Origin
Clay City, KY
Evening in Clay City on Wednesday
Local time
7:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clay City, KY to Nicholasville, KY
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
52.4 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clay City, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Nicholasville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Clay City, KY to Nicholasville, KY covers 52.4 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Mountain Parkway, I 75 South, US 60 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.19 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
26.2 miles from Clay City, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 5m drive with frequent turns across 52.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Mountain Parkway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Clay City, KY to Nicholasville, KY is easy. At 1h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Clay City, KY to Nicholasville, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Parkway | — | — |
| I 75 South | — | — |
| US 60 | — | — |
| Winchester Road | — | — |
| KY 4 South | — | — |
| East New Circle Road | — | — |
| US 27 | — | — |
| Nicholasville Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Mountain Parkway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clay City, KY and Nicholasville, KY.
1
Start on Main Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
2
Take the ramp slight right
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
3
Merge slight left onto Mountain Parkway
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Mountain Parkway
4
Merge slight left
16 mi
·
16 min
5
Keep slight left to continue on I 75 South: Richmond, Knoxville
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 75 South: Richmond, Knoxville
6
Merge slight left
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
7
Take the exit slight right toward US 60: Lexington
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 60: Lexington
8
Turn right onto Winchester Road
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Winchester Road
9
Take the exit slight left toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
KY 4 South: New Circle Road
10
Merge slight left onto East New Circle Road
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
East New Circle Road
11
Take the exit slight right toward US 27: Nicholasville, Lexington
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
US 27: Nicholasville, Lexington
12
Turn left onto Nicholasville Road
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Nicholasville Road
13
Continue on Lexington Road
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Lexington Road
14
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
15
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 26.2 miles from Clay City, KY, or about 32m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 12 miles or 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.2 miles or 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nicholasville, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clay City, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clay City, KY
This is one driving day of about 52.4 miles and 1h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 12 miles from Clay City, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.2 mi from Clay City, KY · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.2 miles from Clay City, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Nicholasville, KY
The final approach into Nicholasville, KY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.19 one way
$16.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.99 | $17.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.08 | $20.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.57 | $23.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.50 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.34 | $3.35 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Nicholasville, KY
Evening in Nicholasville on Wednesday
Local time
7:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 5m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Clay City, KY to Nicholasville, KY covers 52.4 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mountain Parkway, I 75 South, US 60. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.2 miles from Clay City, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.19 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Clay City, KY to Nicholasville, KY is easy. At 1h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Clay City, KY to Nicholasville, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Clay City, KY to Nicholasville, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Nicholasville, KY
More from Clay City, KY
More trips to Nicholasville, KY
Explore more options from Clay City, KY or browse trips ending in Nicholasville, KY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KY road trips.
Explore maps for Clay City, KY or Nicholasville, KY on MapSof.net.