Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
17m
Distance
12.7 mi
20 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Prestonsburg, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Eastern, KY
Vietnam Hidden Light
Prestonsburg, KY to Eastern, KY is 12.7 miles and takes about 17 minutes via KY 80 and US 23, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within Kentucky's Southeast region, offering a straightforward drive. It's a quick connection, ideal for those needing to move between these two points without a significant time commitment. Consider this route if you're looking for a simple, direct path with minimal fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| KY 80 | 9.6 mi | 10m |
| Town Branch Road | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| US 23 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| KY 550 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Graham Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Lake Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Prestonsburg, KY and Eastern, KY.
Start on KY 1428
Turn left onto KY 3384
At end of road, turn left onto KY 3384
At end of road, turn left onto US 23; US 460
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn right onto KY 80
Turn right onto KY 550
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 2.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto KY 3384 / West Graham Street
Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn left onto KY 3384 / Town Branch Road
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto US 23; US 460
Navigation decision point
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$1.88 one way
$3.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $2.07 | $4.14 |
| premium | $4.72 | $2.36 | $4.72 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $2.40 | $4.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.33 | $0.61 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.11 | $0.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.81 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Prestonsburg on Monday
Local time
3:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Patchy Fog
Destination
Late night in Eastern on Monday
Local time
3:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Patchy Fog
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 82% of the journey on main roads like KY 80 and US 23. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 9.6 miles on KY 80, providing a consistent pace. The profile suggests a highway-like feel for most of the trip, meaning you can expect relatively smooth travel and steady speeds. While not a winding scenic byway, it offers efficient transit through the region.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on KY 80 and Town Branch Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KY 3384 / West Graham Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 17m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KY 3384 / West Graham Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (KY 3384 / Town Branch Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (US 23; US 460): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
527 ft
Total Descent
486 ft
Highest Point
977 ft
~6.3 mi in
Elevation Range
344 ft
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: pizza
Hours: Th-Sa 11:00-23:00; Tu-We 11:00-21:00; Su...
Fast_food
Near the start, short detour
KY
Cuisine: burger
Hours: Mo-Sa 06:00-22:00; Su 07:00-22:00
Visit websitePoints of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
“Star City of Eastern Kentucky” · Founded 1818
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 17m. Total distance: 12.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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