How far is Ashland, KY from Bardstown, KY?

The driving distance from Ashland, KY to Bardstown, KY is about 182 miles (292.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 160.5 miles (258.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 49m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
182.02 mi
03h 24m
Flight
160.52 mi
258.33 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ashland.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
160.52 mi
Kilometers
258.33 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
182.02 mi
Kilometers
292.94 km
Drive Time
03h 24m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bardstown
Fri, Oct 16, 4:52 PM EDT
Return by in Ashland
Fri, Oct 16, 8:17 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ashland
2026-10-16T13:27
Arrive Bardstown
Fri, Oct 16, 4:52 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:25 AM to 11:25 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:10 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ashland
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Mount Sterling
KY

City in Montgomery County, Kentucky

From Ashland
90.8 mi
01h 42m
To Bardstown
91.2 mi
01h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Friday

Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Oct 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph W
Destination
58°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Fri, Oct 16 3:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ashland and Bardstown.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ashland and Bardstown.

  1. 1

    Start on 17th Street

    70 m · 14 sec · 17th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Greenup Avenue

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Greenup Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Center Street

    1.3 km · 56 sec · Center Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Walnut Street

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Walnut Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Louisa Street

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Louisa Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Louisa Road

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Louisa Road

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right

    1682 ft · 41 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    108.6 mi · 1 hr 57 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West, I 75 North: Louisville, Cincinnati

    2.4 mi · 4 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 27, US 68: Paris, Lexington

    2152 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Turn right onto North Broadway

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Broadway

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West New Circle Road

    5.8 mi · 8 min · West New Circle Road

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West: Versailles

    1848 ft · 45 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Versailles Road

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Lexington Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Elizabethtown

    1.1 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

    46.2 mi · 50 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Bardstown

    1611 ft · 39 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Springfield Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Springfield Road

  20. 20

    Continue on East Stephen Foster Avenue

    1.3 km · 1 min · East Stephen Foster Avenue

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout toward Court Square

    61 m · 3 sec · Court Square

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Court Square

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ashland and Bardstown.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
22 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Louisa Road
110 mi · 60%
Bluegrass Parkway
46.5 mi · 26%
West New Circle Road
5.81 mi · 3%
Versailles Road
4.51 mi · 2%
Greenup Avenue
3.36 mi · 2%
I 64 West
2.43 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Louisa Road

Merge slight left

109 mi · 01h 57m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.5 mi
160.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mount Sterling
01h 42m from Ashland
Leave By
10:10 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers leaving Ashland and Mostly Clear near Bardstown.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ashland to Bardstown?

The road trip is about 182 miles (292.9 km) and usually takes 03h 24m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mount Sterling is a useful midpoint, sitting about 90.8 miles from Ashland and 91.2 miles from Bardstown.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 160.5 miles (258.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:10 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.55 one way or $51.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Ashland and Mostly Clear near Bardstown.

Stop Ideas Near Mount Sterling

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Mount Sterling, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Mount Sterling.

RAIL

Maysville

68 mi away
West Front St & Rosemary Clooney St
RAIL

South Portsmouth–South Shore station

113 mi away
Main St & US 23

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ashland and Bardstown. Straight-line distance: 160.52 mi (258.33 km).

Ashland

#1 Ashland

City in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States

Population20,070
Coordinates38.4784100, -82.6379400
Altitude168
CountryUnited States
Bardstown

#2 Bardstown

City in Kentucky

Population13,302
Coordinates37.8092300, -85.4669000
Altitude197
CountryUnited States
Start: Ashland (-82.63794, 38.47841)
End: Bardstown (-85.4669, 37.80923)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 293 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.42 gal
24.31 L · about $25.55
Round trip
$51.10
12.84 gal · 48.62 L
Estimated CO2
57.1 kg one way
Round trip: 114.1 kg / 252 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.98 $25.55 $51.10
Mid-grade $4.55 $29.19 $58.37
Premium $4.98 $31.98 $63.96
Diesel $6.12 $39.29 $78.58

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Kentucky · Oct 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Ashland and Bardstown. The current time is 13:27:58.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.