How far is Central City, KY from Lexington, KY?
The driving distance from Central City, KY to Lexington, KY is about 167.6 miles (269.8 km), with a travel time of about 02h 36m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 152.5 miles (245.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
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.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 36m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
County seat of Hardin County, Kentucky, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Central City and Lexington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Central City and Lexington.
-
1
Start on East Broad Street
23 m · 11 sec · East Broad Street
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2
Turn left onto South 2nd Street
1.2 mi · 1 min · South 2nd Street
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3
Take the exit right
1221 ft · 30 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
78.9 mi · 1 hr 25 min · Western Kentucky Parkway
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5
Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
1955 ft · 48 sec
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6
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
3052 ft · 1 min
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7
Merge slight left
1.4 mi · 1 min
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8
Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown
3252 ft · 1 min
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9
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Frankfort
571 ft · 16 sec
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11
Turn right onto Lexington Road
1.7 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road
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12
Continue on Versailles Road
4.4 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road
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13
Take the exit slight right toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
1920 ft · 47 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto New Circle Road
5.6 mi · 8 min · New Circle Road
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15
Take the exit slight right toward KY 1974: Lexington
1224 ft · 33 sec
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16
Turn right onto Tates Creek Road
1044 ft · 29 sec · Tates Creek Road
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17
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1 mi · 2 min · Gainesway Drive
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18
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
80 m · 9 sec · Coldstream Drive
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19
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Coldstream Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Central City and Lexington.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Western Kentucky Parkway
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
78.9 mi · 01h 25m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Central City and Sunny near Lexington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Central City to Lexington?
The road trip is about 167.6 miles (269.8 km) and usually takes 02h 36m 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 83.8 miles from Central City and 83.9 miles from Lexington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 152.5 miles (245.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.1 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 1:16 PM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.29 one way or $44.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.5 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Central City and Lexington, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Central City and Sunny near Lexington.
Stop Ideas Near Elizabethtown
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Elizabethtown.
Louisville, Kentucky
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Central City and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 152.49 mi (245.41 km).
#1 Central City
City in Nebraska, United States
| Population | 5,730 |
| Coordinates | 37.2939300, -87.1233300 |
| Altitude | 133 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lexington
The second most populous city in Kentucky.
| Population | 225,366 |
| Coordinates | 37.9886900, -84.4777200 |
| Altitude | 295 |
| Country | United States |
End: Coldstream Drive (-84.477478, 37.988621)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 270 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 35m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 11m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 21m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 47m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 23m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 05m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $22.29 | $44.57 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $25.14 | $50.27 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $27.51 | $55.01 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $31.35 | $62.69 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.