How far is Hazard, KY from Independence, KY?

The driving distance from Hazard, KY to Independence, KY is about 178.8 miles (287.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 138.1 miles (222.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 50m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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
178.79 mi
03h 25m
Flight
138.16 mi
222.34 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hazard.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
138.16 mi
Kilometers
222.34 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
178.79 mi
Kilometers
287.73 km
Drive Time
03h 25m

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 03h 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Independence
Fri, Apr 17, 8:35 AM EDT
Return by in Hazard
Fri, Apr 17, 12:01 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hazard
2026-04-17T05:10
Arrive Independence
Fri, Apr 17, 8:35 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:25 AM to 11:25 AM EDT

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

Leave by
10:10 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hazard
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Winchester
KY

City in and the county seat of Clark County, Kentucky, United States

From Hazard
89.4 mi
01h 42m
To Independence
89.4 mi
01h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 1:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph SW
Destination
82°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Hazard and Independence.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hazard and Independence.

  1. 1

    Start on Laurel Street

    983 ft · 47 sec · Laurel Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto L O Davis Drive

    998 ft · 30 sec · L O Davis Drive

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Memorial Drive

    1874 ft · 38 sec · Memorial Drive

  4. 4

    Continue on North Main Street

    1 km · 1 min · North Main Street

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    27.4 mi · 32 min

  6. 6

    Continue on Park Road

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Park Road

  7. 7

    Turn right

    18.6 mi · 22 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Mountain Parkway

    42.7 mi · 46 min · Mountain Parkway

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    15.5 mi · 17 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West, I 75 North: Louisville, Cincinnati

    6.9 mi · 8 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 75 North: Cincinnati

    53.7 mi · 58 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 14, KY 16: Verona, Walton

    1301 ft · 35 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Mary Grubbs Highway

    1268 ft · 29 sec · Mary Grubbs Highway

  14. 14

    Turn left onto School Road

    2475 ft · 1 min · School Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Stephenson Mill Road

    1400 ft · 38 sec · Stephenson Mill Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Old Beaver Road

    875 ft · 28 sec · Old Beaver Road

  17. 17

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North Main Street

    2298 ft · 1 min · North Main Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Dixie Highway

    3210 ft · 60 sec · Dixie Highway

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Walton Nicholson Road

    2119 ft · 36 sec · Walton Nicholson Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Walton Nicholson Pike

    4.1 mi · 6 min · Walton Nicholson Pike

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Madison Pike

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Madison Pike

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Sidney Drive

    74 m · 9 sec · Sidney Drive

  23. 23

    Continue on Madison Pike

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Madison Pike

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Madison Pike

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Hazard and Independence.

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
24 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Mountain Parkway
58.2 mi · 33%
I 75 North
53.7 mi · 30%
North Main Street
28.4 mi · 16%
I 64 West
6.93 mi · 4%
Walton Nicholson Pike
4.13 mi · 2%
Park Road
3.06 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 75 North

Keep slight right to continue on I 75 North: Cincinnati

53.7 mi · 00h 58m

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
03h 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.7 mi
138.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Winchester
01h 42m from Hazard
Leave By
10:10 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Hazard and Mostly Sunny near Independence.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Hazard to Independence?

The road trip is about 178.8 miles (287.7 km) and usually takes 03h 25m 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?

Winchester is a useful midpoint, sitting about 89.4 miles from Hazard and 89.4 miles from Independence.

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

The direct path is about 138.1 miles (222.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.7 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:10 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.80 one way or $47.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 56.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Hazard and Mostly Sunny near Independence.

Stop Ideas Near Winchester

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

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

RAIL

Maysville

82 mi away
West Front St & Rosemary Clooney St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hazard and Independence. Straight-line distance: 138.16 mi (222.34 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Hazard

City in Perry County, Kentucky, in the United States

Population4,785
Coordinates37.2495400, -83.1932300
Altitude283
CountryUnited States
Independence

#2 Independence

City in Kentucky

Population28,903
Coordinates38.9431200, -84.5441100
Altitude274
CountryUnited States
Start: Hazard (-83.19323, 37.24954)
End: Independence (-84.54411, 38.94312)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 288 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.31 gal
23.88 L · about $23.80
Round trip
$47.59
12.62 gal · 47.76 L
Estimated CO2
56.1 kg one way
Round trip: 112.2 kg / 247 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.80 $47.59
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.84 $53.67
Premium $4.65 $29.37 $58.73
Diesel $5.30 $33.47 $66.94

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Hazard and Independence. The current time is 05:10:45.

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.