How far is Dawson Springs, KY from Nicholasville, KY?

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
200.43 mi
03h 44m
Flight
177.9 mi
286.3 km direct

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

Flight Distance

177.9 mi
286.3 km · 00h 21m flight

Driving Distance

200.43 mi
322.56 km · 03h 44m drive

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 03h 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Nicholasville
Fri, Apr 10, 2:48 AM EDT
Return by in Dawson Springs
Fri, Apr 10, 5:32 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dawson Springs
2026-04-09T22:03
Arrive Nicholasville
Fri, Apr 10, 1:48 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:45 AM to 12:45 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
9:30 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dawson Springs
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
Clarkson
KY

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

From Dawson Springs
100 mi
01h 52m
To Nicholasville
100.4 mi
01h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 9 10:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 mph SSW
Destination
74°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 9 10:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph SW

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
03h 44m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.6 mi
177.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clarkson
01h 52m from Dawson Springs
Leave By
9:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Dawson Springs and Sunny near Nicholasville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Dawson Springs to Nicholasville?

The road trip is about 200.5 miles (322.6 km) and usually takes 03h 44m 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?

Clarkson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 100 miles from Dawson Springs and 100.4 miles from Nicholasville.

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

The direct path is about 177.9 miles (286.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.6 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 9:30 AM CDT.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Dawson Springs and Sunny near Nicholasville.

Stop Ideas Near Clarkson

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

93 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.
BUS

Madisonville, KY

113 mi away
4765 Hanson Road

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Dawson Springs and Nicholasville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dawson Springs and Nicholasville.

  1. 1

    Start on South Main Street

    6 m · 3 sec · South Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Arcadia Avenue

    1.5 km · 1 min · East Arcadia Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Industrial Parkway

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Industrial Parkway

  4. 4

    Continue on Charleston Road

    147 m · 11 sec · Charleston Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp right

    1232 ft · 30 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    13 mi · 14 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

    1783 ft · 22 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway

  8. 8

    Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

    98.9 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  9. 9

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

    1955 ft · 48 sec

  10. 10

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

    3052 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    1.4 mi · 1 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown

    3252 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

    67.6 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 33: Versailles

    1752 ft · 43 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto Troy Pike

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Troy Pike

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Pinckard Pike

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Pinckard Pike

  17. 17

    Continue on Keene-Versailles Road

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Keene-Versailles Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Pinchard Pike

    1974 ft · 41 sec · Pinchard Pike

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Keene Road

    860 ft · 21 sec · Keene Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Keene Road

    5.1 mi · 7 min · Keene Road

  21. 21

    Continue on North 3rd Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · North 3rd Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto West Oak Street

    932 ft · 23 sec · West Oak Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    641 ft · 13 sec · North Main Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dawson Springs and Nicholasville. Straight-line distance: 177.9 mi (286.3 km).

Dawson Springs

#1 Dawson Springs

City in Kentucky, United States of America

Population2,629
Coordinates37.1672700, -87.6925100
Altitude128
CountryUnited States
Nicholasville

#2 Nicholasville

City in Kentucky

Population30,888
Coordinates37.8806300, -84.5730000
Altitude286
CountryUnited States
Start: Dawson Springs (-87.69251, 37.16727)
End: Nicholasville (-84.573, 37.88063)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 323 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 00m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 30m

Gas Consumption

Fuel needed: 26.77 L (7.07 gal). Cost: $26.66

GasMidPremDiesel
$/gal$3.77$4.25$4.65$5.3
Total$26.66$30.07$32.9$37.5

Prices in Kentucky · Apr 09, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Dawson Springs, KY and Nicholasville, KY. The current time in Dawson Springs is 22:03:12, although it is 23:03:12 in Nicholasville.

Distance to Other Cities

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