How far is Franklin, KY from Lexington, KY?
The driving distance from Franklin, KY to Lexington, KY is about 175.8 miles (283 km), with a travel time of about 02h 44m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 144.7 miles (232.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 29m 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 44m.
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.
Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Franklin and Lexington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin and Lexington.
-
1
Start on North Water Street
30 m · 10 sec · North Water Street
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2
Turn left onto East Cedar Street
1.4 mi · 2 min · East Cedar Street
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3
Continue on Scottsville Road
3226 ft · 1 min · Scottsville Road
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4
Turn right onto Rapids Road
78 m · 11 sec · Rapids Road
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5
Turn left onto Scottsville Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · Scottsville Road
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6
Take the ramp left
1557 ft · 38 sec
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7
Merge slight left
86.9 mi · 1 hr 33 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 Franklin and Lexington.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
Scottsville Road
Merge slight left
86.9 mi · 01h 33m
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.
Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Franklin and Mostly Sunny near Lexington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Franklin to Lexington?
The road trip is about 175.8 miles (283 km) and usually takes 02h 44m 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 87.7 miles from Franklin and 88.2 miles from Lexington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 144.7 miles (232.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.1 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 1:00 PM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.42 one way or $46.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.2 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Franklin and Lexington, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Franklin and Mostly 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 Franklin and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 144.74 mi (232.94 km).
#1 Franklin
City in and county seat of Simpson County, Kentucky, United States
| Population | 9,046 |
| Coordinates | 36.7222600, -86.5772200 |
| Altitude | 216 |
| 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: 283 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 51m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 23m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 31m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 55m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 11m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $23.42 | $46.84 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $26.41 | $52.82 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $28.90 | $57.80 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $32.94 | $65.88 |
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 · May 30, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.