Origin
Meads, KY
Morning in Meads on Wednesday
Local time
7:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Meads, KY to Prestonsburg, KY
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
72.5 mi
117 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Meads, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Prestonsburg, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 72.5-mile drive from Meads, KY to Prestonsburg, KY will take approximately 1 hour and 26 minutes to complete. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of around $11. The route primarily utilizes Louisa Road and US 23, with a small portion on I-64. You'll be staying within the Southeast region of Kentucky for the entirety of this journey. Expect a turn-heavy local drive experience that's manageable for a day excursion.
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
36.2 miles from Meads, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This route offers a "turn-heavy local drive" profile, meaning you'll be navigating a series of turns rather than cruising on long, straightaways. Only 20% of the drive is on highways, with the majority being local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 55.9 miles on Louisa Road, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before the local roads resume. The road character will likely shift between the faster sections of US 23 and I-64 to the more winding nature of Louisa Road.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Louisa Road is the longest continuous segment at about 55.9 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Marsh Hill Drive.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 26m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Marsh Hill Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 60 / US Route 60): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Marsh Hill Drive
Turn right onto Marsh Hill Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 60 / US Route 60
Turn right onto US 60 / US Route 60
Navigation decision point
3
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
6
9.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward US 23: Louisa, Ashland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 191
Toward US 23: Louisa, Ashland
6
71.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
KY 1428 / North Lake Drive
At end of road, turn right onto KY 1428 / North Lake Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Meads, KY to Prestonsburg, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Ashland along the way.
Ashland
9.5 mi in
|
~13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Louisa Road | 55.9 mi | 1h 3m |
| US 23 | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| I 64 | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| US Route 60 | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| KY 180 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| KY 1428 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Lake Drive | 1 mi | 1m |
| Midland Trail Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Louisa Road
— 55.9 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meads, KY and Prestonsburg, KY.
1
Start on this road
56 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on Midland Trail Road
353 ft
·
16 sec
·
Midland Trail Road
3
Turn right onto Marsh Hill Drive
110 ft
·
5 sec
·
Marsh Hill Drive
4
Turn right onto US 60
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
US Route 60
5
Continue on US 60
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
US Route 60
6
Continue on KY 180
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
KY 180
7
Turn left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge onto I 64
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 64
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 191
Toward US 23: Louisa, Ashland
10
Turn right onto US 23
56 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
Louisa Road
11
Continue on US 23; US 460
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
US 23; US 460
12
Turn left onto KY 1428
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
KY 1428
13
At end of road, turn right onto KY 1428
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Lake Drive
Use the right lane.
14
Arrive at destination
KY 1428
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 26 minute duration, this drive is easily accomplished in a single day. You can depart at your leisure, but consider leaving earlier if you prefer to avoid any potential local traffic. With no specific stops noted, you have the flexibility to decide if and when you'd like to pull over. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $11 estimated cost suggests a moderate consumption. A practical tip for this turn-heavy route is to be mindful of posted speed limits, especially as you transition between different road types.
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 36.2 miles from Meads, KY, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.9 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 72.5 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.2 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prestonsburg, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Meads, 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 Meads, KY
This is one driving day of about 72.5 miles and 1h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Meads, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Louisa Road for about 55.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.2 mi from Meads, KY · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 72.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.2 miles from Meads, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Prestonsburg, KY
The final approach into Prestonsburg, 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 Prestonsburg, 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
$11.33 one way
$22.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.44 | $24.89 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.95 | $27.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.01 | $32.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.61 | $3.48 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.34 | $2.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29 | 0 | $10.15 | $4.64 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Prestonsburg, KY
Morning in Prestonsburg on Wednesday
Local time
7:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°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
26 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 26m 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 Meads, KY to Prestonsburg, KY covers 72.5 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Louisa Road, US 23, I 64. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.2 miles from Meads, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.33 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 is a straightforward 1h 26m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Marsh Hill Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 60 / US Route 60): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Meads, KY to Prestonsburg, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Ashland along the way.
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