How far is Nortonville, KY from Lexington, KY?

The driving distance from Nortonville, KY to Lexington, KY is about 187.9 miles (302.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 171.9 miles (276.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
187.91 mi
02h 56m
Flight
171.95 mi
276.72 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Nortonville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
171.95 mi
Kilometers
276.72 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
187.91 mi
Kilometers
302.41 km
Drive Time
02h 56m

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 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lexington
Sun, Apr 19, 10:38 AM EDT
Return by in Nortonville
Sun, Apr 19, 12:34 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Nortonville
2026-04-19T06:41
Arrive Lexington
Sun, Apr 19, 9:38 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
11:56 AM to 1:56 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:38 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Nortonville
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Elizabethtown
KY

County seat of Hardin County, Kentucky, United States

From Nortonville
93.9 mi
01h 28m
To Lexington
94.1 mi
01h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph NW
Destination
60°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Nortonville and Lexington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Nortonville and Lexington.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    1136 ft · 23 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Greenville Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Greenville Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left

    1162 ft · 28 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto I 69 North: Henderson

    1.4 km · 54 sec

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward Elizabethtown

    2592 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

    98.2 mi · 1 hr 45 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville

    1955 ft · 48 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville

    3052 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    1.4 mi · 1 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown

    3252 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

    70.7 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Frankfort

    571 ft · 16 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Lexington Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Versailles Road

    4.4 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road

    1920 ft · 47 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto New Circle Road

    5.6 mi · 8 min · New Circle Road

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 1974: Lexington

    1224 ft · 33 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Tates Creek Road

    1044 ft · 29 sec · Tates Creek Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Gainesway Drive

    1 mi · 2 min · Gainesway Drive

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Coldstream Drive

    80 m · 9 sec · Coldstream Drive

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Coldstream Drive

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Nortonville and Lexington.

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
21 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Western Kentucky Parkway
98.2 mi · 52%
Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi · 38%
New Circle Road
5.64 mi · 3%
Versailles Road
4.39 mi · 2%
I 65 North
2.93 mi · 2%
Lexington Road
1.71 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Western Kentucky Parkway

Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

98.2 mi · 01h 45m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
02h 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16 mi
171.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elizabethtown
01h 28m from Nortonville
Leave By
12:38 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Sunny leaving Nortonville and Chance Rain Showers near Lexington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Nortonville to Lexington?

The road trip is about 187.9 miles (302.4 km) and usually takes 02h 56m 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 93.9 miles from Nortonville and 94.1 miles from Lexington.

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

The direct path is about 171.9 miles (276.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 16 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 12:38 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.00 one way or $50.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.9 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Sunny around Nortonville and Chance Rain Showers near Lexington.

Stop Ideas Near Elizabethtown

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Elizabethtown, 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 Elizabethtown.

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

63 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Nortonville and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 171.95 mi (276.72 km).

Nortonville

#1 Nortonville

City in Hopkins County, Kentucky, United States of America

Population1,147
Coordinates37.1908800, -87.4527800
Altitude123
CountryUnited States
Lexington

#2 Lexington

The second most populous city in Kentucky.

Population225,366
Coordinates37.9886900, -84.4777200
Altitude295
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-87.452956, 37.19092)
End: Coldstream Drive (-84.477478, 37.988621)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 302 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.63 gal
25.1 L · about $25.00
Round trip
$50.00
13.26 gal · 50.2 L
Estimated CO2
58.9 kg one way
Round trip: 117.8 kg / 260 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $25.00 $50.00
Mid-grade $4.25 $28.20 $56.39
Premium $4.65 $30.86 $61.71
Diesel $5.30 $35.17 $70.33

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 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Nortonville, KY and Lexington, KY. The current time in Nortonville is 06:41:57, although it is 07:41:57 in Lexington.

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.