How far is Madisonville, KY from Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The driving distance from Madisonville, KY to Lexington-Fayette, KY is about 196.1 miles (315.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 01m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 173.5 miles (279.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 02m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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 01m.
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.
City in Hardin County, Kentucky, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Madisonville and Lexington-Fayette.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madisonville and Lexington-Fayette.
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1
Start on South Main Street
10 m · 5 sec · South Main Street
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2
Turn right onto East Center Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · East Center Street
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3
Take the ramp slight right
1550 ft · 38 sec
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4
Merge slight left
7.3 mi · 8 min
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5
Keep slight left to continue on I 169 South: Hopkinsville
1.1 km · 43 sec
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6
Take the exit slight right toward Elizabethtown
1750 ft · 42 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
98.5 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Western Kentucky Parkway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
1955 ft · 48 sec
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9
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
3052 ft · 1 min
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10
Merge slight left
1.4 mi · 1 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown
3252 ft · 1 min
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12
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Frankfort
571 ft · 16 sec
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14
Turn right onto Lexington Road
1.7 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road
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15
Continue on Versailles Road
4.6 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road
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16
Take the exit straight toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road
2735 ft · 1 min
-
17
Merge slight left onto New Circle Road
7.1 mi · 11 min · New Circle Road
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18
Turn right onto Floyd Drive
937 ft · 27 sec · Floyd Drive
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19
Turn left
560 ft · 41 sec
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20
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Madisonville and Lexington-Fayette.
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
98.5 mi · 01h 46m
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.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Madisonville and Mostly Sunny near Lexington-Fayette.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Madisonville to Lexington-Fayette?
The road trip is about 196.1 miles (315.6 km) and usually takes 03h 01m 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?
Sonora is a useful midpoint, sitting about 97.9 miles from Madisonville and 98.1 miles from Lexington-Fayette.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 173.5 miles (279.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.6 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:58 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.10 one way or $52.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.5 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Madisonville and Lexington-Fayette, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Madisonville and Mostly Sunny near Lexington-Fayette.
Stop Ideas Near Sonora
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 Sonora.
Louisville, Kentucky
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Madisonville and Lexington-Fayette. Straight-line distance: 173.54 mi (279.29 km).
#1 Madisonville
County seat in Kentucky
| Population | 18,656 |
| Coordinates | 37.3281000, -87.4988900 |
| Altitude | 144 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: (-84.458548, 38.049815)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 316 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 32m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 55m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 48m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $26.10 | $52.19 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $29.43 | $58.86 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $32.21 | $64.41 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $36.70 | $73.41 |
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.