How far is Shelbyville, KY from Lexington, KY?
The driving distance from Shelbyville, KY to Lexington, KY is about 51.1 miles (82.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 59m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 43.4 miles (69.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
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 00h 59m.
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 city in Franklin County, Kentucky, USA and Kentucky federated state capital city
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Shelbyville and Lexington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shelbyville and Lexington.
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1
Start on 10th Street
60 m · 13 sec · 10th Street
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2
Turn left onto Main Street
1.6 km · 2 min · Main Street
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3
Continue on Frankfort Road
580 ft · 14 sec · Frankfort Road
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4
Turn right onto Mount Eden Road
2 mi · 3 min · Mount Eden Road
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5
Take the ramp slight right
1208 ft · 29 sec
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6
Merge slight left
22.5 mi · 24 min
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7
Take the exit slight right toward US 60: Frankfort, Versailles
1576 ft · 39 sec
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Versailles
76 m · 6 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto Versailles Road
3229 ft · 45 sec · Versailles Road
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10
Continue on Frankfort Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Frankfort Highway
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11
Continue on Frankfort Road
5.9 mi · 7 min · Frankfort Road
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12
Continue on Versailles Bypass
1.6 mi · 2 min · Versailles Bypass
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13
Turn slight left onto Lexington Road
3.6 mi · 4 min · Lexington Road
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14
Continue on Versailles Road
4.4 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road
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15
Take the exit slight right toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
1920 ft · 47 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto New Circle Road
5.6 mi · 8 min · New Circle Road
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17
Take the exit slight right toward KY 1974: Lexington
1224 ft · 33 sec
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18
Turn right onto Tates Creek Road
1044 ft · 29 sec · Tates Creek Road
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19
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1 mi · 2 min · Gainesway Drive
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20
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
80 m · 9 sec · Coldstream Drive
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21
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Coldstream Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Shelbyville and Lexington.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Mount Eden Road
Merge slight left
22.5 mi · 00h 24m
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 Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Shelbyville and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Lexington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Shelbyville to Lexington?
The road trip is about 51.1 miles (82.3 km) and usually takes 00h 59m 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?
Frankfort is a useful midpoint, sitting about 25.8 miles from Shelbyville and 25.4 miles from Lexington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 43.4 miles (69.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.7 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:30 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.83 one way or $13.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms around Shelbyville and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Lexington.
Stop Ideas Near Frankfort
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 Frankfort.
Louisville, Kentucky
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
Cincinnati, OH
Maysville
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Shelbyville and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 43.39 mi (69.83 km).
#1 Shelbyville
Township in Shelby County, Illinois
| Population | 16,790 |
| Coordinates | 38.2120100, -85.2235700 |
| Altitude | 232 |
| 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: 82 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 42m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 01h 16m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 01h 01m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 51m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 43m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 38m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $6.83 | $13.65 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $7.70 | $15.40 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $8.42 | $16.85 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $9.60 | $19.20 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.