How far is Middlesboro, KY from Independence, KY?

The driving distance from Middlesboro, KY to Independence, KY is about 198.3 miles (319.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 167.5 miles (269.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 38m 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
198.32 mi
03h 19m
Flight
167.52 mi
269.6 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Middlesboro.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
167.52 mi
Kilometers
269.6 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
198.32 mi
Kilometers
319.17 km
Drive Time
03h 19m

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 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Independence
Thu, Apr 23, 2:11 AM EDT
Return by in Middlesboro
Thu, Apr 23, 5:30 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Middlesboro
2026-04-22T22:52
Arrive Independence
Thu, Apr 23, 2:11 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:19 AM to 11:19 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
10:22 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Middlesboro
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
Richmond
KY

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

From Middlesboro
99 mi
01h 39m
To Independence
99.3 mi
01h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph WSW
Destination
74°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Lothbury Avenue

    53 m · 10 sec · Lothbury Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 21st Street

    155 m · 30 sec · 21st Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Cumberland Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · West Cumberland Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto 12th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 12th Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Pineville Road

    1.6 km · 1 min · Pineville Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Wilderness Road

    10.5 mi · 13 min · Wilderness Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Riverview Avenue

    30.7 mi · 37 min · Riverview Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on Corbin Bypass

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Corbin Bypass

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75 North: Lexington

    1811 ft · 24 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    88.3 mi · 1 hr 35 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 Middlesboro 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
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 North
142 mi · 72%
Riverview Avenue
30.7 mi · 15%
Wilderness Road
10.5 mi · 5%
Walton Nicholson Pike
4.13 mi · 2%
Madison Pike
2.57 mi · 1%
Corbin Bypass
1.87 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 75 North

Merge slight left

88.3 mi · 01h 35m

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 19m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.8 mi
167.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Richmond
01h 39m from Middlesboro
Leave By
10:22 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Middlesboro and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Independence.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 198.3 miles (319.2 km) and usually takes 03h 19m 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?

Richmond is a useful midpoint, sitting about 99 miles from Middlesboro and 99.3 miles from Independence.

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

The direct path is about 167.5 miles (269.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.8 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 10:22 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.40 one way or $52.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 62.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Richmond

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

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

RAIL

Maysville

110 mi away
West Front St & Rosemary Clooney St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Middlesboro and Independence. Straight-line distance: 167.52 mi (269.6 km).

Middlesboro

#1 Middlesboro

City in Bell County, Kentucky, United States of America

Population10,730
Coordinates36.6084200, -83.7165800
Altitude348
CountryUnited States
Independence

#2 Independence

City in Kentucky

Population28,903
Coordinates38.9431200, -84.5441100
Altitude274
CountryUnited States
Start: Lothbury Avenue (-83.716569, 36.608393)
End: Madison Pike (-84.544419, 38.943136)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 319 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7 gal
26.49 L · about $26.40
Round trip
$52.79
14 gal · 52.98 L
Estimated CO2
62.2 kg one way
Round trip: 124.4 kg / 274 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.40 $52.79
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.77 $59.54
Premium $4.65 $32.58 $65.16
Diesel $5.30 $37.13 $74.26

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

There is no time difference between Middlesboro and Independence. The current time is 22:52:01.

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.