How far is Morehead, KY from Lexington, KY?
The driving distance from Morehead, KY to Lexington, KY is about 174.9 miles (281.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 49m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 155.8 miles (250.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 39m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
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.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
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 02h 49m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Morehead and Lexington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morehead and Lexington.
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1
Start on St-1122
2638 ft · 2 min · St-1122
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2
Turn right onto St-1131
118 m · 19 sec · St-1131
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3
Turn right onto St-1047
1.3 km · 3 min · St-1047
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4
Turn left onto St-1065
1.4 km · 3 min · St-1065
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5
Keep slight left to continue on St-1065
146 m · 26 sec · St-1065
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6
Turn left onto St-1067
51 m · 14 sec · St-1067
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7
Turn left
1512 ft · 30 sec
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8
Take the ramp slight right
1748 ft · 43 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
84.3 mi · 1 hr 30 min · Western Kentucky Parkway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
1955 ft · 48 sec
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
3052 ft · 1 min
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12
Merge slight left
1.4 mi · 1 min
-
13
Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown
3252 ft · 1 min
-
14
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway
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15
Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Frankfort
571 ft · 16 sec
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16
Turn right onto Lexington Road
1.7 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road
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17
Continue on Versailles Road
4.4 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road
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18
Take the exit slight right toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
1920 ft · 47 sec
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19
Merge slight left onto New Circle Road
5.6 mi · 8 min · New Circle Road
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20
Take the exit slight right toward KY 1974: Lexington
1224 ft · 33 sec
-
21
Turn right onto Tates Creek Road
1044 ft · 29 sec · Tates Creek Road
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22
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1 mi · 2 min · Gainesway Drive
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23
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
80 m · 9 sec · Coldstream Drive
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Coldstream Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Morehead and Lexington.
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
84.3 mi · 01h 30m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Morehead and Mostly Sunny near Lexington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Morehead to Lexington?
The road trip is about 174.9 miles (281.5 km) and usually takes 02h 49m 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?
Elizabethtown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87.2 miles from Morehead and 87.7 miles from Lexington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 155.8 miles (250.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:50 PM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.27 one way or $46.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.8 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Morehead and Lexington, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Morehead and Mostly Sunny near Lexington.
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 Morehead and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 155.77 mi (250.68 km).
#1 Morehead
County seat in Kentucky
| Population | 7,622 |
| Coordinates | 37.2711500, -87.1763800 |
| Altitude | 153 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lexington
The second most populous city in Kentucky.
| Population | 225,366 |
| Coordinates | 37.9886900, -84.4777200 |
| Altitude | 295 |
| Country | United States |
End: Coldstream Drive (-84.477478, 37.988621)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 282 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 49m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 22m |
| 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 | $23.27 | $46.53 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $26.24 | $52.48 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $28.72 | $57.43 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $32.73 | $65.45 |
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.