This 124.8-mile journey from Richmond to Ashland, Kentucky, is a straightforward one-day trip, estimated to take about 2 hours and 20 minutes. You'll primarily be navigating local roads like West Main Street and Lexington Road, with a brief stint on KY 627, as this route has no highway segments. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is $19, making it an economical option. Given its relatively short duration and local road focus, it’s best suited for a single day of travel, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This drive stays within the Southeast region of Kentucky.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62.4 miles from Richmond, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
93.9 mi
1h 40m
Boonesborough Road
12.3 mi
15m
I 75
4.4 mi
4m
Winchester Avenue
3.4 mi
4m
Lexington Road
1.8 mi
2m
Boone Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Maple Street
1.3 mi
2m
Louisa Road
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 93.9 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, KY and Ashland, KY.
1
Start on KY 388
104 ft·6 sec·North 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52
0.5 mi·45 sec·West Main Street
3
Continue on US 25 Business; US 421 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·Lexington Road
4
Turn left onto US 25; US 421
0.2 mi·28 sec·Lexington Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
6
Merge onto I 75
4.4 mi·4 min·I 75
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward KY 627: Boonesborough, Winchester
8
Turn right onto KY 627
12 mi·15 min·Boonesborough Road
9
Continue on KY 627
1.3 mi·2 min·Boone Avenue
10
Turn left onto KY 627
1.3 mi·2 min·Maple Street
11
Continue on KY 627
0.1 mi·17 sec·Paris Road
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
13
Merge onto I 64
0.9 mi·59 sec·I 64
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·I 64
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 191Toward US 23: Louisa, Ashland
16
Turn left onto US 23
1.2 mi·1 min·Louisa Road
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 23
1.1 mi·1 min·Louisa Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 23; US 60
1.2 mi·1 min·Walnut Street
19
Continue on US 23; US 60
0.8 mi·58 sec·Center Street
20
Continue on US 23; US 60
3.4 mi·4 min·Winchester Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn left onto 17th Street
230 ft·10 sec·17th Street
22
Arrive at destination
17th Street
Trip Plan
For this 2 hour and 20 minute drive, a morning departure is ideal, allowing you to arrive in Ashland with plenty of daylight. Since there are no designated stops and the route is short, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous stops as needed. Be mindful of the turn-heavy nature of the drive; pay close attention to your navigation to avoid missing any turns, especially on roads like KY 627. With a fuel cost of around $19, you likely won't need to worry about refueling mid-trip, but it's always wise to start with a full tank.
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 62.4 miles from Richmond, KY, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.9 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 27 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.4 miles or 1h 12m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ashland, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Richmond, 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 Richmond, KY
This is one driving day of about 124.8 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Richmond, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 93.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 117 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street
Turn right onto US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
7 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward KY 627: Boonesborough, Winchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KY 627: Boonesborough, Winchester
4
23.6 mi into trip|~31m in|I 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
116.6 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 23: Louisa, Ashland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 191
Toward US 23: Louisa, Ashland
4
117 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|US 23 / Louisa Road
Turn left onto US 23 / Louisa Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.51 one way
$39.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.42
$42.84
premium
$4.89
$24.02
$48.03
diesel
$5.61
$27.55
$55.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.4
0
$13.10
$5.99
Efficient EV
31.2
0
$10.92
$4.99
EV Truck/SUV
49.9
0
$17.47
$7.99
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 20, 2026
Origin
Richmond, KY
Late night
in Richmond on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ashland, KY
Late night
in Ashland on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°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
2 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
2h 20m 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.
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 4.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 124.8-mile route, as it features a 0% highway share. Your longest uninterrupted stretch on a single road will depend on your specific navigation choices, but the overall character is one of consistent engagement with local roadways. This means you'll be navigating through communities and experiencing a more intimate connection with the landscape as you make frequent turns. The drive will feel like a series of connected local roads rather than a high-speed transit.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.9 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Boonesborough Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 124.8 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.6 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Richmond, KY to Ashland, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Winchester along the way.
Richmond is a city in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky, about 30 miles (50 km) south of Lexington. The county seat of Madison County, Richmond is best known as the home of Eastern Kentucky University.
Ashland is a city in Boyd County in the Kentucky Appalachians near the confluence of the Big Sandy and Ohio Rivers. It was founded as Poage's Landing in 1786, incorporated as Ashland in 1854, and has witnessed the likenesses of such personalities as Billy Ray Cyrus and the Judds (country singers Naomi and her older daughter Wynonna, who performed as The Judds before Wynonna launched a solo career, and younger daughter Ashley, who became a prominent actress).
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 124.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.9 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: near the start (US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.6 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Ashland, KY before heading back.
