How far is Lexington, KY from Central City, KY?
The driving distance from Lexington, KY to Central City, KY is about 167.6 miles (269.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 08m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 152.5 miles (245.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 17m 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 08m.
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.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Lexington and Central City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington and Central City.
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1
Start on Coldstream Drive
80 m · 12 sec · Coldstream Drive
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2
Turn right onto Gainesway Drive
1 mi · 2 min · Gainesway Drive
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3
Turn right onto Tates Creek Road
1507 ft · 35 sec · Tates Creek Road
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4
Turn left onto KY 4 West: New Circle Road
2026 ft · 49 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto New Circle Road
5.8 mi · 8 min · New Circle Road
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6
Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West: Versailles
1568 ft · 38 sec
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7
Continue on Versailles Road
4.7 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road
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8
Continue on Lexington Road
1.3 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road
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9
Take the exit slight right toward Elizabethtown
1.1 km · 1 min
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10
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
70.6 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway
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11
Keep slight left
1.4 km · 2 min
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12
Merge slight left
1.2 mi · 1 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
1079 ft · 26 sec
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14
Keep slight right to continue on US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West
1286 ft · 32 sec
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Paducah, Elizabethtown
1710 ft · 42 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
78.4 mi · 1 hr 24 min · Western Kentucky Parkway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward US 431, KY 70: Central City, Drakesboro
1267 ft · 43 sec
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18
Turn left onto South 2nd Street
1.6 km · 1 min · South 2nd Street
-
19
Turn right onto East Broad Street
23 m · 3 sec · East Broad Street
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20
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Broad Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lexington and Central City.
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
78.4 mi · 01h 24m
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.
Sunny leaving Lexington and Sunny near Central City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Lexington to Central City?
The road trip is about 167.6 miles (269.8 km) and usually takes 03h 08m 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 83.7 miles from Lexington and 83.9 miles from Central City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 152.5 miles (245.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.1 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:42 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.29 one way or $44.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.5 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Lexington and Central City, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Lexington and Sunny near Central City.
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 and Central City. Straight-line distance: 152.49 mi (245.41 km).
#1 Lexington
The second most populous city in Kentucky.
| Population | 225,366 |
| Coordinates | 37.9886900, -84.4777200 |
| Altitude | 295 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Central City
City in Nebraska, United States
| Population | 5,730 |
| Coordinates | 37.2939300, -87.1233300 |
| Altitude | 133 |
| Country | United States |
End: Central City (-87.12333, 37.29393)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 270 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 35m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 11m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 21m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 47m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 23m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 05m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $22.29 | $44.57 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $25.14 | $50.27 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $27.51 | $55.01 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $31.35 | $62.69 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.