How far is Independence, KY from Beaver Dam, KY?

The driving distance from Independence, KY to Beaver Dam, KY is about 199.2 miles (320.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 165.5 miles (266.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 35m 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
199.18 mi
03h 47m
Flight
165.46 mi
266.28 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Independence.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
165.46 mi
Kilometers
266.28 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
199.18 mi
Kilometers
320.55 km
Drive Time
03h 47m

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 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Beaver Dam
Sun, Apr 12, 10:23 AM CDT
Return by in Independence
Sun, Apr 12, 3:10 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Independence
2026-04-12T07:35
Arrive Beaver Dam
Sun, Apr 12, 11:23 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
8:48 AM to 10:48 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:24 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Independence
9:00 PM EDT
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
Heritage Creek
KY

City in Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States of America

From Independence
99.5 mi
01h 53m
To Beaver Dam
99.7 mi
01h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

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

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 2:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Independence and Beaver Dam.

  1. 1

    Start on Madison Pike

    113 m · 10 sec · Madison Pike

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Independence Road

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Independence Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Bristow Road

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Bristow Road

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on Mount Zion Road

    2467 ft · 59 sec · Mount Zion Road

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Mount Zion Road

    27 m · 2 sec · Mount Zion Road

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto Mount Zion Road

    2604 ft · 52 sec · Mount Zion Road

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Mount Zion Road

    39 m · 3 sec · Mount Zion Road

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto Mount Zion Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · Mount Zion Road

  9. 9

    Turn right onto KY 536 East

    2661 ft · 51 sec

  10. 10

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 75, I 71

    2443 ft · 60 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    4.9 mi · 5 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 71 South: Louisville

    71.5 mi · 1 hr 18 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight left toward I 264 West: Watterson Expressway

    2346 ft · 45 sec

  14. 14

    Continue on Henry Watterson Expressway

    10 mi · 14 min · Henry Watterson Expressway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis

    936 ft · 15 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, Indianapolis

    963 ft · 15 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Nashville

    1 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    38.7 mi · 42 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway

    1079 ft · 26 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on US 31W: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway West

    1286 ft · 32 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Paducah, Elizabethtown

    1710 ft · 42 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

    61.4 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward US 231: Morgantown, Beaver Dam

    1795 ft · 45 sec

  24. 24

    Turn right onto US Highway 231

    2.6 mi · 4 min · US Highway 231

  25. 25

    Continue on South Main Street

    3082 ft · 52 sec · South Main Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
3 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 71 South
71.5 mi · 36%
Western Kentucky Parkway
61.4 mi · 31%
I 65 South
39.7 mi · 20%
Henry Watterson Expressway
9.99 mi · 5%
I 75
5.35 mi · 3%
US Highway 231
2.61 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 71 South

Take the exit slight right toward I 71 South: Louisville

71.5 mi · 01h 18m

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 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.7 mi
165.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Heritage Creek
01h 53m from Independence
Leave By
9:24 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Independence and Mostly Sunny near Beaver Dam.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Independence to Beaver Dam?

The road trip is about 199.2 miles (320.6 km) and usually takes 03h 47m 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?

Heritage Creek is a useful midpoint, sitting about 99.5 miles from Independence and 99.7 miles from Beaver Dam.

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

The direct path is about 165.5 miles (266.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.7 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 9:24 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.51 one way or $53.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 62.5 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Independence and Mostly Sunny near Beaver Dam.

Stop Ideas Near Heritage Creek

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

15 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Independence and Beaver Dam. Straight-line distance: 165.46 mi (266.28 km).

Independence

#1 Independence

City in Kentucky

Population28,903
Coordinates38.9431200, -84.5441100
Altitude274
CountryUnited States
Beaver Dam

#2 Beaver Dam

City in Kentucky, USA

Population3,553
Coordinates37.4019900, -86.8758300
Altitude125
CountryUnited States
Start: Independence (-84.54411, 38.94312)
End: Beaver Dam (-86.87583, 37.40199)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 321 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.03 gal
26.61 L · about $26.51
Round trip
$53.02
14.06 gal · 53.22 L
Estimated CO2
62.5 kg one way
Round trip: 125 kg / 276 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.51 $53.02
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.90 $59.80
Premium $4.65 $32.72 $65.44
Diesel $5.30 $37.29 $74.57

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 Independence, KY and Beaver Dam, KY. The current time in Independence is 07:35:11, although it is 06:35:11 in Beaver Dam.

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.