How far is Bardstown, KY from Frankfort, KY?

The driving distance from Bardstown, KY to Frankfort, KY is about 56 miles (90.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 42.1 miles (67.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 00m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
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
56 mi
01h 00m
Flight
42.15 mi
67.84 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bardstown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
42.15 mi
Kilometers
67.84 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
56 mi
Kilometers
90.12 km
Drive Time
01h 00m

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 01h 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Frankfort
Fri, Apr 17, 7:28 AM EDT
Return by in Bardstown
Fri, Apr 17, 8:28 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bardstown
2026-04-17T06:27
Arrive Frankfort
Fri, Apr 17, 7:28 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:30 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bardstown
9:30 PM EDT
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
Willisburg
KY

Human settlement in Washington County, Kentucky, United States of America

From Bardstown
27.6 mi
00h 30m
To Frankfort
28.4 mi
00h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph S
Destination
83°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Court Square

    100 m · 6 sec · Court Square

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary

    2.4 mi · 4 min

  3. 3

    Take the exit left

    1528 ft · 37 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Bluegrass Parkway

    34.1 mi · 37 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward US 127 North: Lawrenceburg, Frankfort

    1604 ft · 45 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    14.1 mi · 17 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    58 m · 5 sec

  9. 9

    Turn slight right onto Louisville Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Louisville Road

  10. 10

    Continue on West 2nd Street

    2405 ft · 52 sec · West 2nd Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Capital Avenue

    1058 ft · 34 sec · Capital Avenue

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East Main Street

    48 m · 10 sec · East Main Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto High Street

    766 ft · 23 sec · High Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West Clinton Street

    75 m · 7 sec · West Clinton Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Elk Alley

    135 m · 19 sec · Elk Alley

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Elk Alley

Car Route Details

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

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
16 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
28.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Bluegrass Parkway
34.1 mi · 61%
US 127 North
15.9 mi · 28%
Court Square
2.73 mi · 5%
Louisville Road
1.54 mi · 3%
West 2nd Street
0.46 mi · 1%
Capital Avenue
0.2 mi
Longest Stretch

Bluegrass Parkway

Merge slight left onto Bluegrass Parkway

34.1 mi · 00h 37m

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
01h 00m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.9 mi
42.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Willisburg
00h 30m from Bardstown
Leave By
4:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Bardstown and Mostly Sunny near Frankfort.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 56 miles (90.1 km) and usually takes 01h 00m 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?

Willisburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 27.6 miles from Bardstown and 28.4 miles from Frankfort.

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

The direct path is about 42.1 miles (67.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.9 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:30 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.47 one way or $14.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Bardstown and Mostly Sunny near Frankfort.

Stop Ideas Near Willisburg

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

74 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bardstown and Frankfort. Straight-line distance: 42.15 mi (67.84 km).

Bardstown

#1 Bardstown

City in Kentucky

Population13,302
Coordinates37.8092300, -85.4669000
Altitude197
CountryUnited States
Frankfort

#2 Frankfort

County seat city in Franklin County, Kentucky, USA and Kentucky federated state capital city

Population27,715
Coordinates38.2009100, -84.8732800
Altitude155
CountryUnited States
Start: Court Square (-85.46696, 37.809322)
End: Elk Alley (-84.873307, 38.200921)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 90 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.98 gal
7.48 L · about $7.47
Round trip
$14.93
3.96 gal · 14.96 L
Estimated CO2
17.6 kg one way
Round trip: 35.2 kg / 78 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.47 $14.93
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.42 $16.84
Premium $4.65 $9.21 $18.43
Diesel $5.30 $10.50 $21.00

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 · Apr 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Bardstown and Frankfort. The current time is 06:27:58.

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.