Origin
Tompkinsville, KY
Afternoon in Tompkinsville on Sunday
Local time
3:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tompkinsville, KY to Lexington, KY
Drive Time
2h 42m
Distance
142.4 mi
229 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 32m
★
6 AM
2h 43m
8 AM
3h 4m
10 AM
2h 50m
12 PM
2h 48m
3 PM
2h 51m
5 PM
3h 3m
8 PM
2h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Tompkinsville, KY to Lexington, KY covers 142.4 miles and takes about 2h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Main Street, Edmonton Road, Greensburg Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.63 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
71.2 miles from Tompkinsville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 42m drive with frequent turns across 142.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Main 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 Tompkinsville, KY to Lexington, KY is easy. At 2h 42m 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 Tompkinsville, KY to Lexington, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Edmonton Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Greensburg Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Somerset | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cumberland Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 127 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wilderness Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tompkinsville, KY and Lexington, KY.
1
Start on West 4th Street
62 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 4th Street
2
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
3
Continue on Edmonton Road
20 mi
·
25 min
·
Edmonton Road
4
Turn left onto Greensburg Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Greensburg Street
5
Take the ramp slight right toward Somerset
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Somerset
6
Merge slight left onto Cumberland Parkway
32 mi
·
34 min
·
Cumberland Parkway
7
Take the exit slight right toward US 127: Jamestown, Russell Springs
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
US 127: Jamestown, Russell Springs
8
Merge left
48 mi
·
56 min
9
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
West Main Street
10
Turn left onto Wilderness Road
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Wilderness Road
11
Continue on East Lexington Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Lexington Avenue
12
Continue on Lexington Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lexington Road
13
Continue on Lexington Road
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Lexington Road
14
Continue on Chenault Bridge Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Chenault Bridge Road
15
Turn left onto Lexington Road
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Lexington Road
16
Continue on Danville Road
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Danville Road
17
Turn right onto South Main Street
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
South Main Street
18
Turn right onto Lexington Road
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Lexington Road
19
Continue on Nicholasville Road
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Nicholasville Road
20
Take the exit slight right toward KY 4 East: New Circle Road
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
KY 4 East: New Circle Road
21
Merge slight left onto New Circle Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
New Circle Road
22
Take the exit slight right toward KY 1974: Lexington
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
KY 1974: Lexington
23
Turn right onto Tates Creek Road
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Tates Creek Road
24
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Gainesway Drive
25
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
262 ft
·
9 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
26
Arrive at your destination
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 71.2 miles from Tompkinsville, KY, or about 1h 21m 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.2 miles or 1h 21m 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 13m
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 Tompkinsville, 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 Tompkinsville, KY
This is one driving day of about 142.4 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tompkinsville, 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 71.2 mi from Tompkinsville, KY · 1h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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 71.2 miles from Tompkinsville, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lexington, 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
$21.63 one way
$43.26 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $23.84 | $47.69 |
| premium | $4.80 | $26.88 | $53.76 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $31.64 | $63.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.95 | $6.84 |
| Efficient EV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.46 | $5.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57 | 0 | $19.94 | $9.11 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Destination
Lexington, KY
Afternoon in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
4:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
20 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 42m 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 Tompkinsville, KY to Lexington, KY covers 142.4 miles and takes about 2h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Main Street, Edmonton Road, Greensburg Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.2 miles from Tompkinsville, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.63 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 Tompkinsville, KY to Lexington, KY is easy. At 2h 42m 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 Tompkinsville, KY to Lexington, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tompkinsville, KY to Lexington, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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