How far is Auburn, KY from Lexington-Fayette, KY?

The driving distance from Auburn, KY to Lexington-Fayette, KY is about 177.7 miles (286 km), with a travel time of about 02h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 148.2 miles (238.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 36m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
177.72 mi
02h 48m
Flight
148.19 mi
238.49 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Auburn.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
148.19 mi
Kilometers
238.49 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
177.72 mi
Kilometers
286.02 km
Drive Time
02h 48m

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 02h 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lexington-Fayette
Fri, May 1, 4:15 AM EDT
Return by in Auburn
Fri, May 1, 6:03 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Auburn
2026-05-01T00:26
Arrive Lexington-Fayette
Fri, May 1, 3:15 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
11:48 AM to 1:48 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:54 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Auburn
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Elizabethtown
KY

County seat of Hardin County, Kentucky, United States

From Auburn
88.8 mi
01h 24m
To Lexington-Fayette
88.9 mi
01h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NW
Destination
63°F
Friday

Isolated Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Auburn and Lexington-Fayette.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Auburn and Lexington-Fayette.

  1. 1

    Start on Pearl Street

    66 m · 15 sec · Pearl Street

  2. 2

    Turn left

    145 m · 37 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Caldwell Street

    60 m · 13 sec · Caldwell Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    2887 ft · 57 sec · East Main Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Bowling Green Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Bowling Green Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Bowling Green Road

    4.6 mi · 5 min · Bowling Green Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Russellville Road

    8 mi · 9 min · Russellville Road

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 165 South

    1676 ft · 41 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    4.8 mi · 5 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Louisville

    1997 ft · 59 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Louisville

    1.1 km · 54 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Interstate Highway 65

    71.9 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Interstate Highway 65

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown

    3252 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

    70.7 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Frankfort

    571 ft · 16 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Lexington Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Versailles Road

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road

  18. 18

    Take the exit straight toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road

    2735 ft · 1 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto New Circle Road

    7.1 mi · 11 min · New Circle Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Floyd Drive

    937 ft · 27 sec · Floyd Drive

  21. 21

    Turn left

    560 ft · 41 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Auburn and Lexington-Fayette.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Interstate Highway 65
71.9 mi · 40%
Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi · 40%
Russellville Road
8.01 mi · 5%
New Circle Road
7.06 mi · 4%
Bowling Green Road
5.28 mi · 3%
I 165 South
5.07 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Interstate Highway 65

Merge slight left onto Interstate Highway 65

71.9 mi · 01h 17m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 48m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.5 mi
148.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elizabethtown
01h 24m from Auburn
Leave By
12:54 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Auburn and Isolated Rain Showers near Lexington-Fayette.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Auburn to Lexington-Fayette?

The road trip is about 177.7 miles (286 km) and usually takes 02h 48m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Elizabethtown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 88.8 miles from Auburn and 88.9 miles from Lexington-Fayette.

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

The direct path is about 148.2 miles (238.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:54 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.64 one way or $47.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.7 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Auburn and Lexington-Fayette, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Auburn and Isolated Rain Showers near Lexington-Fayette.

Stop Ideas Near Elizabethtown

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Elizabethtown, 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 Elizabethtown.

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

63 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Auburn and Lexington-Fayette. Straight-line distance: 148.19 mi (238.49 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Auburn

City in Kentucky

Population1,404
Coordinates36.8642100, -86.7102700
Altitude195
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Lexington-Fayette

The most populous city in Kentucky and the center of the Lexington-Fayette metropolitan area.

Population314,488
Coordinates38.0498000, -84.4585500
Altitude305
CountryUnited States
Start: Pearl Street (-86.710306, 36.864198)
End: (-84.458548, 38.049815)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 286 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.27 gal
23.74 L · about $23.64
Round trip
$47.29
12.54 gal · 47.48 L
Estimated CO2
55.7 kg one way
Round trip: 111.4 kg / 246 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.64 $47.29
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.67 $53.33
Premium $4.65 $29.18 $58.36
Diesel $5.30 $33.26 $66.51

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 · May 01, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Auburn, KY and Lexington-Fayette, KY. The current time in Auburn is 00:26:41, although it is 01:26:41 in Lexington-Fayette.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

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