How far is Hartford, KY from Lexington, KY?

The driving distance from Hartford, KY to Lexington, KY is about 156.6 miles (252.1 km), with a travel time of about 02h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 137.9 miles (222 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 56m 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
156.67 mi
02h 28m
Flight
137.98 mi
222.05 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hartford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
137.98 mi
Kilometers
222.05 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
156.67 mi
Kilometers
252.13 km
Drive Time
02h 28m

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 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lexington
Sat, Apr 18, 10:04 PM EDT
Return by in Hartford
Sat, Apr 18, 11:33 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hartford
2026-04-18T18:36
Arrive Lexington
Sat, Apr 18, 9:04 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
11:28 AM to 1:28 PM EDT

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

Leave by
1:34 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hartford
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
Lebanon Junction
KY

City in Bullitt County, Kentucky, United States of America

From Hartford
78 mi
01h 14m
To Lexington
78.7 mi
01h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph SW
Destination
81°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 14 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Main Street

    23 m · 7 sec · South Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Union Street

    928 ft · 21 sec · East Union Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Clay Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Clay Street

  4. 4

    Turn left

    2730 ft · 42 sec

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I-165 South

    2120 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    6.2 mi · 7 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward Elizabethtown

    1772 ft · 50 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

    60.1 mi · 1 hr 4 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

    70.7 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Frankfort

    571 ft · 16 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Lexington Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Versailles Road

    4.4 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road

  17. 17

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

    1920 ft · 47 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto New Circle Road

    5.6 mi · 8 min · New Circle Road

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 1974: Lexington

    1224 ft · 33 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Tates Creek Road

    1044 ft · 29 sec · Tates Creek Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Gainesway Drive

    1 mi · 2 min · Gainesway Drive

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Coldstream Drive

    80 m · 9 sec · Coldstream Drive

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Coldstream Drive

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Hartford 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
23 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi · 45%
Western Kentucky Parkway
60.1 mi · 38%
I-165 South
6.62 mi · 4%
New Circle Road
5.64 mi · 4%
Versailles Road
4.39 mi · 3%
I 65 North
2.93 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Bluegrass Parkway

Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

70.7 mi · 01h 16m

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 28m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.7 mi
137.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lebanon Junction
01h 14m from Hartford
Leave By
1:34 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Hartford and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Lexington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 156.6 miles (252.1 km) and usually takes 02h 28m 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?

Lebanon Junction is a useful midpoint, sitting about 78 miles from Hartford and 78.7 miles from Lexington.

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

The direct path is about 137.9 miles (222 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.7 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 1:34 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.85 one way or $41.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.1 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Hartford and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Lexington.

Stop Ideas Near Lebanon Junction

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

47 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hartford and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 137.98 mi (222.05 km).

Hartford

#1 Hartford

City in Kentucky, USA

Population2,715
Coordinates37.4511600, -86.9091600
Altitude127
CountryUnited States
Lexington

#2 Lexington

The second most populous city in Kentucky.

Population225,366
Coordinates37.9886900, -84.4777200
Altitude295
CountryUnited States
Start: South Main Street (-86.909094, 37.451202)
End: Coldstream Drive (-84.477478, 37.988621)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 252 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.53 gal
20.93 L · about $20.85
Round trip
$41.71
11.06 gal · 41.86 L
Estimated CO2
49.1 kg one way
Round trip: 98.3 kg / 217 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $20.85 $41.71
Mid-grade $4.25 $23.52 $47.04
Premium $4.65 $25.74 $51.47
Diesel $5.30 $29.33 $58.66

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 18, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Hartford, KY and Lexington, KY. The current time in Hartford is 18:36:24, although it is 19:36:24 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.