How far is Clinton, KY from Lexington, KY?

The driving distance from Clinton, KY to Lexington, KY is about 291.5 miles (469.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 264.3 miles (425.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 08m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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
291.58 mi
04h 34m
Flight
264.33 mi
425.39 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clinton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
264.33 mi
Kilometers
425.39 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
291.58 mi
Kilometers
469.25 km
Drive Time
04h 34m

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 04h 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lexington
Thu, Apr 23, 6:28 AM EDT
Return by in Clinton
Thu, Apr 23, 10:03 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clinton
2026-04-23T00:54
Arrive Lexington
Thu, Apr 23, 5:28 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:34 AM to 1:34 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:52 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clinton
9:00 PM CDT
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
Beaver Dam
KY

City in Kentucky, USA

From Clinton
146.3 mi
02h 17m
To Lexington
145.2 mi
02h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph S
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Clinton and Lexington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clinton and Lexington.

  1. 1

    Start on North Washington Street

    725 ft · 30 sec · North Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Mayfield Road

    12 mi · 21 min · Mayfield Road

  3. 3

    Continue straight

    2.4 mi · 4 min

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Purchase Parkway North: Mayfield

    778 ft · 19 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    36.9 mi · 40 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 24 East, I 69 North: Nashville, Henderson

    16.6 mi · 18 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton

    38.3 mi · 42 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

    1783 ft · 22 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway

  9. 9

    Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

    98.9 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville

    1955 ft · 48 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville

    3052 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    1.4 mi · 1 min

  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

    4.4 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road

    1920 ft · 47 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto New Circle Road

    5.6 mi · 8 min · New Circle Road

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 1974: Lexington

    1224 ft · 33 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Tates Creek Road

    1044 ft · 29 sec · Tates Creek Road

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Gainesway Drive

    1 mi · 2 min · Gainesway Drive

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Coldstream Drive

    80 m · 9 sec · Coldstream Drive

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Coldstream Drive

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Clinton and Lexington.

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
24 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Western Kentucky Parkway
99.2 mi · 34%
Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi · 24%
I 69 North
38.3 mi · 13%
Purchase Parkway North
37 mi · 13%
I 24 East
16.6 mi · 6%
Mayfield Road
14.4 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Western Kentucky Parkway

Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

98.9 mi · 01h 46m

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
04h 34m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.2 mi
264.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Beaver Dam
02h 17m from Clinton
Leave By
7:52 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Clinton and Sunny near Lexington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Clinton to Lexington?

The road trip is about 291.5 miles (469.2 km) and usually takes 04h 34m 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?

Beaver Dam is a useful midpoint, sitting about 146.3 miles from Clinton and 145.2 miles from Lexington.

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

The direct path is about 264.3 miles (425.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.2 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:52 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.80 one way or $77.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Clinton and Sunny near Lexington.

Stop Ideas Near Beaver Dam

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

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

BUS

Madisonville, KY

54 mi away
4765 Hanson Road
BUS

Evansville, IN

88 mi away
119 Northwest 6th Street
BUS

Clarksville, TN

106 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clinton and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 264.33 mi (425.39 km).

Clinton

#1 Clinton

City in Hickman County, Kentucky, United States of America

Population1,244
Coordinates36.6672800, -88.9934000
Altitude113
CountryUnited States
Lexington

#2 Lexington

The second most populous city in Kentucky.

Population225,366
Coordinates37.9886900, -84.4777200
Altitude295
CountryUnited States
Start: North Washington Street (-88.993617, 36.667283)
End: Coldstream Drive (-84.477478, 37.988621)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 469 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.29 gal
38.95 L · about $38.80
Round trip
$77.61
20.58 gal · 77.9 L
Estimated CO2
91.4 kg one way
Round trip: 182.9 kg / 403 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $38.80 $77.61
Mid-grade $4.25 $43.76 $87.53
Premium $4.65 $47.89 $95.78
Diesel $5.30 $54.58 $109.16

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Clinton, KY and Lexington, KY. The current time in Clinton is 00:54:18, although it is 01:54:18 in Lexington.

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.