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Trip from Georgetown, KY to Russell, KY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 32m

Distance

165.1 mi

266 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 20m ★
6 AM
3h 32m
8 AM
3h 57m
10 AM
3h 41m
12 PM
3h 38m
3 PM
3h 42m
5 PM
3h 55m
8 PM
3h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Georgetown, KY, KY

Georgetown, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Georgetown to Russell is 165.1 miles and takes about 3h 32m via US 23, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Kentucky, traversing the Southeast region. It's a manageable drive that primarily sticks to highway conditions, making it a straightforward trip. You'll find it's a practical choice if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points in the state.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

82.6 miles from Georgetown, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 23 67.8 mi 1h 17m
Pine Mountain Road 15.8 mi 26m
Martin Road 14.5 mi 16m
East Highway 80 11.9 mi 13m
KY 160 10.9 mi 16m
KY 15 9 mi 10m
Winchester Avenue 8.1 mi 11m
KY 179 7.5 mi 13m
Longest stretch: US 23 — 67.8 mi, about 1h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Georgetown, KY and Russell, KY.

1

Start on KY 38

2.6 mi · 4 min · KY 38
2

Turn sharp right onto KY 179

7.0 mi · 12 min · KY 179
3

Turn right onto KY 179

0.5 mi · 51 sec · KY 179
4

Continue on KY 179

305 ft · 12 sec · Gilley Hollow Road
5

Turn left onto KY 179

0.5 mi · 53 sec · College Road
6

At end of road, turn right onto US 119

2.6 mi · 3 min · United States Highway 119
7

Continue on US 119

2.1 mi · 2 min · West Johnson Street
8

Continue on US 119

0.1 mi · 7 sec · South Rasnick Road
9

Continue on US 119

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Coldiron Branch Road
10

Continue on US 119

16 mi · 26 min · Pine Mountain Road
11

Turn left onto KY 15

2.3 mi · 2 min · Whitesburg Bypass
12

Turn left onto KY 15; KY 931

9.0 mi · 10 min · KY 15; KY 931
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on KY 15; KY 160

3.9 mi · 4 min · Red Fox Road
14

Turn right onto KY 160

11 mi · 16 min · KY 160
15

At end of road, turn right onto KY 160; KY 550

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Hindman Bypass
16

Continue on KY 160

1.4 mi · 2 min · Hindman Bypass
17

Turn right onto KY 80

12 mi · 13 min · East Highway 80
18

Continue on KY 80

15 mi · 16 min · Martin Road
19

Merge onto KY 80

331 ft · 11 sec · Water Gap Road
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Use the left lane.
21

Merge onto US 23; US 460

68 mi · 1 hr 17 min · US 23; US 460
Use the straight lane.
22

Continue on US 23; US 60

1.2 mi · 1 min · Walnut Street
23

Continue on US 23; US 60

0.8 mi · 58 sec · Center Street
24

Continue on US 23; US 60

8.1 mi · 11 min · Winchester Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
25

Turn left onto KY 244

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Russell Viaduct
Use the left lane.
26

Turn right onto KY 750

0.7 mi · 2 min · Kenwood Drive
27

Turn sharp right onto Gesling Road

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Gesling Road
28

Arrive at destination

Gesling Road

Trip Plan

Given the 3h 32m duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day. To make the most of your drive, consider departing in the morning to allow for flexibility. The estimated fuel cost is $26, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Georgetown. You'll encounter one longest stretch of 67.8 miles on US 23, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of room to adjust your timing as needed.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 82.6 miles from Georgetown, KY, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.8 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 36 miles or 55m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 82.6 miles or 1h 53m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 54m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Russell, KY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Georgetown, 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 Georgetown, KY

This is one driving day of about 165.1 miles and 3h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Georgetown, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 23 for about 67.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city and county seat of Floyd County, Kentucky

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Prestonsburg, KY

83 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

Hazard, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Prestonsburg, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 82.6 miles from Georgetown, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 23 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.8 miles.

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 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 164.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
2.6 mi into trip | ~4m in | KY 179

Turn sharp right onto KY 179

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
10.7 mi into trip | ~18m in | US 119 / United States Highway 119

At end of road, turn right onto US 119 / United States Highway 119

Navigation decision point

5
34.2 mi into trip | ~53m in | KY 15; KY 931

Turn left onto KY 15; KY 931

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
86.1 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
164.2 mi into trip | ~3h 29m in | KY 244 / Russell Viaduct

Turn left onto KY 244 / Russell Viaduct

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.81 one way

$51.62 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $28.34 $56.68
premium $4.89 $31.77 $63.54
diesel $5.61 $36.45 $72.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 57.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 49.5 0 $17.34 $7.92
Efficient EV 41.3 0 $14.45 $6.60
EV Truck/SUV 66 0 $23.11 $10.57

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

19 kg (67% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Georgetown, KY

Morning in Georgetown on Tuesday

Local time

10:17 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Russell, KY

Morning in Russell on Tuesday

Local time

10:17 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°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

7 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

3h 32m 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 drive is mostly highway, with 68% of the 165.1 miles on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 67.8 miles on US 23. Expect a more rural cruising feel as you move between towns on these main roads. The transition from highway to surface roads happens gradually, so be ready for a change in pace.

68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.8 mi on US 23.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 and Pine Mountain Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near KY 179.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 32m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (KY 179): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 10.7 miles (US 119 / United States Highway 119): Navigation decision point; at 34.2 miles (KY 15; KY 931): Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 165.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (68%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 67.8 miles on US 23. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (KY 179): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 10.7 miles (US 119 / United States Highway 119): Navigation decision point; at 34.2 miles (KY 15; KY 931): Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Russell, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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