Origin
Nicholasville, KY
Night in Nicholasville on Wednesday
Local time
11:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nicholasville, KY to Clay City, KY
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
49.7 mi
80 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nicholasville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Clay City, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Nicholasville, KY to Clay City, KY covers 49.7 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lexington Road, Nicholasville Road, KY 4 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.77 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
24.8 miles from Nicholasville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 4m drive with frequent turns across 49.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lexington Road 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 Nicholasville, KY to Clay City, KY is easy. At 1h 4m 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 Nicholasville, KY to Clay City, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Road | — | — |
| Nicholasville Road | — | — |
| KY 4 East | — | — |
| New Circle Road | — | — |
| Alumni Drive | — | — |
| Man O War Boulevard | — | — |
| Winchester Road | — | — |
| Haley Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Lexington Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nicholasville, KY and Clay City, KY.
1
Start on North Main Street
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
2
Turn right onto Lexington Road
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Lexington Road
3
Continue on Nicholasville Road
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Nicholasville Road
4
Take the exit slight right toward KY 4 East: New Circle Road
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
KY 4 East: New Circle Road
5
Merge slight left onto New Circle Road
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
New Circle Road
6
Take the exit slight right toward Alumni Drive
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Alumni Drive
7
Turn right onto Alumni Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Alumni Drive
8
Turn left onto Man O War Boulevard
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Man O War Boulevard
9
At the end of the road, turn right onto Winchester Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Winchester Road
10
Turn left onto Haley Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Haley Road
11
Take the ramp slight right
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
12
Merge slight left
9.7 mi
·
10 min
13
Keep slight right to continue on Mountain Parkway
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Mountain Parkway
14
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
15
Keep slight left
102 ft
·
6 sec
16
Turn left onto Winchester Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Winchester Road
17
Turn left onto Main Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
18
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 24.8 miles from Nicholasville, 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 11 miles or 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.8 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 54m
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 Nicholasville, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Nicholasville, KY
This is one driving day of about 49.7 miles and 1h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 11 miles from Nicholasville, 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 24.8 mi from Nicholasville, KY · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.8 miles from Nicholasville, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.77 one way
$15.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.53 | $17.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.56 | $19.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.97 | $21.95 |
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: 17.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.39 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.35 | $1.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.96 | $3.18 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
11:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 4m 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 Nicholasville, KY to Clay City, KY covers 49.7 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lexington Road, Nicholasville Road, KY 4 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.8 miles from Nicholasville, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.77 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 Nicholasville, KY to Clay City, KY is easy. At 1h 4m 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 Nicholasville, KY to Clay City, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Nicholasville, KY to Clay City, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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