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Trip from Ironville, KY to Clay City, KY

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 1m

Distance

99.1 mi

160 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 53m ★
6 AM
2h 1m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 7m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 8m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 56m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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village and civil parish in Amber Valley district, Derbyshire, England, UK

Ironville, KY

Wikimedia Commons

human settlement in Powell County, Kentucky, United States of America

Clay City, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 99.1-mile drive from Ironville, KY to Clay City, KY is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take just over 2 hours. You'll be navigating primarily on local roads like Brett Street, Pine Street, and West Donta Road, with no highway driving involved. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $15. Given its relatively short duration and local road focus, this route is best suited for a relaxed day trip where you can take your time. Both Ironville and Clay City are located within Kentucky's Southeast region, so you'll be staying within the same general geographic area for the entirety of your travel.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

49.6 miles from Ironville, KY

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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 64 71.2 mi 1h 16m
Levee Road 10 mi 14m
US Route 60 4.6 mi 7m
Black Creek Road 4.1 mi 6m
US 60 3.6 mi 5m
North Maysville Street 1.2 mi 1m
Main Street 1 mi 1m
West Donta Road 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 64 — 71.2 mi, about 1h 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ironville, KY and Clay City, KY.

1

Start on Tiffany Drive

382 ft · 16 sec · Tiffany Drive
2

Continue on Brett Street

524 ft · 28 sec · Brett Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto Pine Street

157 ft · 7 sec · Pine Street
4

Turn left onto KY 766

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Donta Road
5

Turn right onto KY 766

94 ft · 3 sec · KY 766
6

Continue on KY 766

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Roberts Drive
7

Turn left onto KY 766

0.5 mi · 1 min · Bob McCullough Drive
8

Turn right onto US 60

0.3 mi · 24 sec · 13th Street
9

Continue on US 60

4.6 mi · 7 min · US Route 60
10

Turn right onto US 60

3.6 mi · 5 min · US 60
11

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
12

Merge onto I 64

71 mi · 1 hr 16 min · I 64
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Exit 110 Toward Us 460, KY 11: Mount Sterling, Paris
14

Turn left onto US 460; KY 11

0.4 mi · 48 sec · Maysville Road
Use the left lane.
15

Continue on US 460; KY 11

1.2 mi · 1 min · North Maysville Street
16

Turn right onto US 60; US 460; KY 11; KY 713

364 ft · 11 sec · West Main Street
17

Turn left onto US 460; KY 11

0.4 mi · 37 sec · South Bank Street
18

Turn right onto KY 11

10.0 mi · 14 min · Levee Road
19

Continue on KY 11

4.1 mi · 6 min · Black Creek Road
20

At end of road, turn left onto KY 11; KY 15

1.0 mi · 1 min · Main Street
21

Arrive at destination

KY 11; KY 15

Trip Plan

For this 2-hour, 99.1-mile journey, departing in the morning or early afternoon will give you plenty of daylight. Since there are no designated stops and the drive is short, you have the flexibility to pause whenever you find a convenient spot, though you won't encounter long stretches without opportunities to pull over. Keep an eye out for changing speed limits as you transition between different local areas. With a fuel cost of approximately $15, you should have enough gas for the trip, but it's always wise to start with a full tank, especially on local roads where gas stations might be less frequent.

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 49.6 miles from Ironville, KY, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.2 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 22 miles or 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 49.6 miles or 1h 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 34m

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 Ironville, 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 Ironville, KY

This is one driving day of about 99.1 miles and 2h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Ironville, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 71.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Rowan County, Kentucky

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Morehead, KY

50 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

Grayson, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Morehead, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 49.6 miles from Ironville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

M & J Cafe and Food Truck

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ashland, Kentucky

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+16063270001

Visit website

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Ashland, Kentucky

2.7 mi

Top Coffee Stop

The Hub Coffee Co.

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mt Sterling, Kentucky

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 85

Hours: 8 am–9 pm

The Hub Coffee Co.

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mt Sterling, Kentucky

2 mi

Speedy Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour Inexpensiv mile 21.2

Grayson, Kentucky

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16064744419

Visit website

M & J Cafe and Food Truck

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Ashland, Kentucky

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+16063270001

Visit website

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Ashland, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+16063931138

Visit website

Root-A-Bakers Bakery & Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 56.6

Morehead, Kentucky

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+16067804282

Visit website

Sweet Caroline's Cafe

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10

Ashland, Kentucky

Hours: 6:30 am–9 pm

+16064087467

Visit website

China Cafe

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 56.6

Morehead, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16067842388

The Hub Coffee Co.

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 85

Mt Sterling, Kentucky

Hours: 8 am–9 pm

The Hub Coffee Co.

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 85

Mt Sterling, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18595850406

Screamin Beans Coffee Shop, LLC

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 99.1

Stanton, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+16064816627

Visit website

The Hub Coffee Co.

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 92

Camargo, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

The Highlands Museum & Discovery Center

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Ashland, Kentucky

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+16063298888

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 83.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Pine Street

At end of road, turn left onto Pine Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

6
81.7 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in

Take the exit toward Us 460, KY 11: Mount Sterling, Paris

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 110 Toward Us 460, KY 11: Mount Sterling, Paris
4
82 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in | US 460; KY 11 / Maysville Road

Turn left onto US 460; KY 11 / Maysville Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
4
83.6 mi into trip | ~1h 37m in | US 60; US 460; KY 11; KY 713 / West Main Street

Turn right onto US 60; US 460; KY 11; KY 713 / West Main Street

Navigation decision point

4
83.7 mi into trip | ~1h 37m in | US 460; KY 11 / South Bank Street

Turn left onto US 460; KY 11 / South Bank Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.49 one way

$30.99 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.01 $34.02
premium $4.89 $19.07 $38.14
diesel $5.61 $21.88 $43.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.7 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 29.7 0 $10.41 $4.76
Efficient EV 24.8 0 $8.67 $3.96
EV Truck/SUV 39.6 0 $13.87 $6.34

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 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

Ironville, KY

Late night in Ironville on Sunday

Local time

4:13 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Mostly Clear

SW 6 to 10 mph 11% chance Live forecast

Destination

Clay City, KY

Late night in Clay City on Sunday

Local time

4:13 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°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

13 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

2h 1m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route. With a 0% highway share, you'll be consistently on smaller roads, requiring your attention for frequent turns and adjustments. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests you'll be making many directional changes. This means the driving experience will be more about navigating through communities and varied local terrain rather than covering long distances on high-speed roads. It's a route that keeps you engaged with the immediate surroundings.

80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.2 mi on I 64.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Levee Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Pine Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 1m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Pine Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 81.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82 miles (US 460; KY 11 / Maysville Road): Lane positioning matters here.

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 Ironville, KY to Clay City, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Paris along the way.

Paris

81.7 mi in | ~1h 34m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 99.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (80%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 71.2 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 0.2 miles (Pine Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 81.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82 miles (US 460; KY 11 / Maysville Road): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clay City, 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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