How far is Franklin, KY from Nicholasville, KY?

The driving distance from Franklin, KY to Nicholasville, KY is about 173.9 miles (279.8 km), with a travel time of about 02h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 136.1 miles (219.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
173.88 mi
02h 45m
Flight
136.15 mi
219.12 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Franklin.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
136.15 mi
Kilometers
219.12 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
173.88 mi
Kilometers
279.84 km
Drive Time
02h 45m

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 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Nicholasville
Sat, Apr 11, 10:48 AM EDT
Return by in Franklin
Sat, Apr 11, 12:33 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Franklin
2026-04-11T07:02
Arrive Nicholasville
Sat, Apr 11, 9:48 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
11:46 AM to 1:46 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:58 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Franklin
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Elizabethtown
KY

County seat of Hardin County, Kentucky, United States

From Franklin
86.7 mi
01h 22m
To Nicholasville
87.2 mi
01h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 mph S
Destination
74°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Franklin and Nicholasville.

  1. 1

    Start on North Water Street

    30 m · 10 sec · North Water Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Cedar Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · East Cedar Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Scottsville Road

    3226 ft · 1 min · Scottsville Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Rapids Road

    78 m · 11 sec · Rapids Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Scottsville Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Scottsville Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp left

    1557 ft · 38 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    86.9 mi · 1 hr 33 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown

    3252 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

    67.6 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 33: Versailles

    1752 ft · 43 sec

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto Troy Pike

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Troy Pike

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Pinckard Pike

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Pinckard Pike

  13. 13

    Continue on Keene-Versailles Road

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Keene-Versailles Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Pinchard Pike

    1974 ft · 41 sec · Pinchard Pike

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Keene Road

    860 ft · 21 sec · Keene Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Keene Road

    5.1 mi · 7 min · Keene Road

  17. 17

    Continue on North 3rd Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · North 3rd Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto West Oak Street

    932 ft · 23 sec · West Oak Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    641 ft · 13 sec · North Main Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Franklin and Nicholasville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
20 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Scottsville Road
89 mi · 51%
Bluegrass Parkway
67.6 mi · 39%
Keene Road
5.31 mi · 3%
Pinckard Pike
4.47 mi · 3%
Keene-Versailles Road
2.13 mi · 1%
East Cedar Street
1.36 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

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.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
02h 45m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.8 mi
136.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elizabethtown
01h 22m from Franklin
Leave By
12:58 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Franklin and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Nicholasville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Franklin to Nicholasville?

The road trip is about 173.9 miles (279.8 km) and usually takes 02h 45m 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 86.7 miles from Franklin and 87.2 miles from Nicholasville.

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

The direct path is about 136.1 miles (219.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.8 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 12:58 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.15 one way or $46.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.6 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Franklin 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 Franklin and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Nicholasville.

Stop Ideas Near Elizabethtown

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

63 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Franklin and Nicholasville. Straight-line distance: 136.15 mi (219.12 km).

Franklin

#1 Franklin

City in and county seat of Simpson County, Kentucky, United States

Population9,046
Coordinates36.7222600, -86.5772200
Altitude216
CountryUnited States
Nicholasville

#2 Nicholasville

City in Kentucky

Population30,888
Coordinates37.8806300, -84.5730000
Altitude286
CountryUnited States
Start: North Water Street (-86.576948, 36.722222)
End: North Main Street (-84.572926, 37.88061)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 280 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.14 gal
23.23 L · about $23.15
Round trip
$46.31
12.28 gal · 46.46 L
Estimated CO2
54.6 kg one way
Round trip: 109.1 kg / 241 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.15 $46.31
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.11 $52.23
Premium $4.65 $28.58 $57.15
Diesel $5.30 $32.57 $65.13

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 11, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Franklin, KY and Nicholasville, KY. The current time in Franklin is 07:02:31, although it is 08:02:31 in Nicholasville.

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.