How far is Madisonville, KY from Independence, KY?

The driving distance from Madisonville, KY to Independence, KY is about 243.3 miles (391.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 195.5 miles (314.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 29m 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
243.29 mi
03h 44m
Flight
195.53 mi
314.67 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Madisonville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
195.53 mi
Kilometers
314.67 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
243.29 mi
Kilometers
391.53 km
Drive Time
03h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Independence
Sat, May 30, 9:58 PM EDT
Return by in Madisonville
Sun, May 31, 12:43 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Madisonville
2026-05-30T17:13
Arrive Independence
Sat, May 30, 8:58 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:45 AM to 12:45 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
9:30 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Madisonville
9:00 PM CDT
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
Lebanon Junction
KY

City in Bullitt County, Kentucky, United States of America

From Madisonville
120.9 mi
01h 52m
To Independence
122.5 mi
01h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
This Afternoon

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
6 mph ENE
Destination
77°F
This Afternoon

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 5:00 PM EDT
Wind
12 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Main Street

    10 m · 5 sec · South Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Center Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East Center Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right

    1550 ft · 38 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    7.3 mi · 8 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on I 169 South: Hopkinsville

    1.1 km · 43 sec

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Elizabethtown

    1750 ft · 42 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

    98.5 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  8. 8

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

    1955 ft · 48 sec

  9. 9

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

    3052 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    37.9 mi · 41 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 264: Watterson Expressway, Airport

    1.1 km · 59 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 264 East: Watterson Expressway

    1.3 km · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Henry Watterson Expressway

    10 mi · 14 min · Henry Watterson Expressway

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 71 North: Cincinnati

    1877 ft · 32 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    71 mi · 1 hr 17 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North, I 71 North: Cincinnati

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 536: Mount Zion Road

    1763 ft · 43 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right

    86 m · 7 sec

  19. 19

    Continue on Mount Zion Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Mount Zion Road

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Mount Zion Road

    37 m · 3 sec · Mount Zion Road

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto Mount Zion Road

    2573 ft · 52 sec · Mount Zion Road

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Mount Zion Road

    33 m · 2 sec · Mount Zion Road

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto Mount Zion Road

    2470 ft · 56 sec · Mount Zion Road

  24. 24

    Continue on Bristow Road

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Bristow Road

  25. 25

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Independence Road

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Independence Road

  26. 26

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Madison Pike

    113 m · 7 sec · Madison Pike

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Madison Pike

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Madisonville 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
27 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
5 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Western Kentucky Parkway
98.5 mi · 41%
I 71 North
71.4 mi · 29%
I 65 North
38.8 mi · 16%
Henry Watterson Expressway
10 mi · 4%
East Center Street
8.69 mi · 4%
I 75 North
5.58 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Western Kentucky Parkway

Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

98.5 mi · 01h 46m

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 44m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+47.8 mi
195.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lebanon Junction
01h 52m from Madisonville
Leave By
9:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Madisonville and Partly Sunny near Independence.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 243.3 miles (391.5 km) and usually takes 03h 44m 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?

Lebanon Junction is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120.9 miles from Madisonville and 122.5 miles from Independence.

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

The direct path is about 195.5 miles (314.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.8 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.39 one way or $64.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Madisonville and Partly Sunny near Independence.

Stop Ideas Near Lebanon Junction

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

47 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Madisonville and Independence. Straight-line distance: 195.53 mi (314.67 km).

Madisonville

#1 Madisonville

County seat in Kentucky

Population18,656
Coordinates37.3281000, -87.4988900
Altitude144
CountryUnited States
Independence

#2 Independence

City in Kentucky

Population28,903
Coordinates38.9431200, -84.5441100
Altitude274
CountryUnited States
Start: South Main Street (-87.498868, 37.328098)
End: Madison Pike (-84.544419, 38.943136)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 392 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.59 gal
32.5 L · about $32.39
Round trip
$64.79
17.18 gal · 65 L
Estimated CO2
76.3 kg one way
Round trip: 152.7 kg / 337 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $32.39 $64.79
Mid-grade $4.25 $36.53 $73.07
Premium $4.65 $39.98 $79.96
Diesel $5.30 $45.56 $91.12

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 · May 30, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Madisonville, KY and Independence, KY. The current time in Madisonville is 17:13:45, although it is 18:13:45 in Independence.

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.