How far is Clay, KY from Louisville, KY?

The driving distance from Clay, KY to Louisville, KY is about 163.4 miles (262.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 124.6 miles (200.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
163.33 mi
02h 46m
Flight
124.57 mi
200.48 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clay.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
124.57 mi
Kilometers
200.48 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
163.33 mi
Kilometers
262.86 km
Drive Time
02h 46m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Louisville
Tue, May 12, 11:46 PM EDT
Return by in Clay
Wed, May 13, 1:32 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clay
2026-05-12T19:59
Arrive Louisville
Tue, May 12, 10:46 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
11:46 AM to 1:46 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:58 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clay
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Lewisport
KY

City in Hancock County, Kentucky, United States of America

From Clay
82.3 mi
01h 23m
To Louisville
81 mi
01h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph SSW
Destination
80°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 8 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Clay and Louisville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clay and Louisville.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    1982 ft · 38 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Keep slight right to continue on Lisman Street

    661 ft · 18 sec · Lisman Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 1st Street

    13 mi · 23 min · 1st Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto State Highway 283

    10.1 mi · 14 min · State Highway 283

  5. 5

    Turn right

    2.9 mi · 4 min

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    18 m · 13 sec

  7. 7

    Take the ramp right

    1395 ft · 35 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    11.2 mi · 12 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right

    6.7 mi · 10 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 69 North

    1008 ft · 17 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 69 North

    1.2 km · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    20 mi · 23 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East: Louisville

    3069 ft · 58 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    91.7 mi · 1 hr 40 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    6 mi · 8 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward 9th Street, Roy Wilkins Avenue, Downtown

    1472 ft · 36 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on Roy Wilkins Avenue

    1159 ft · 30 sec · Roy Wilkins Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto West Liberty Street

    1961 ft · 55 sec · West Liberty Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto South 5th Street

    86 m · 15 sec · South 5th Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto West Jefferson Street

    67 m · 8 sec · West Jefferson Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Jefferson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Clay and Louisville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 East
98.3 mi · 60%
State Highway 283
28.2 mi · 17%
I 69 North
20.9 mi · 13%
1st Street
13 mi · 8%
Main Street
0.38 mi
West Liberty Street
0.37 mi
Longest Stretch

I 64 East

Merge slight left

91.7 mi · 01h 40m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 46m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.8 mi
124.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lewisport
01h 23m from Clay
Leave By
12:58 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Clay and Sunny near Louisville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Clay to Louisville?

The road trip is about 163.4 miles (262.9 km) and usually takes 02h 46m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lewisport is a useful midpoint, sitting about 82.3 miles from Clay and 81 miles from Louisville.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 124.6 miles (200.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:58 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.72 one way or $43.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.2 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Clay and Louisville, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Clay and Sunny near Louisville.

Stop Ideas Near Lewisport

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lewisport, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lewisport.

BUS

Evansville, IN

59 mi away
119 Northwest 6th Street
BUS

Madisonville, KY

80 mi away
4765 Hanson Road
BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

106 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clay and Louisville. Straight-line distance: 124.57 mi (200.48 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Clay

Human settlement in Webster County, Kentucky, United States of America

Population1,091
Coordinates37.4767100, -87.8200200
Altitude116
CountryUnited States
Louisville

#2 Louisville

The nineteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Louisville metropolitan area.

Population760,026
Coordinates38.2542400, -85.7594100
Altitude142
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-87.820063, 37.476727)
End: West Jefferson Street (-85.759435, 38.254101)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 263 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.76 gal
21.82 L · about $21.72
Round trip
$43.44
11.52 gal · 43.64 L
Estimated CO2
51.2 kg one way
Round trip: 102.4 kg / 226 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $21.72 $43.44
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.50 $48.99
Premium $4.65 $26.81 $53.61
Diesel $5.30 $30.55 $61.10

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Kentucky · May 13, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Clay, KY and Louisville, KY. The current time in Clay is 19:59:54, although it is 20:59:54 in Louisville.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.