This 80.3-mile drive from Taylor Mill, KY to Lexington, KY is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 43 minutes. Designed as a single-day excursion, you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $13, making it an economical option. The route is primarily highway-focused, offering a direct path through the Southeast region of Kentucky. It's a practical choice for anyone looking for an efficient way to get between these two points without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.2 miles from Taylor Mill, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 80.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience on this route, with about 70% of the drive utilizing major roadways like I-75. The longest stretch you'll encounter without a significant turn or exit is a continuous 55.8 miles on I-75. This means much of your time will be spent on faster-paced roads, allowing for consistent travel. While primarily interstate, the initial and final segments might involve local roads like Taylor Mill Road and Walton Nicholson Pike, offering a slight change of pace before rejoining the highway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 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 55.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Taylor Mill Road. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 14.2 miles in near KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.3 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 14.2 miles (KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
14.2 mi into trip|~24m in|KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway
Turn right onto KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
14.6 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 South: Lexington
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 75 South: Lexington
6
14.8 mi into trip|~25m in|I 75
Merge onto I 75 toward I 75 South: Lexington
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 South: Lexington
8
70.7 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward KY 922: Airport, Lexington
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 115
Toward KY 922: Airport, Lexington
6
70.9 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|KY 922 / Newtown Pike
Turn right onto KY 922 / Newtown Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
55.8 mi
59m
Taylor Mill Road
7.8 mi
13m
Walton Nicholson Pike
4.1 mi
6m
Newtown Pike
3.3 mi
4m
Chinoe Road
1.2 mi
2m
Tates Creek Road
0.9 mi
1m
Oliver Lewis Way
0.8 mi
1m
Euclid Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 55.8 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Taylor Mill, KY and Lexington, KY.
1
Start on KY 3716
0.7 mi·1 min·Taylor Mill Road
2
Turn left onto KY 16
7.1 mi·12 min·Taylor Mill Road
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on KY 16
4.1 mi·6 min·Walton Nicholson Pike
4
Continue on KY 16
0.4 mi·37 sec·Walton Nicholson Road
5
Turn right onto US 25; KY 16
0.6 mi·54 sec·Dixie Highway
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on US 25; KY 16
0.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
7
Turn right onto Old Beaver Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·Old Beaver Road
8
Continue on Stephenson Mill Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Stephenson Mill Road
9
Keep slight left at fork onto School Road
0.5 mi·1 min·School Road
10
Turn right onto KY 14; KY 16
0.4 mi·42 sec·Mary Grubbs Highway
Use the right lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 75 South: LexingtonUse the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 75
56 mi·59 min·I 75
Toward I 75 South: LexingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 115Toward KY 922: Airport, LexingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto KY 922
3.3 mi·4 min·Newtown Pike
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on KY 922
0.8 mi·1 min·Oliver Lewis Way
16
Continue on Bolivar Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Bolivar Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto South Upper Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·South Upper Street
18
Continue on South Limestone
0.2 mi·32 sec·South Limestone
19
Turn right onto Avenue of Champions
0.3 mi·42 sec·Avenue of Champions
20
Continue on Euclid Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Euclid Avenue
21
Turn right onto East High Street
0.1 mi·13 sec·East High Street
22
Continue on Tates Creek Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Tates Creek Road
23
Turn slight left
493 ft·18 sec
24
Continue on Alumni Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Alumni Drive
25
Turn right onto Chinoe Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Chinoe Road
26
Continue on Greentree Road
0.2 mi·32 sec·Greentree Road
27
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
0.3 mi·41 sec·Gainesway Drive
28
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
261 ft·9 sec·Coldstream Drive
29
Arrive at destination
Coldstream Drive
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your day in Lexington. Since there are no specific recommended stops, you can easily break up the drive with quick fuel or rest breaks as needed, especially during the 55.8-mile stretch on I-75. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be spaced out on longer highway segments. Your estimated fuel cost is $13, so budget accordingly for this efficient journey.
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 40.2 miles from Taylor Mill, KY, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 18 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.2 miles or 53m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lexington, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Taylor Mill, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Taylor Mill, KY
This is one driving day of about 80.3 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Taylor Mill, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 55.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.2 mi from Taylor Mill, KY
· 53m into the drive
The midpoint is around 40.2 miles from Taylor Mill, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lexington, KY
The final approach into Lexington, KY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 80.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.55 one way
$25.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.78
$27.57
premium
$4.89
$15.45
$30.91
diesel
$5.61
$17.73
$35.46
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: 28.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.1
0
$8.43
$3.85
Efficient EV
20.1
0
$7.03
$3.21
EV Truck/SUV
32.1
0
$11.24
$5.14
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Taylor Mill, KY
Afternoon
in Taylor Mill on Friday
Local time
3:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lexington, KY
Afternoon
in Lexington on Friday
Local time
3:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Williamstown, KY
40 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
19 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
1h 43m 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 Taylor Mill, KY to Lexington, KY covers 80.3 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, Taylor Mill Road, Walton Nicholson Pike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.2 miles from Taylor Mill, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.55 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.3 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 14.2 miles (KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Taylor Mill, KY to Lexington, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
