1h 59m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Hustonville Road
47.2 mi
54m
Cumberland Parkway
32 mi
34m
North Main Street
14.1 mi
20m
Lexington Road
10.7 mi
13m
KY 163
9.3 mi
11m
Nicholasville Bypass
6 mi
7m
Chenault Bridge Road
1.4 mi
2m
Greensburg Street
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Hustonville Road
— 47.2 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nicholasville, KY and Tompkinsville, KY.
1
Start on US 27 Business
2.2 mi·3 min·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 27
6.0 mi·7 min·Nicholasville Bypass
3
Continue on US 27
6.4 mi·7 min·Lexington Road
4
Turn right onto KY 34
1.4 mi·2 min·Chenault Bridge Road
5
Continue on KY 34
3.6 mi·5 min·Lexington Road
6
Continue on KY 34
0.7 mi·1 min·Lexington Road
7
Continue on KY 34
0.9 mi·1 min·East Lexington Avenue
8
Turn left onto KY 34
0.3 mi·27 sec·Wilderness Road
9
Turn right onto US 150; KY 34; KY 52
0.4 mi·47 sec·West Main Street
10
Turn left onto US 127
1.0 mi·1 min·South 4th Street
11
Continue on US 127
47 mi·54 min·Hustonville Road
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward Cumberland Parkway West
13
Merge onto Cumberland Parkway
32 mi·34 min·Cumberland Parkway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward US 68: Edmonton, Greensburg
15
Turn left onto US 68
350 ft·4 sec·Greensburg Road
16
Continue on US 68
1.1 mi·1 min·Greensburg Street
17
Turn straight
207 ft·3 sec
18
Turn slight right onto US 68; KY 80
12 mi·16 min·North Main Street
19
Continue on KY 163
9.3 mi·11 min·KY 163
20
Turn right onto KY 63
61 ft·1 sec·West 4th Street
21
Arrive at destination
KY 63
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.7 miles from Nicholasville, KY, or about 1h 16m 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 28 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.7 miles or 1h 16m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tompkinsville, 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 125.3 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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.
The longest stretch is on Hustonville Road for about 47.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.7 mi from Nicholasville, KY
· 1h 16m 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...
The US won a significant victory early in the Civil War at the Battle of Mill Springs. Explore the rolling fields of Kentucky where the battle took place and learn about that state's strategic importa...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 56.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.59 one way
$39.18 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.51
$43.02
premium
$4.89
$24.11
$48.23
diesel
$5.61
$27.66
$55.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.6
0
$13.16
$6.01
Efficient EV
31.3
0
$10.96
$5.01
EV Truck/SUV
50.1
0
$17.54
$8.02
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
Morning
in Nicholasville on Saturday
Local time
9:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tompkinsville, KY
Morning
in Tompkinsville on Saturday
Local time
8:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Liberty, KY
63 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
2h 30m 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 Tompkinsville, KY covers 125.3 miles and takes about 2h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Hustonville Road, Cumberland Parkway, North Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.7 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 $19.59 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.
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 Tompkinsville, KY is easy. At 2h 30m with 33% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.6 miles (KY 34 / Chenault Bridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (US 127 / South 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 70.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Between Nicholasville, KY and Tompkinsville, KY, road signs point toward Cumberland Parkway West and Greensburg.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Camp Nelson National Monument and Mill Springs Battlefield 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.
