How far is Murray, KY from Independence, KY?

The driving distance from Murray, KY to Independence, KY is about 317.3 miles (510.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 261.5 miles (420.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 45m 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
317.29 mi
04h 52m
Flight
261.46 mi
420.78 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Murray.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
261.46 mi
Kilometers
420.78 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
317.29 mi
Kilometers
510.63 km
Drive Time
04h 52m

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 04h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Independence
Thu, Apr 23, 1:41 AM EDT
Return by in Murray
Thu, Apr 23, 5:34 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Murray
2026-04-22T19:49
Arrive Independence
Thu, Apr 23, 12:41 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:53 AM to 1:53 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
7:14 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Murray
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
Clarkson
KY

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

From Murray
157.8 mi
02h 26m
To Independence
159.5 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph SW
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 Murray and Independence.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    41 m · 7 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North 12th Street

    17.4 mi · 20 min · North 12th Street

  3. 3

    Continue straight

    3056 ft · 39 sec

  4. 4

    Keep slight right to continue on Purchase Parkway North: Calvert City

    2516 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight right

    9.6 mi · 10 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 24 East, I 69 North: Nashville, Henderson

    16.6 mi · 18 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton

    38.3 mi · 42 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

    1783 ft · 22 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway

  9. 9

    Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

    98.9 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  10. 10

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

    1955 ft · 48 sec

  11. 11

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

    3052 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    37.9 mi · 41 min

  13. 13

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

    1.1 km · 59 sec

  14. 14

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

    1.3 km · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Henry Watterson Expressway

    10 mi · 14 min · Henry Watterson Expressway

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I 71 North: Cincinnati

    1877 ft · 32 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    71 mi · 1 hr 17 min

  18. 18

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

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  19. 19

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

    1763 ft · 43 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right

    86 m · 7 sec

  21. 21

    Continue on Mount Zion Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Mount Zion Road

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Mount Zion Road

    37 m · 3 sec · Mount Zion Road

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto Mount Zion Road

    2573 ft · 52 sec · Mount Zion Road

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Mount Zion Road

    33 m · 2 sec · Mount Zion Road

  25. 25

    Exit the roundabout onto Mount Zion Road

    2470 ft · 56 sec · Mount Zion Road

  26. 26

    Continue on Bristow Road

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Bristow Road

  27. 27

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

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Independence Road

  28. 28

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

    113 m · 7 sec · Madison Pike

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Madison Pike

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
29 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
4 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Western Kentucky Parkway
99.2 mi · 31%
I 71 North
71.4 mi · 22%
I 65 North
38.8 mi · 12%
I 69 North
38.3 mi · 12%
North 12th Street
18 mi · 6%
I 24 East
16.6 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Western Kentucky Parkway

Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway

98.9 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
04h 52m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+55.8 mi
261.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clarkson
02h 26m from Murray
Leave By
7:14 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Murray 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 Murray to Independence?

The road trip is about 317.3 miles (510.6 km) and usually takes 04h 52m 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?

Clarkson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 157.8 miles from Murray and 159.5 miles from Independence.

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

The direct path is about 261.5 miles (420.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.8 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 7:14 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.24 one way or $84.47 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.5 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Clarkson

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

93 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.
BUS

Madisonville, KY

113 mi away
4765 Hanson Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Murray and Independence. Straight-line distance: 261.46 mi (420.78 km).

Murray

#1 Murray

City in Calloway County, Kentucky, United States

Population19,437
Coordinates36.6103300, -88.3147600
Altitude163
CountryUnited States
Independence

#2 Independence

City in Kentucky

Population28,903
Coordinates38.9431200, -84.5441100
Altitude274
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-88.314766, 36.610585)
End: Madison Pike (-84.544419, 38.943136)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 511 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.2 gal
42.38 L · about $42.24
Round trip
$84.47
22.4 gal · 84.76 L
Estimated CO2
99.5 kg one way
Round trip: 199.1 kg / 439 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $42.24 $84.47
Mid-grade $4.25 $47.63 $95.27
Premium $4.65 $52.12 $104.25
Diesel $5.30 $59.40 $118.81

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 Murray, KY and Independence, KY. The current time in Murray is 19:49:04, although it is 20:49:04 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.