How far is Cave City, KY from Nicholasville, KY?

The driving distance from Cave City, KY to Nicholasville, KY is about 125.1 miles (201.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 91.7 miles (147.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 44m 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
125.14 mi
02h 22m
Flight
91.62 mi
147.45 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cave City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
91.62 mi
Kilometers
147.45 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
125.14 mi
Kilometers
201.39 km
Drive Time
02h 22m

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 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Nicholasville
Thu, Apr 16, 6:25 PM EDT
Return by in Cave City
Thu, Apr 16, 7:47 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cave City
2026-04-16T15:02
Arrive Nicholasville
Thu, Apr 16, 5:25 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
11:22 AM to 1:22 PM EDT

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

Leave by
1:46 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cave City
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
Bardstown
KY

City in Kentucky

From Cave City
62.6 mi
01h 11m
To Nicholasville
62.6 mi
01h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph SW
Destination
78°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 14 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cave City and Nicholasville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cave City and Nicholasville.

  1. 1

    Start on Broadway Street

    1142 ft · 23 sec · Broadway Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Mammoth Cave Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Mammoth Cave Street

  3. 3

    Turn right

    693 ft · 15 sec

  4. 4

    Take the exit right

    1561 ft · 38 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    40.4 mi · 43 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown

    3252 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

    67.6 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 33: Versailles

    1752 ft · 43 sec

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto Troy Pike

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Troy Pike

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Pinckard Pike

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Pinckard Pike

  11. 11

    Continue on Keene-Versailles Road

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Keene-Versailles Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Pinchard Pike

    1974 ft · 41 sec · Pinchard Pike

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Keene Road

    860 ft · 21 sec · Keene Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Keene Road

    5.1 mi · 7 min · Keene Road

  15. 15

    Continue on North 3rd Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · North 3rd Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto West Oak Street

    932 ft · 23 sec · West Oak Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    641 ft · 13 sec · North Main Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cave City and Nicholasville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
18 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Bluegrass Parkway
67.6 mi · 54%
Mammoth Cave Street
41.8 mi · 33%
Keene Road
5.31 mi · 4%
Pinckard Pike
4.47 mi · 4%
Keene-Versailles Road
2.13 mi · 2%
Troy Pike
1.15 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Bluegrass Parkway

Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

67.6 mi · 01h 12m

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 22m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.4 mi
91.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bardstown
01h 11m from Cave City
Leave By
1:46 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Cave City and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Nicholasville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cave City to Nicholasville?

The road trip is about 125.1 miles (201.4 km) and usually takes 02h 22m 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?

Bardstown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 62.6 miles from Cave City and 62.6 miles from Nicholasville.

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

The direct path is about 91.7 miles (147.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.4 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 1:46 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.67 one way or $33.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 39.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Cave City and Nicholasville, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Cave City and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Nicholasville.

Stop Ideas Near Bardstown

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

56 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cave City and Nicholasville. Straight-line distance: 91.62 mi (147.45 km).

Cave City

#1 Cave City

City in Kentucky

Population2,426
Coordinates37.1367200, -85.9569200
Altitude193
CountryUnited States
Nicholasville

#2 Nicholasville

City in Kentucky

Population30,888
Coordinates37.8806300, -84.5730000
Altitude286
CountryUnited States
Start: Cave City (-85.95692, 37.13672)
End: Nicholasville (-84.573, 37.88063)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 201 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.42 gal
16.72 L · about $16.67
Round trip
$33.34
8.84 gal · 33.44 L
Estimated CO2
39.3 kg one way
Round trip: 78.6 kg / 173 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $16.67 $33.34
Mid-grade $4.25 $18.80 $37.60
Premium $4.65 $20.57 $41.14
Diesel $5.30 $23.44 $46.89

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 16, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Cave City, KY and Nicholasville, KY. The current time in Cave City is 15:02:47, although it is 16:02:47 in Nicholasville.

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.