Spanning 90.7 miles, this trek from Claryville to Nicholasville is a straightforward journey through the Southeast region of Kentucky. You should plan for about 1 hour and 59 minutes of total drive time, making it an ideal candidate for a simple one-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, it remains an affordable excursion that doesn't require an overnight stay. The path relies heavily on I-75 before transitioning onto Lexington Road and Nicholasville Road to reach your destination. Because this is a single-day commitment, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Overall, the drive is a practical connection between these two Kentucky points that prioritizes efficiency over complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.4 miles from Claryville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
55.8 mi
59m
Nicholasville Road
4.7 mi
8m
Lexington Road
4.5 mi
5m
Walton Nicholson Pike
4.1 mi
6m
Newtown Pike
3.3 mi
4m
Visalia Road
2.9 mi
4m
Creektrace Road
2.8 mi
5m
Taylor Mill Road
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 55.8 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Claryville, KY and Nicholasville, KY.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi·51 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right
486 ft·37 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto South Licking Pike
1.6 mi·3 min·South Licking Pike
4
Turn left onto KY 536
2.8 mi·5 min·Creektrace Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto KY 177; KY 536
0.5 mi·49 sec·Decoursey Pike
6
Turn right onto KY 536
2.9 mi·4 min·Visalia Road
7
At end of road, turn right onto KY 536
1.2 mi·1 min·Staffordsburg Road
8
Turn left onto KY 536
398 ft·9 sec·Maverick Road
9
Turn left onto KY 16; KY 536
2.1 mi·3 min·Taylor Mill Road
10
Continue on KY 16
4.1 mi·6 min·Walton Nicholson Pike
11
Continue on KY 16
0.4 mi·37 sec·Walton Nicholson Road
12
Turn right onto US 25; KY 16
0.6 mi·54 sec·Dixie Highway
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on US 25; KY 16
0.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
14
Turn right onto Old Beaver Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·Old Beaver Road
15
Continue on Stephenson Mill Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Stephenson Mill Road
16
Keep slight left at fork onto School Road
0.5 mi·1 min·School Road
17
Turn right onto KY 14; KY 16
0.4 mi·42 sec·Mary Grubbs Highway
Use the right lane.
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 75 South: LexingtonUse the left lane.
19
Merge onto I 75
56 mi·59 min·I 75
Toward I 75 South: LexingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 115Toward KY 922: Airport, LexingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto KY 922
3.3 mi·4 min·Newtown Pike
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on KY 922
0.8 mi·1 min·Oliver Lewis Way
23
Continue on Bolivar Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Bolivar Street
24
At end of road, turn right onto South Upper Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·South Upper Street
25
Turn straight onto South Limestone
0.8 mi·1 min·South Limestone
26
Continue on US 27
4.7 mi·8 min·Nicholasville Road
Use the left lane.
27
Continue on US 27
4.5 mi·5 min·Lexington Road
28
Turn left onto US 27 Business
1.7 mi·2 min·North Main Street
Use the left lane.
29
Arrive at destination
US 27 Business
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-two-hour drive, you have the advantage of choosing a departure time that avoids peak traffic hours on I-75. Because you won't need to plan for overnight accommodations, focus your energy on preparing for the 55.8-mile interstate segment, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your trip. While the route is short enough to drive in one go, keeping $14 set aside for fuel ensures you won't have to worry about rising gas prices mid-trip. Given that the route concludes on local roads like Nicholasville Road, stay alert for changing speed limits as you move away from the highway. This flexibility allows you to enjoy a stress-free transit without the need for complex multi-day logistics.
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 45.4 miles from Claryville, KY, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 20 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.4 miles or 1h 1m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nicholasville, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Claryville, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Claryville, KY
This is one driving day of about 90.7 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Claryville, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 55.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 74.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
17.9 mi into trip|~31m in|KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway
Turn right onto KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
18.2 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 South: Lexington
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 75 South: Lexington
6
18.5 mi into trip|~33m in|I 75
Merge onto I 75 toward I 75 South: Lexington
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 South: Lexington
8
74.3 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward KY 922: Airport, Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 115
Toward KY 922: Airport, Lexington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.18 one way
$28.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.57
$31.14
premium
$4.89
$17.45
$34.91
diesel
$5.61
$20.03
$40.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.2
0
$9.52
$4.35
Efficient EV
22.7
0
$7.94
$3.63
EV Truck/SUV
36.3
0
$12.70
$5.80
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 14, 2026
Origin
Claryville, KY
Morning
in Claryville on Sunday
Local time
7:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
S 9 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Nicholasville, KY
Morning
in Nicholasville on Sunday
Local time
7:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Williamstown, KY
45 mi in
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
8 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 59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Camp Nelson National Monument
National Monument
The US Army established Camp Nelson as a fortified supply depot in April 1863. Over the next 3 years, the site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for United States Colored Troops a...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 90.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 62% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will face a significant initial leg, featuring a 55.8-mile stretch on I-75 that demands steady focus. As you exit the interstate, the character of the road shifts significantly toward local traffic patterns along Lexington Road and Nicholasville Road. Expect a transition from high-speed interstate cruising to the more varied pace of regional surface streets. The combination of these road types provides a functional experience that balances rapid travel with the necessary navigation required to reach your final stop in Nicholasville.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.8 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Nicholasville Road. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 90.7 miles you will encounter 18 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: at 0.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 17.9 miles (KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,019 ft696 ft
Total Climb
623 ft
Total Descent
383 ft
Highest Point
1,019 ft
~84.2 mi in
Elevation Range
323 ft
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 Claryville, KY to Nicholasville, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Lexington along the way.
Nicholasville is a city of 31,000 (2019) in Jessamine County in the Bluegrass Region. The city serves as both a residential area for Lexington-area commuters and as an employment and shopping center for central Kentucky.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 90.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.8 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Nicholasville, KY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 17.9 miles (KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Camp Nelson National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Nicholasville, KY before heading back.
