How far is Lexington-Fayette, KY from Henderson, KY?

The driving distance from Lexington-Fayette, KY to Henderson, KY is about 206 miles (331.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 171.2 miles (275.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 21m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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
205.97 mi
03h 10m
Flight
171.26 mi
275.61 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lexington-Fayette.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
171.26 mi
Kilometers
275.61 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
205.97 mi
Kilometers
331.48 km
Drive Time
03h 10m

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 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Henderson
Sat, May 30, 9:36 AM CDT
Return by in Lexington-Fayette
Sat, May 30, 1:47 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lexington-Fayette
2026-05-30T07:26
Arrive Henderson
Sat, May 30, 10:36 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
8:11 AM to 10:11 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:38 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lexington-Fayette
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

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 Lexington-Fayette
104.8 mi
01h 35m
To Henderson
101.2 mi
01h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph NE
Destination
79°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lexington-Fayette and Henderson.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lexington-Fayette and Henderson.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    560 ft · 43 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Floyd Drive

    937 ft · 25 sec · Floyd Drive

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East New Circle Road

    7.2 mi · 11 min · East New Circle Road

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West: Versailles

    1848 ft · 45 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Versailles Road

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Lexington Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward Elizabethtown

    1.1 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

    70.6 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    1.4 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    1.2 mi · 1 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway

    1079 ft · 26 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West

    1286 ft · 32 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Paducah, Elizabethtown

    1710 ft · 42 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

    59.1 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 165 North: Owensboro

    1 km · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    28.2 mi · 30 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West, US 231 South: Henderson

    1.2 km · 2 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Wendell Ford Expressway

    6.3 mi · 7 min · Wendell Ford Expressway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward Audubon Parkway West: Henderson

    2333 ft · 57 sec

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    23.2 mi · 25 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward US 41 North: Henderson

    2374 ft · 1 min

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    1 mi · 1 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 351: Zion, Henderson

    897 ft · 49 sec

  24. 24

    Turn slight right onto 2nd Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · 2nd Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto North Green Street

    1360 ft · 42 sec · North Green Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Washington Street

    65 m · 11 sec · Washington Street

  27. 27

    Turn left

    30 m · 7 sec

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lexington-Fayette and Henderson.

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
28 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
6 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Bluegrass Parkway
72.7 mi · 35%
Western Kentucky Parkway
59.1 mi · 29%
I 165 North
28.9 mi · 14%
Audubon Parkway West
23.7 mi · 11%
East New Circle Road
7.23 mi · 4%
Wendell Ford Expressway
6.26 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Bluegrass Parkway

Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

70.6 mi · 01h 16m

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 10m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.8 mi
171.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clarkson
01h 35m from Lexington-Fayette
Leave By
10:38 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Lexington-Fayette and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny near Henderson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lexington-Fayette to Henderson?

The road trip is about 206 miles (331.5 km) and usually takes 03h 10m 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 104.8 miles from Lexington-Fayette and 101.2 miles from Henderson.

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

The direct path is about 171.2 miles (275.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.8 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:38 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.42 one way or $54.83 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64.6 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Lexington-Fayette and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny near Henderson.

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lexington-Fayette and Henderson. Straight-line distance: 171.26 mi (275.61 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Lexington-Fayette

The most populous city in Kentucky and the center of the Lexington-Fayette metropolitan area.

Population314,488
Coordinates38.0498000, -84.4585500
Altitude305
CountryUnited States
Henderson

#2 Henderson

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

Population27,974
Coordinates37.8361500, -87.5900100
Altitude124
CountryUnited States
Start: (-84.458548, 38.049815)
End: (-87.590062, 37.836125)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 331 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.27 gal
27.51 L · about $27.42
Round trip
$54.83
14.54 gal · 55.02 L
Estimated CO2
64.6 kg one way
Round trip: 129.2 kg / 285 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.42 $54.83
Mid-grade $4.25 $30.92 $61.84
Premium $4.65 $33.83 $67.67
Diesel $5.30 $38.56 $77.12

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Lexington-Fayette, KY and Henderson, KY. The current time in Lexington-Fayette is 07:26:28, although it is 06:26:28 in Henderson.

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.