Embarking from Richmond, KY, this 118.9-mile journey to Catlettsburg, KY, is a manageable 2-hour and 13-minute drive. Designed as a single-day trip, it primarily utilizes local roads like West Main Street and Lexington Road, with a portion on KY 627, and features no highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of $18, this route offers a straightforward experience through Kentucky's Southeast region. Expect a journey that requires constant attention due to its turn-heavy nature, making it a good option for those who prefer navigating local byways over high-speed travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.4 miles from Richmond, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m 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
Lexington Road
1.8 mi
2m
Boone Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Maple Street
1.3 mi
2m
Louisa Road
1.2 mi
1m
Louisa Street
0.7 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 Catlettsburg, 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
0.7 mi·50 sec·Louisa Street
18
Turn right onto US 60
122 ft·2 sec·35th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
US 60
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 13-minute duration and the turn-heavy nature of this 118.9-mile route, starting your trip in the morning is advisable to avoid potential afternoon traffic. The estimated fuel cost is $18, so ensure your tank is full before departing Richmond, KY. Since there are no specific stops mentioned and it's a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to pause as needed. Pay close attention to signage for West Main Street, Lexington Road, and KY 627 as these are your primary guides through this Kentucky drive.
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 59.4 miles from Richmond, KY, or about 1h 9m 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.4 miles or 1h 9m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Catlettsburg, 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 118.9 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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.
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
$1 to $10
mile 25.5
Winchester, Kentucky
Hours: 6 am–6 pm
+18599793377
The Hub Coffee Co.
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
2.6 mi from route
~6 min detour
$1 to $10
mile 34
Mt Sterling, Kentucky
Hours: 8 am–9 pm
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 118.9 — 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
5
118.9 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|US 60 / 35th Street
Turn right onto US 60 / 35th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.59 one way
$37.18 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.41
$40.82
premium
$4.89
$22.88
$45.76
diesel
$5.61
$26.25
$52.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.7
0
$12.48
$5.71
Efficient EV
29.7
0
$10.40
$4.76
EV Truck/SUV
47.6
0
$16.65
$7.61
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 15, 2026
Origin
Richmond, KY
Late night
in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Catlettsburg, KY
Late night
in Catlettsburg on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
1 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 13m 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 4.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll be making frequent turns and navigating through towns and rural areas. With 0% highway share, expect a continuous engagement with the road surface and traffic. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the overall profile suggests a dynamic driving experience rather than long, monotonous stretches. You'll be on roads like West Main Street, Lexington Road, and KY 627, all contributing to a hands-on driving feel.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Boonesborough Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 13m drive. You will face about 10 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 (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 Catlettsburg, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Winchester along the way.
Winchester
7 mi in|~9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 118.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
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 Catlettsburg, KY before heading back.
