Origin
Hopkinsville, KY
Night in Hopkinsville on Wednesday
Local time
9:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hopkinsville, KY to Clay City, KY
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 38m
Distance
248.6 mi
400 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 25m
★
6 AM
4h 38m
8 AM
5h 5m
10 AM
4h 48m
12 PM
4h 45m
3 PM
4h 49m
5 PM
5h 4m
8 PM
4h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hopkinsville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Clay City, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hopkinsville, KY to Clay City, KY covers 248.6 miles and takes about 4h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 9th Street, McLean Avenue, Elizabethtown for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.87 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
124.3 miles from Hopkinsville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 38m drive with frequent turns across 248.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 9th Street 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 38m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hopkinsville, KY to Clay City, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 9th Street | — | — |
| McLean Avenue | — | — |
| Elizabethtown | — | — |
| Western Kentucky Parkway | — | — |
| I 65 North | — | — |
| Lexington | — | — |
| Bluegrass Parkway | — | — |
| US 60 West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 9th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hopkinsville, KY and Clay City, KY.
1
Start on Bethel Street
302 ft
·
17 sec
·
Bethel Street
2
Turn right onto West 9th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 9th Street
3
Turn left onto McLean Avenue
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
McLean Avenue
4
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
5
Merge slight left
24 mi
·
26 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward Elizabethtown
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Elizabethtown
7
Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway
98 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
10
Merge slight left
1.4 mi
·
1 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Lexington, Bardstown
12
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
71 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
Bluegrass Parkway
13
Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Frankfort
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 60 West: Frankfort
14
Turn right onto Lexington Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Road
15
Continue on Versailles Road
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Versailles Road
16
Take the exit straight toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
KY 4 North: New Circle Road
17
Merge slight left onto New Circle Road
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
New Circle Road
18
Turn left onto North Broadway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broadway
19
Turn left onto I 75 South, I 64 East: Knoxville, Ashland
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 75 South, I 64 East: Knoxville, Ashland
20
Merge slight left
1.6 mi
·
1 min
21
Take the exit slight left toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland
22
Keep slight right to continue on Mountain Parkway
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Mountain Parkway
23
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
24
Keep slight left
102 ft
·
6 sec
25
Turn left onto Winchester Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Winchester Road
26
Turn left onto Main Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
27
Arrive at your destination
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 124.3 miles from Hopkinsville, KY, or about 2h 19m 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 55 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.3 miles or 2h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clay City, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hopkinsville, 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 Hopkinsville, KY
This is one driving day of about 248.6 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Hopkinsville, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 124.3 mi from Hopkinsville, KY · 2h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
124 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 124.3 miles from Hopkinsville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clay City, KY
The final approach into Clay City, 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 Clay City, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.87 one way
$77.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
87 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $42.67 | $85.35 |
| premium | $4.89 | $47.84 | $95.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.89 | $109.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.6 | 0 | $26.10 | $11.93 |
| Efficient EV | 62.2 | 0 | $21.75 | $9.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 99.4 | 1 | $34.80 | $15.91 |
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Clay City, KY
Night in Clay City on Wednesday
Local time
10:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
2 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
4h 38m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Hopkinsville, KY to Clay City, KY covers 248.6 miles and takes about 4h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 9th Street, McLean Avenue, Elizabethtown. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 124.3 miles from Hopkinsville, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.87 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 38m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hopkinsville, KY to Clay City, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Hopkinsville, KY to Clay City, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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