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Trip from Georgetown, KY to Ashland, KY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 22m

Distance

159.5 mi

257 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 10m ★
6 AM
3h 22m
8 AM
3h 46m
10 AM
3h 31m
12 PM
3h 28m
3 PM
3h 32m
5 PM
3h 45m
8 PM
3h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Georgetown, KY, KY

Georgetown, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Ashland, KY, KY

Ashland, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Georgetown, KY to Ashland, KY covers 159.5 miles and takes about 3h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 23, Pine Mountain Road, Martin Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.8 miles on US 23. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.94 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

79.7 miles from Georgetown, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 22m. Total distance: 159.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (70%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 22m highway drive covering 159.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 23 and Pine Mountain Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 67.8 miles on US 23.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 23 is the longest continuous segment at about 67.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 and Pine Mountain Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near KY 179.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 22m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (KY 179): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 10.7 miles (US 119 / United States Highway 119): Navigation decision point; at 34.2 miles (KY 15; KY 931): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
2.6 mi into trip | ~4m in | KY 179

Turn sharp right onto KY 179

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
10.7 mi into trip | ~18m in | US 119 / United States Highway 119

At end of road, turn right onto US 119 / United States Highway 119

Navigation decision point

5
34.2 mi into trip | ~53m in | KY 15; KY 931

Turn left onto KY 15; KY 931

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
86.1 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
86.3 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | US 23; US 460

Merge onto US 23; US 460

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 23 67.8 mi 1h 17m
Pine Mountain Road 15.8 mi 26m
Martin Road 14.5 mi 16m
East Highway 80 11.9 mi 13m
KY 160 10.9 mi 16m
KY 15 9 mi 10m
KY 179 7.5 mi 13m
Red Fox Road 3.9 mi 4m
Longest stretch: US 23 — 67.8 mi, about 1h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Georgetown, KY and Ashland, KY.

1

Start on KY 38

2.6 mi · 4 min · KY 38
2

Turn sharp right onto KY 179

7.0 mi · 12 min · KY 179
3

Turn right onto KY 179

0.5 mi · 51 sec · KY 179
4

Continue on KY 179

305 ft · 12 sec · Gilley Hollow Road
5

Turn left onto KY 179

0.5 mi · 53 sec · College Road
6

At end of road, turn right onto US 119

2.6 mi · 3 min · United States Highway 119
7

Continue on US 119

2.1 mi · 2 min · West Johnson Street
8

Continue on US 119

0.1 mi · 7 sec · South Rasnick Road
9

Continue on US 119

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Coldiron Branch Road
10

Continue on US 119

16 mi · 26 min · Pine Mountain Road
11

Turn left onto KY 15

2.3 mi · 2 min · Whitesburg Bypass
12

Turn left onto KY 15; KY 931

9.0 mi · 10 min · KY 15; KY 931
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on KY 15; KY 160

3.9 mi · 4 min · Red Fox Road
14

Turn right onto KY 160

11 mi · 16 min · KY 160
15

At end of road, turn right onto KY 160; KY 550

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Hindman Bypass
16

Continue on KY 160

1.4 mi · 2 min · Hindman Bypass
17

Turn right onto KY 80

12 mi · 13 min · East Highway 80
18

Continue on KY 80

15 mi · 16 min · Martin Road
19

Merge onto KY 80

331 ft · 11 sec · Water Gap Road
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Use the left lane.
21

Merge onto US 23; US 460

68 mi · 1 hr 17 min · US 23; US 460
Use the straight lane.
22

Continue on US 23; US 60

1.2 mi · 1 min · Walnut Street
23

Continue on US 23; US 60

0.8 mi · 58 sec · Center Street
24

Continue on US 23; US 60

3.4 mi · 4 min · Winchester Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
25

Turn left onto 17th Street

230 ft · 10 sec · 17th Street
26

Arrive at destination

17th Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.7 miles from Georgetown, KY, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.8 miles.

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 35 miles or 54m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 79.7 miles or 1h 50m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 49m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ashland, KY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Georgetown, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Georgetown, KY

This is one driving day of about 159.5 miles and 3h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Georgetown, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 23 for about 67.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 79.7 mi from Georgetown, KY · 1h 50m into the drive

city and county seat of Perry County, Kentucky, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hazard, KY

80 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

Hazard, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Prestonsburg, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 79.7 miles from Georgetown, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 23 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.8 miles.

Arriving in Ashland, KY

The final approach into Ashland, KY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Ashland, KY.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Billy Ray's Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Prestonsburg, Kentucky

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 91.1

Hours: 7:30 am–8 pm

+16068861744

Visit website

Yamato Steak House of Japan

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Prestonsburg, Kentucky

1.4 mi

Royal Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Prestonsburg, Kentucky

1.6 mi

Billy Ray's Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 91.1

Prestonsburg, Kentucky

Hours: 7:30 am–8 pm

+16068861744

Visit website

Yamato Steak House of Japan

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 91.1

Prestonsburg, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16065064488

Visit website

Royal Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 91.1

Prestonsburg, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16062300523

Visit website

The Dinner Bucket Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $50 to $10 mile 11.4

Benham, Kentucky

Hours: 4–8 pm

Luigi's - Whitesburg, KY

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 34.2

Whitesburg, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+16064031151

Visit website

The Highlands Museum & Discovery Center

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 159.5

Ashland, Kentucky

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+16063298888

Visit website

Kingdom Come State Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 11.4

Cumberland, Kentucky

Hours: 8:30 am–5 pm

+16065892478

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.94 one way

$49.87 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $27.38 $54.76
premium $4.89 $30.69 $61.39
diesel $5.61 $35.22 $70.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 55.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 47.9 0 $16.75 $7.66
Efficient EV 39.9 0 $13.96 $6.38
EV Truck/SUV 63.8 0 $22.33 $10.21

Gas CO2

56 kg

EV CO2

19 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Georgetown, KY

Afternoon in Georgetown on Friday

Local time

1:06 PM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ashland, KY

Afternoon in Ashland on Friday

Local time

1:06 PM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

20 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 22m 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 Georgetown, KY to Ashland, KY covers 159.5 miles and takes about 3h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 23, Pine Mountain Road, Martin Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 79.7 miles from Georgetown, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.94 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 22m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (KY 179): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 10.7 miles (US 119 / United States Highway 119): Navigation decision point; at 34.2 miles (KY 15; KY 931): Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Georgetown, KY to Ashland, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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