How far is Independence, KY from Leitchfield, KY?

The driving distance from Independence, KY to Leitchfield, KY is about 164.5 miles (264.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 138.7 miles (223.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 19m 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
164.51 mi
03h 09m
Flight
138.71 mi
223.23 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
138.71 mi
Kilometers
223.23 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
164.51 mi
Kilometers
264.76 km
Drive Time
03h 09m

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 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Leitchfield
Thu, Apr 23, 8:03 AM CDT
Return by in Independence
Thu, Apr 23, 12:13 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Independence
2026-04-23T05:53
Arrive Leitchfield
Thu, Apr 23, 9:03 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
8:10 AM to 10:10 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
10:40 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

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
Glenview Hills
KY

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

From Independence
82.2 mi
01h 34m
To Leitchfield
82.3 mi
01h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph SW
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    29 mi · 31 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 259: Leitchfield, Brownsville

    1619 ft · 41 sec

  24. 24

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · South Main Street

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout toward Public Square

    138 m · 16 sec · Public Square

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Public Square

Car Route Details

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

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
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
3 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 71 South
71.5 mi · 43%
I 65 South
39.7 mi · 24%
Western Kentucky Parkway
29 mi · 18%
Henry Watterson Expressway
9.99 mi · 6%
I 75
5.35 mi · 3%
Bristow Road
2.24 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 09m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.8 mi
138.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Glenview Hills
01h 34m from Independence
Leave By
10:40 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Independence and Sunny near Leitchfield.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 164.5 miles (264.8 km) and usually takes 03h 09m 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?

Glenview Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 82.2 miles from Independence and 82.3 miles from Leitchfield.

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

The direct path is about 138.7 miles (223.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.8 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:40 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.91 one way or $43.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.6 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Independence and Sunny near Leitchfield.

Stop Ideas Near Glenview Hills

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

12 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Independence and Leitchfield. Straight-line distance: 138.71 mi (223.23 km).

Independence

#1 Independence

City in Kentucky

Population28,903
Coordinates38.9431200, -84.5441100
Altitude274
CountryUnited States
Leitchfield

#2 Leitchfield

City in Grayson County, Kentucky, United States of America

Population6,819
Coordinates37.4800500, -86.2938600
Altitude227
CountryUnited States
Start: Independence (-84.54411, 38.94312)
End: Leitchfield (-86.29386, 37.48005)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 265 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.81 gal
21.98 L · about $21.91
Round trip
$43.82
11.62 gal · 43.96 L
Estimated CO2
51.6 kg one way
Round trip: 103.3 kg / 228 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $21.91 $43.82
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.71 $49.42
Premium $4.65 $27.04 $54.08
Diesel $5.30 $30.82 $61.63

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 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Independence, KY and Leitchfield, KY. The current time in Independence is 05:53:50, although it is 04:53:50 in Leitchfield.

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.