Origin
Lexington, KY
Night in Lexington on Wednesday
Local time
10:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lexington, KY to Clay City, KY
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
50m
Distance
39.2 mi
63 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clay City, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 39.2-mile drive from Lexington, KY, to Clay City, KY, will take you about 50 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. Primarily utilizing Mountain Parkway and I 64, with a brief stint on Man O War Boulevard, this route offers a straightforward journey within the Southeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of just $6, it's an economical choice for a quick getaway. The highway-focused profile means you'll spend most of your time on faster roads, so no overnight stays are necessary for this particular stretch.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
19.6 miles from Lexington, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a drive that's predominantly highway, with 69% of the journey on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16.1 miles on the Mountain Parkway, offering a solid period of consistent travel. This highway-focused profile suggests a route designed for efficiency rather than winding scenic byways. You'll likely experience a blend of interstate speeds and potentially some transitions onto slightly less direct parkway sections.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Mountain Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Mountain Parkway and I 64. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Gainesway Drive.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 39.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Gainesway Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Pimlico Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles (US 60 / Winchester Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Gainesway Drive
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Pimlico Parkway
Turn left onto Pimlico Parkway
Navigation decision point
7
6.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
US 60 / Winchester Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 60 / Winchester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
21.1 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Mountain Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Mountain Parkway toward Mountain Parkway east , Prestonsburg, Campton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Mountain Parkway east , Prestonsburg, Ca...
5
37.4 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lexington, KY and Clay City, KY, road signs point toward Mountain Parkway East, Prestonsburg and Campton.
Mountain Parkway East
21.1 mi in
|
~29m
|
via Mountain Parkway
Prestonsburg
21.1 mi in
|
~29m
|
via Mountain Parkway
Campton
21.1 mi in
|
~29m
|
via Mountain Parkway
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Parkway | 16.1 mi | 17m |
| I 64 | 9.7 mi | 10m |
| Man O War Boulevard | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Winchester Road | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Haley Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Pimlico Parkway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Gainesway Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Mountain Parkway
— 16.1 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, KY and Clay City, KY.
1
Start on Coldstream Drive
261 ft
·
13 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
2
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Gainesway Drive
3
Turn left onto Pimlico Parkway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Pimlico Parkway
4
Turn left onto Man O War Boulevard
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Man O War Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 60
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Winchester Road
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto KY 859
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Haley Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
8
Merge onto I 64
9.7 mi
·
10 min
·
I 64
9
Keep slight right at fork onto Mountain Parkway
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Mountain Parkway
Toward Mountain Parkway east , Prestonsburg, Campton
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
11
Keep slight left at fork
102 ft
·
6 sec
12
Turn left onto KY 15
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Winchester Road
13
Turn left onto KY 15
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
KY 11; KY 15
Trip Plan
Given the short 50-minute duration, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can leave at your leisure, as pacing isn't a major concern. Keep an eye on your fuel; with a $6 estimated cost, a full tank before you leave Lexington should be more than sufficient. The longest stretch on Mountain Parkway is 16.1 miles, so plan any brief stops before or after this segment. Since you're staying within Kentucky, you won't need to worry about crossing state lines or significant time zone adjustments.
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 19.6 miles from Lexington, KY, or about 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.1 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 39 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 19.6 miles or 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clay City, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Lexington, KY.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lexington, KY
This is one driving day of about 39.2 miles and 50m.
At 39.2 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Mountain Parkway for about 16.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.6 mi from Lexington, KY · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.6 miles from Lexington, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clay City, KY
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Clay City, KY if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.13 one way
$12.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.73 | $13.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.54 | $15.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.65 | $17.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.12 | $1.88 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Clay City, KY
Night in Clay City on Wednesday
Local time
10:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Winchester, KY
20 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
50m 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 Lexington, KY to Clay City, KY covers 39.2 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mountain Parkway, I 64, Man O War Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.6 miles from Lexington, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.13 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 39.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Gainesway Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Pimlico Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles (US 60 / Winchester Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Lexington, KY and Clay City, KY, road signs point toward Mountain Parkway East, Prestonsburg and Campton.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Clay City, KY
More trips to Clay City, KY
Explore more options from Lexington, KY or browse trips ending in Clay City, KY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KY road trips.
Explore maps for Lexington, KY or Clay City, KY on MapSof.net.