Origin
Pikeville, KY
Afternoon in Pikeville on Sunday
Local time
4:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pikeville, KY to Lexington-Fayette, KY
Drive Time
2h 38m
Distance
138.9 mi
223 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 28m
★
6 AM
2h 38m
8 AM
2h 59m
10 AM
2h 46m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 47m
5 PM
2h 58m
8 PM
2h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pikeville, KY
Tom Fisk
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Kristopher Hines
Trip Overview
Traveling from Pikeville to Lexington-Fayette covers 138.9 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 38 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is relatively efficient, you can easily complete it as a single-day trip without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $21 on fuel for the transit, making it a cost-effective way to move from the southeast corner of Kentucky toward the center of the state. You will primarily utilize a combination of US 23, KY 114, and the Mountain Parkway to navigate the transition between these regions. It is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that is ideal for travelers who prefer a direct connection between two major Kentucky hubs.
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
69.4 miles from Pikeville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a drive defined by high-speed efficiency, with 95% of the route consisting of highway travel. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Mountain Parkway, which includes your longest uninterrupted stretch of 57 miles. While the route begins with local connections like US 23 and KY 114, the character quickly shifts to a consistent highway pace. This setup ensures you maintain steady progress throughout the 138.9-mile distance. Navigating this path feels predictable and purposeful, allowing you to settle into a rhythm once you reach the main parkway sections.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Mountain Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 57 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Mountain Parkway and KY 114. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Caroline Avenue.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 138.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 (Caroline Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Hambley Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 134.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Caroline Avenue
Turn right onto Caroline Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Hambley Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto Hambley Boulevard
Navigation decision point
7
134.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 South: Richmond, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 81
Toward I 75 South: Richmond, Knoxville
8
135.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward US 60: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 110
Toward US 60: Lexington
5
136.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 33m in
|
US 60 / Winchester Road
Turn right onto US 60 / Winchester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Parkway | 57 mi | 1h 1m |
| KY 114 | 36.3 mi | 40m |
| US 23 | 23.4 mi | 27m |
| I 64 | 15.5 mi | 16m |
| Winchester Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Hambley Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East New Circle Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Mayo Trail | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Mountain Parkway
— 57 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pikeville, KY and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
1
Start on 2nd Street
114 ft
·
7 sec
·
2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Caroline Avenue
260 ft
·
12 sec
·
Caroline Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto Hambley Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Hambley Boulevard
4
Turn right onto KY 1384
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Loraine Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto KY 1460
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Mayo Trail
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
7
Continue on US 23; US 119; US 460; KY 80
12 mi
·
14 min
·
US 23; US 119; US 460; KY 80
8
Continue on US 23; US 460; KY 80
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 23; US 460; KY 80
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
10
Turn left onto KY 114
36 mi
·
40 min
·
KY 114
11
Continue on Mountain Parkway
57 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
Mountain Parkway
12
Merge onto I 64
16 mi
·
16 min
·
I 64
13
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Exit 81
Toward I 75 South: Richmond, Knoxville
14
Merge onto I 75
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 75
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 110
Toward US 60: Lexington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto US 60
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Winchester Road
Use the none lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road
18
Merge onto KY 4
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East New Circle Road
19
Turn left onto Floyd Drive
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Floyd Drive
20
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
41 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple since the 2-hour and 38-minute duration offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule. Budget for one planned stop to break up the drive, which is manageable given the total length. Since you are spending about $21 on gas, keep an eye on your fuel levels before leaving Pikeville to ensure you have enough to cover the distance without unnecessary detours. Because the route is heavily reliant on the Mountain Parkway, check for any active maintenance or traffic alerts on that specific stretch before you head out. Taking advantage of the shorter duration allows you to arrive in Lexington-Fayette fresh and ready for whatever your afternoon or evening plans entail.
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 69.4 miles from Pikeville, KY, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.4 miles or 1h 20m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lexington-Fayette, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pikeville, 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 Pikeville, KY
This is one driving day of about 138.9 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Pikeville, 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 Mountain Parkway for about 57 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.4 mi from Pikeville, KY · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 69.4 miles from Pikeville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lexington-Fayette, KY
The final approach into Lexington-Fayette, 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 Lexington-Fayette, 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
$21.10 one way
$42.19 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $23.26 | $46.52 |
| premium | $4.80 | $26.22 | $52.44 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $30.86 | $61.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.7 | 0 | $14.58 | $6.67 |
| Efficient EV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.15 | $5.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.6 | 0 | $19.45 | $8.89 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Afternoon in Lexington-Fayette on Sunday
Local time
4:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
7 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 38m 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 Pikeville, KY to Lexington-Fayette, KY covers 138.9 miles and takes about 2h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mountain Parkway, KY 114, US 23. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.4 miles from Pikeville, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.10 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 138.9 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (Caroline Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Hambley Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 134.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Pikeville, KY to Lexington-Fayette, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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