How far is Lexington-Fayette, KY from Morehead, KY?
The driving distance from Lexington-Fayette, KY to Morehead, KY is about 174.5 miles (280.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 23m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 158.1 miles (254.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
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 03h 23m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Partly Sunny
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Lexington-Fayette and Morehead.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington-Fayette and Morehead.
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1
Start on the route
560 ft · 43 sec
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2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Floyd Drive
937 ft · 25 sec · Floyd Drive
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3
Turn left onto East New Circle Road
7.2 mi · 11 min · East New Circle Road
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4
Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West: Versailles
1848 ft · 45 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Versailles Road
4.5 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road
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6
Continue on Lexington Road
1.3 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road
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7
Take the exit slight right toward Elizabethtown
1.1 km · 1 min
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8
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
70.6 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway
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9
Keep slight left
1.4 km · 2 min
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10
Merge slight left
1.2 mi · 1 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
1079 ft · 26 sec
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12
Keep slight right to continue on US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
1286 ft · 32 sec
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Paducah, Elizabethtown
1710 ft · 42 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
83.9 mi · 1 hr 30 min · Western Kentucky Parkway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward KY 181: Greenville, Sacramento
2296 ft · 1 min
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16
Turn right onto St-1065
1.6 km · 4 min · St-1065
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17
Turn right onto St-1047
1.3 km · 3 min · St-1047
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18
Turn left onto St-1131
118 m · 18 sec · St-1131
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19
Turn left onto St-1122
2638 ft · 2 min · St-1122
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20
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · St-1122
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lexington-Fayette and Morehead.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Western Kentucky Parkway
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
83.9 mi · 01h 30m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Partly Sunny leaving Lexington-Fayette and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Morehead.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Lexington-Fayette to Morehead?
The road trip is about 174.5 miles (280.8 km) and usually takes 03h 23m 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?
Elizabethtown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87.1 miles from Lexington-Fayette and 87.4 miles from Morehead.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 158.1 miles (254.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.4 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 10:14 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.23 one way or $46.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.7 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 Morehead, 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 Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Morehead.
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 Lexington-Fayette and Morehead. Straight-line distance: 158.08 mi (254.41 km).
#1 Lexington-Fayette
The most populous city in Kentucky and the center of the Lexington-Fayette metropolitan area.
| Population | 314,488 |
| Coordinates | 38.0498000, -84.4585500 |
| Altitude | 305 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Morehead
County seat in Kentucky
| Population | 7,622 |
| Coordinates | 37.2711500, -87.1763800 |
| Altitude | 153 |
| Country | United States |
End: Morehead (-87.17638, 37.27115)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 281 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 48m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 21m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 29m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 54m |
| 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.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $23.23 | $46.46 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $26.20 | $52.40 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $28.67 | $57.34 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $32.67 | $65.35 |
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.