How far is Russell Springs, KY from Lexington, KY?

The driving distance from Russell Springs, KY to Lexington, KY is about 83 miles (133.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 72.6 miles (116.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 25m 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
82.97 mi
01h 42m
Flight
72.61 mi
116.85 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Russell Springs.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
72.61 mi
Kilometers
116.85 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
82.97 mi
Kilometers
133.53 km
Drive Time
01h 42m

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 01h 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lexington
Fri, Apr 17, 8:13 PM EDT
Return by in Russell Springs
Fri, Apr 17, 8:56 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Russell Springs
2026-04-17T17:30
Arrive Lexington
Fri, Apr 17, 7:13 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:43 AM to 12:43 PM EDT

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

Leave by
3:04 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Russell Springs
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
Junction City
KY

City in Kentucky, United States

From Russell Springs
40.8 mi
00h 51m
To Lexington
42.1 mi
00h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph SW
Destination
82°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Russell Springs and Lexington.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    1 km · 1 min · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Steve Wariner Drive

    2105 ft · 36 sec · Steve Wariner Drive

  3. 3

    Continue on Steve Warriner Drive

    1051 ft · 24 sec · Steve Warriner Drive

  4. 4

    Turn left

    47.3 mi · 55 min

  5. 5

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    1692 ft · 38 sec · West Main Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Wilderness Road

    1377 ft · 23 sec · Wilderness Road

  7. 7

    Continue on East Lexington Avenue

    1.5 km · 1 min · East Lexington Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on Lexington Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Lexington Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Lexington Road

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Lexington Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Chenault Bridge Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Chenault Bridge Road

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Lexington Road

    6.4 mi · 7 min · Lexington Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Danville Road

    6 mi · 7 min · Danville Road

  13. 13

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    3.9 mi · 6 min · South Main Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Lexington Road

    4.5 mi · 5 min · Lexington Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Nicholasville Road

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Nicholasville Road

  16. 16

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

    1811 ft · 44 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto New Circle Road

    1 mi · 1 min · New Circle Road

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 1974: Lexington

    1224 ft · 33 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Tates Creek Road

    1044 ft · 29 sec · Tates Creek Road

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Gainesway Drive

    1 mi · 2 min · Gainesway Drive

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Coldstream Drive

    80 m · 9 sec · Coldstream Drive

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Coldstream Drive

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
22 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
26.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Lexington Road
15.2 mi · 18%
Danville Road
5.96 mi · 7%
South Main Street
3.86 mi · 5%
Nicholasville Road
2.25 mi · 3%
Chenault Bridge Road
1.42 mi · 2%
Gainesway Drive
1.04 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn left

47.3 mi · 00h 55m

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
01h 42m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.4 mi
72.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Junction City
00h 51m from Russell Springs
Leave By
3:04 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Russell Springs and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Lexington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Russell Springs to Lexington?

The road trip is about 83 miles (133.5 km) and usually takes 01h 42m 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?

Junction City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 40.8 miles from Russell Springs and 42.1 miles from Lexington.

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

The direct path is about 72.6 miles (116.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:04 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.05 one way or $22.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 26 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Russell Springs 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 Mostly Sunny around Russell Springs and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Lexington.

Stop Ideas Near Junction City

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

113 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Russell Springs and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 72.61 mi (116.85 km).

Russell Springs

#1 Russell Springs

City in Kentucky

Population2,649
Coordinates37.0561800, -85.0885700
Altitude331
CountryUnited States
Lexington

#2 Lexington

The second most populous city in Kentucky.

Population225,366
Coordinates37.9886900, -84.4777200
Altitude295
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-85.088477, 37.056079)
End: Coldstream Drive (-84.477478, 37.988621)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 134 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.93 gal
11.08 L · about $11.05
Round trip
$22.10
5.86 gal · 22.16 L
Estimated CO2
26 kg one way
Round trip: 52.1 kg / 115 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $11.05 $22.10
Mid-grade $4.25 $12.46 $24.92
Premium $4.65 $13.64 $27.27
Diesel $5.30 $15.54 $31.08

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 17, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Russell Springs, KY and Lexington, KY. The current time in Russell Springs is 17:30:50, although it is 18:30:50 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.