Origin
Richmond, KY
Afternoon in Richmond on Friday
Local time
4:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richmond, KY to Monticello, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
38m
Distance
27.8 mi
45 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richmond, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Monticello, KY
Vietnam Hidden Light
Trip Overview
This straightforward 27.8-mile drive from Richmond, KY to Monticello, KY takes approximately 38 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-75 and New Circle Road before transitioning to Athens Boonesboro Road, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of around $4, this short journey through the Southeast region of Kentucky is an easy and efficient option. It's a perfect choice if you're looking for a quick connection between these two points without needing an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 27.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with about 49% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 13.5 miles on I-75, offering a chance to maintain a steady speed. As you transition off the interstate onto roads like Athens Boonesboro Road, the character of the drive will likely change, offering a different feel behind the wheel. This blend of faster highway segments and potentially more local road conditions defines the driving personality of this trip.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 13.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near I 75.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 27.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 38m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward KY 418: Lexington, Athens
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 104
Toward KY 418: Lexington, Athens
5
16.4 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
8
25.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward US 27: Nicholasville, Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 19
Toward US 27: Nicholasville, Lexington
6
25.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
US 27 / Nicholasville Road
Turn left onto US 27 / Nicholasville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Richmond, KY and Monticello, KY, road signs point toward Athens and Lexington.
Athens
16.2 mi in
|
~18m
Lexington
25.1 mi in
|
~32m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 13.5 mi | 14m |
| New Circle Road | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Athens Boonesboro Road | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Lexington Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Richmond Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Man O War Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Reynolds Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Keithshire Way | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 13.5 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, KY and Monticello, KY.
1
Start on KY 388
104 ft
·
6 sec
·
North 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on US 25 Business; US 421 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Road
4
Turn left onto US 25; US 421
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Lexington Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
6
Merge onto I 75
14 mi
·
14 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 104
Toward KY 418: Lexington, Athens
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
361 ft
·
11 sec
9
Continue on KY 418
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Athens Boonesboro Road
10
Continue on US 25; US 421
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Richmond Road
11
Turn left onto Man O War Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Man O War Boulevard
12
Turn right onto Alumni Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Alumni Drive
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward KY 4 West
14
Merge onto KY 4
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 19
Toward US 27: Nicholasville, Lexington
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto US 27
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Nicholasville Road
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto West Reynolds Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Reynolds Road
18
Enter roundabout onto Keithshire Way
307 ft
·
6 sec
·
Keithshire Way
19
Continue on Keithshire Way
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Keithshire Way
20
Turn left onto Holwyn Road
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Holwyn Road
21
Turn left onto Halifax Drive
507 ft
·
17 sec
·
Halifax Drive
22
Arrive at destination
Halifax Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.35 one way
$8.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.77 | $9.54 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.35 | $10.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.14 | $12.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.92 | $1.33 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.43 | $1.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Monticello, KY
Afternoon in Monticello on Friday
Local time
4:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
28 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
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 Richmond, KY to Monticello, KY covers 27.8 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, New Circle Road, Athens Boonesboro Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.9 miles from Richmond, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.35 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.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 27.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 38m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Richmond, KY and Monticello, KY, road signs point toward Athens and Lexington.
Yes. Nearby national parks include 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.
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