Origin
Clay City, KY
Morning in Clay City on Sunday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clay City, KY to Lexington, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
39.2 mi
63 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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
If you are planning to travel from Clay City to Lexington, expect a straightforward 39.2-mile journey that typically takes about 50 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it functions primarily as a quick transit between the southeastern region of Kentucky and the heart of the state. Budgeting around $6 for fuel is sufficient for the drive, making it a very economical choice. Because the route is short and direct, there is no need to consider an overnight split. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors, ensuring a consistent and predictable travel experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Parkway | 16.4 mi | 17m |
| I 64 | 9.6 mi | 10m |
| Man O War Boulevard | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Winchester Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Haley Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Pimlico Parkway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Gainesway Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Mountain Parkway
— 16.4 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clay City, KY and Lexington, KY.
1
Start on KY 11; KY 15
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
3
Merge onto Mountain Parkway
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Mountain Parkway
4
Merge onto I 64
9.6 mi
·
10 min
·
I 64
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward KY 859: Bluegrass Station
6
Turn left onto KY 859
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Haley Road
7
At end of road, turn right onto US 60
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Winchester Road
8
Turn left onto KY 1425
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Man O War Boulevard
9
Turn right onto Pimlico Parkway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Pimlico Parkway
10
Turn right onto Gainesway Drive
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Gainesway Drive
11
Turn right onto Coldstream Drive
261 ft
·
9 sec
·
Coldstream Drive
12
Arrive at destination
Coldstream Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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 Clay City, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 27.7 and 37.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
27.7 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward KY 859: Bluegrass Station
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward KY 859: Bluegrass Station
4
28 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
KY 859 / Haley Road
Turn left onto KY 859 / Haley Road
Navigation decision point
5
29.5 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
US 60 / Winchester Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 60 / Winchester Road
Navigation decision point
4
32.6 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
KY 1425 / Man O War Boulevard
Turn left onto KY 1425 / Man O War Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
37.9 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
Pimlico Parkway
Turn right onto Pimlico Parkway
Navigation decision point
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.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
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
Lexington, KY
Morning in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°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 warmer 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused route consists of 69% high-speed roads, meaning you will spend most of your time on the Mountain Parkway, I-64, and Man O’ War Boulevard. Expect a fluid driving experience, especially during the 16.4-mile stretch along the Mountain Parkway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip. The transition from rural roads to larger, multi-lane thoroughfares happens quickly as you head toward Lexington. You won't encounter technical, winding backroads here; instead, you get a reliable, fast-paced drive that prioritizes efficiency over scenic diversions.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.4 mi on Mountain Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Mountain Parkway and I 64. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 27.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 39.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 27.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 28 miles (KY 859 / Haley Road): Navigation decision point; at 29.5 miles (US 60 / Winchester Road): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Lexington, KY
Full guide →Lexington is the second largest city in Kentucky, located in the Bluegrass Region. Known as the Horse Capital of the World, Lexington has traditionally been dominated by the horse industry and is also heavily influenced by the University of Kentucky, the state's flagship university and the largest employer in the city. The horse industry has greatly influenced Lexington's culture and scenic beauty; the University of Kentucky and Transylvania University contribute to a college town atmosphere with a richer and more diverse culture than some might expect from its size and location. Lexington's compact central downtown district is surrounded by historic neighborhoods. Lexington is in the heart of the Bluegrass region of Kentucky and is still home to hundreds of horse farms.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 39.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.4 miles on Mountain Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 27.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 28 miles (KY 859 / Haley Road): Navigation decision point; at 29.5 miles (US 60 / Winchester Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lexington, KY before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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