How far is Owensboro, KY from Clay City, KY?

The driving distance from Owensboro, KY to Clay City, KY is about 218.2 miles (351.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 174.5 miles (280.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 16m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
218.17 mi
04h 08m
Flight
174.47 mi
280.78 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Owensboro.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
174.47 mi
Kilometers
280.78 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
218.17 mi
Kilometers
351.11 km
Drive Time
04h 08m

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 04h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clay City
Sun, Apr 12, 11:58 AM EDT
Return by in Owensboro
Sun, Apr 12, 3:06 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Owensboro
2026-04-12T06:50
Arrive Clay City
Sun, Apr 12, 10:58 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:08 AM to 1:08 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:44 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Owensboro
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
New Haven
KY

City in Kentucky

From Owensboro
109 mi
02h 04m
To Clay City
109.2 mi
02h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph S
Destination
84°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 8 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Owensboro and Clay City.

  1. 1

    Start on Frederica Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Frederica Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West 18th Street

    2675 ft · 1 min · West 18th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Triplett Street

    1156 ft · 28 sec · Triplett Street

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto New Hartford Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · New Hartford Road

  5. 5

    Turn left

    1700 ft · 43 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Wendell Ford Expressway

    2274 ft · 30 sec · Wendell Ford Expressway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 165 South: Bowling Green

    2273 ft · 56 sec

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    28.8 mi · 31 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Elizabethtown

    1772 ft · 50 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

    60.1 mi · 1 hr 4 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville

    1955 ft · 48 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville

    3052 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    1.4 mi · 1 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown

    3252 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

    70.7 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Frankfort

    571 ft · 16 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Lexington Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Versailles Road

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road

  19. 19

    Take the exit straight toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road

    2735 ft · 1 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto New Circle Road

    5.7 mi · 8 min · New Circle Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto North Broadway

    1 mi · 2 min · North Broadway

  22. 22

    Turn left onto I 75 South, I 64 East: Knoxville, Ashland

    2515 ft · 1 min

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight left toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland

    16.6 mi · 19 min

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on Mountain Parkway

    16.1 mi · 17 min · Mountain Parkway

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right

    1189 ft · 29 sec

  27. 27

    Keep slight left

    31 m · 6 sec

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Winchester Road

    614 ft · 18 sec · Winchester Road

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Main Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
30 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
5 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi · 32%
Western Kentucky Parkway
60.1 mi · 28%
I 165 South
29.2 mi · 13%
I 64 East
16.6 mi · 8%
Mountain Parkway
16.3 mi · 7%
New Circle Road
5.65 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Bluegrass Parkway

Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

70.7 mi · 01h 16m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 08m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.7 mi
174.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
New Haven
02h 04m from Owensboro
Leave By
8:44 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Owensboro and Mostly Sunny near Clay City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Owensboro to Clay City?

The road trip is about 218.2 miles (351.1 km) and usually takes 04h 08m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

New Haven is a useful midpoint, sitting about 109 miles from Owensboro and 109.2 miles from Clay City.

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

The direct path is about 174.5 miles (280.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.7 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:44 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.04 one way or $58.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Owensboro and Mostly Sunny near Clay City.

Stop Ideas Near New Haven

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around New Haven, 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 New Haven.

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

68 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Owensboro and Clay City. Straight-line distance: 174.47 mi (280.78 km).

Owensboro

#1 Owensboro

The most populous city in Daviess County, Kentucky.

Population60,344
Coordinates37.7742200, -87.1133300
Altitude120
CountryUnited States
Clay City

#2 Clay City

City in Powell County, Kentucky, United States of America

Population1,094
Coordinates37.8592500, -83.9185300
Altitude189
CountryUnited States
Start: Owensboro (-87.11333, 37.77422)
End: Clay City (-83.91853, 37.85925)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 351 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.7 gal
29.14 L · about $29.04
Round trip
$58.07
15.4 gal · 58.28 L
Estimated CO2
68.4 kg one way
Round trip: 136.9 kg / 302 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $29.04 $58.07
Mid-grade $4.25 $32.75 $65.50
Premium $4.65 $35.84 $71.67
Diesel $5.30 $40.84 $81.68

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 · Apr 12, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Owensboro, KY and Clay City, KY. The current time in Owensboro is 06:50:07, although it is 07:50:07 in Clay City.

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.