How far is Frankfort, KY from Lexington, KY?
The driving distance from Frankfort, KY to Lexington, KY is about 31.9 miles (51.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 42m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 26 miles (41.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 25m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 42m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
City in Woodford County, Kentucky, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Rain Showers
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Frankfort and Lexington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Frankfort and Lexington.
-
1
Start on Elk Alley
8 m · 7 sec · Elk Alley
-
2
Turn left onto Mero Street
74 m · 14 sec · Mero Street
-
3
Turn left onto Ann Street
1421 ft · 38 sec · Ann Street
-
4
Turn left onto West Main Street
1.5 km · 2 min · West Main Street
-
5
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Drive
1.2 km · 1 min · Martin Luther King Drive
-
6
Turn left onto East-West Connector
1.9 mi · 3 min · East-West Connector
-
7
Take the ramp slight right
1246 ft · 19 sec
-
8
Keep slight right
78 m · 4 sec
-
9
Merge slight left onto Versailles Road
1.9 mi · 3 min · Versailles Road
-
10
Continue on Frankfort Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Frankfort Highway
-
11
Continue on Frankfort Road
5.9 mi · 7 min · Frankfort Road
-
12
Continue on Versailles Bypass
1.6 mi · 2 min · Versailles Bypass
-
13
Turn slight left onto Lexington Road
3.6 mi · 4 min · Lexington Road
-
14
Continue on Versailles Road
4.4 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road
-
15
Take the exit slight right toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
1920 ft · 47 sec
-
16
Merge slight left onto New Circle Road
5.6 mi · 8 min · New Circle Road
-
17
Take the exit slight right toward KY 1974: Lexington
1224 ft · 33 sec
-
18
Turn right onto Tates Creek Road
1044 ft · 29 sec · Tates Creek Road
-
19
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1 mi · 2 min · Gainesway Drive
-
20
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
80 m · 9 sec · Coldstream Drive
-
21
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Coldstream Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Frankfort and Lexington.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Frankfort Road
Continue on Frankfort Road
5.9 mi · 00h 07m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Chance Rain Showers leaving Frankfort and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lexington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Frankfort to Lexington?
The road trip is about 31.9 miles (51.4 km) and usually takes 00h 42m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Versailles is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15.5 miles from Frankfort and 16.5 miles from Lexington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 26 miles (41.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.9 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:04 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.26 one way or $8.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Frankfort and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lexington.
Stop Ideas Near Versailles
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 Versailles.
Louisville, Kentucky
Maysville
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
Cincinnati, OH
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Frankfort and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 26.03 mi (41.89 km).
#1 Frankfort
County seat city in Franklin County, Kentucky, USA and Kentucky federated state capital city
| Population | 27,715 |
| Coordinates | 38.2009100, -84.8732800 |
| Altitude | 155 |
| 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: 51 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 03m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 47m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 38m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 31m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 27m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 23m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $4.26 | $8.52 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $4.81 | $9.61 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $5.26 | $10.52 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $5.99 | $11.99 |
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.