PADUCAH · MAYFIELD · WESTERN KENTUCKY

New Gravel Driveway Installation in Paducah & Western Kentucky

A gravel driveway lasts when it’s built from the dirt up — topsoil out, base shaped to shed water, rock compacted in layers. Rock is priced per ton before anything is ordered.

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Built from the dirt up

Most gravel driveways that fail in a year or two were never built — rock was dumped on grass and spread. The sod rots, the rock sinks, and the low spots hold water. A driveway that lasts gets the same treatment as a building pad:

  1. Strip the topsoil. Sod and topsoil come out of the driveway path down to firm ground — organic material never goes under rock. The subgrade is shaped with a crown and ditches so water runs off and away.
  2. Lay the base aggregate. Larger crushed stone goes down first and gets compacted. This is the layer that carries the weight and keeps the driveway out of the mud. Fabric goes under it on soft or wet ground.
  3. Top it with surface rock. A finer top rock is spread over the base, crowned to shed water, and compacted into a tight driving surface.

Where the drive crosses a ditch or meets the road, the culvert and entrance go in at the same time.

New crowned gravel driveway with compacted crushed stone in Western Kentucky
Crowned and compacted — built to shed water

Images on this page illustrate the work described. They are not photographs of specific customer projects.

What we handle

Layout & site walk

Route, width, grade, and where the water goes — walked with you before anything is priced.

Strip the topsoil

Sod and topsoil removed from the path down to firm ground, then spread on your property or hauled off (haul-off quoted separately).

Shape & drain

Subgrade crowned, ditches cut where needed, and low spots built up so the driveway sits above the water.

Base aggregate

Larger crushed stone laid and compacted as the load-bearing layer. Billed per delivered ton at a price you approve first.

Top rock

Finer surface rock spread over the base, crowned, and compacted into a tight driving surface.

Culvert & road entrance

Pipe and rock entrance where the drive crosses a ditch. See culverts & drainage for how road entrances work.

Parking pads & turnarounds

Extra width where you need it — parking, a turnaround, or a pad by the shop.

How much rock a new driveway takes

A typical 12-foot-wide residential driveway gets about 4 inches of base aggregate and 2 inches of top rock — roughly a third of a ton of stone per foot in total:

Driveway lengthBase (4″)Top (2″)Rock at $33–$40/ton
100 ft~22 tons~11 tons~$1,100–$1,350
200 ft~44 tons~22 tons~$2,200–$2,700
300 ft~67 tons~33 tons~$3,300–$4,000

That’s rock only — topsoil stripping, labor, and any haul-off are separate lines. Wider, deeper, or soft ground takes more. Rock arrives in full truckloads, so quantities are planned to the load. Run your own numbers with the rock calculator.

How a new driveway is priced

Most new gravel driveways run about $35–$42 per foot all-in — roughly $3 per square foot — for a 12-foot-wide drive with topsoil stripped and spread on your property, 4 inches of base aggregate, and 2 inches of top rock, compacted and crowned. Short driveways cost more per foot because getting the machines there costs the same; soft ground, fabric, haul-off, or a culvert add to it.

Every new driveway is quoted in writing from a free site walk, because length, ground conditions, and drainage drive the number. Your quote breaks out labor and equipment, rock per delivered ton, and any fabric or culvert pipe — each on its own line, approved before anything is ordered. Driveway work carries a $750 minimum.

Permits: inside Paducah city limits, a new driveway typically needs a city permit. A new entrance onto a county road needs the county’s entrance permit, and in McCracken County the county handles the culvert at the road. State routes need a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet permit. We’ll tell you at the site walk which applies and who to call.

Fixing an existing driveway instead? See gravel driveway repair and price it online.

Common Questions

How much does a new gravel driveway cost in Paducah, KY?

Most new gravel driveways run about $35–$42 per foot all-in (roughly $3 per square foot) for a 12-ft-wide drive with topsoil stripped and spread on site, 4 inches of base aggregate, and 2 inches of top rock. Short drives cost more per foot, and soft ground, fabric, haul-off, or a culvert add to it. Every new driveway is quoted from a free site walk with labor and rock on separate lines. A new driveway is three steps — strip the topsoil, lay and compact base aggregate, then top rock. Rock is the biggest piece: 4 inches of base plus 2 inches of top rock on a 12-ft-wide drive is about 33 tons per 100 ft, or about $1,100–$1,350 per 100 ft at $33–$40 a ton delivered. Driveway work carries a $750 minimum.

How thick should a new gravel driveway be?

For cars and pickups, plan on about 6 inches of compacted stone — roughly 4 inches of base aggregate and 2 inches of top rock — over a subgrade stripped of topsoil and shaped to drain. Soft or wet ground, or regular heavy trucks, need more base and often fabric underneath.

Do I need fabric under a gravel driveway?

Not always. On firm, well-drained ground a properly shaped base is enough. On soft clay or wet spots, fabric keeps the base stone from pushing down into the mud. We check at the site walk and price it as its own line.

How long does it take to build a new gravel driveway?

Most residential driveways are built in one to two days once the rock is on site. Long driveways, heavy cutting, or a culvert at the road add time; you’ll know the schedule before we start.

Do I need a permit or culvert for a new driveway?

Often. Inside Paducah city limits a new driveway typically needs a city permit, and a new entrance onto a county road needs the county’s entrance permit — in McCracken County the county sizes and installs the culvert at the road. We’ll tell you which applies at the site walk.

Ready to build it right?

Free site walk, written line-item quote, rock priced per ton before it’s ordered. You work directly with Ryan from layout to final walkthrough.

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Calls and texts returned the same day. Every job ends with a walkthrough — done means it matches the written scope.
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