How far is Richmond, KY from Central City, KY?

The driving distance from Richmond, KY to Central City, KY is about 190.2 miles (306.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 158.1 miles (254.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 12m 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
190.18 mi
03h 36m
Flight
158.15 mi
254.51 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Richmond.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
158.15 mi
Kilometers
254.51 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
190.18 mi
Kilometers
306.06 km
Drive Time
03h 36m

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 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Central City
Tue, Jun 2, 9:58 AM CDT
Return by in Richmond
Tue, Jun 2, 2:34 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Richmond
2026-06-02T07:22
Arrive Central City
Tue, Jun 2, 10:58 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
8:36 AM to 10:36 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
9:48 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Richmond
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
New Haven
KY

City in Kentucky

From Richmond
94.9 mi
01h 48m
To Central City
95.2 mi
01h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph NE
Destination
79°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Richmond and Central City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Richmond and Central City.

  1. 1

    Start on North 2nd Street

    32 m · 6 sec · North 2nd Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    2460 ft · 46 sec · West Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Lexington Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Lexington Road

    1262 ft · 28 sec · Lexington Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right

    1702 ft · 42 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    13.5 mi · 15 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 418: Lexington, Athens

    1213 ft · 30 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    110 m · 11 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on Athens Boonesboro Road

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Athens Boonesboro Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Richmond Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Richmond Road

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Man O War Boulevard

    1.6 km · 2 min · Man O War Boulevard

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Alumni Drive

    1.1 km · 1 min · Alumni Drive

  13. 13

    Take the ramp left toward KY 4 West

    1698 ft · 44 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto New Circle Road

    7.5 mi · 10 min · New Circle Road

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West: Versailles

    1568 ft · 38 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on Versailles Road

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Lexington Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Elizabethtown

    1.1 km · 1 min

  19. 19

    Continue on Bluegrass Parkway

    70.6 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    1.4 km · 2 min

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    1.2 mi · 1 min

  22. 22

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

    1079 ft · 26 sec

  23. 23

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

    1286 ft · 32 sec

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on Paducah, Elizabethtown

    1710 ft · 42 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

    78.4 mi · 1 hr 24 min · Western Kentucky Parkway

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward US 431, KY 70: Central City, Drakesboro

    1267 ft · 43 sec

  27. 27

    Turn left onto South 2nd Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · South 2nd Street

  28. 28

    Turn right onto East Broad Street

    23 m · 3 sec · East Broad Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Broad Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Richmond and Central City.

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
29 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
4 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Western Kentucky Parkway
78.4 mi · 41%
Bluegrass Parkway
72.7 mi · 38%
Lexington Road
17 mi · 9%
New Circle Road
7.54 mi · 4%
Versailles Road
4.67 mi · 2%
Athens Boonesboro Road
2.56 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Western Kentucky Parkway

Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

78.4 mi · 01h 24m

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 36m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.1 mi
158.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
New Haven
01h 48m from Richmond
Leave By
9:48 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Richmond and Sunny near Central City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Richmond to Central City?

The road trip is about 190.2 miles (306.1 km) and usually takes 03h 36m 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?

New Haven is a useful midpoint, sitting about 94.9 miles from Richmond and 95.2 miles from Central City.

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

The direct path is about 158.1 miles (254.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.1 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 9:48 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.30 one way or $50.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 59.6 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Richmond and Sunny near Central City.

Stop Ideas Near New Haven

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

68 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Richmond and Central City. Straight-line distance: 158.15 mi (254.51 km).

Richmond

#1 Richmond

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

Population36,800
Coordinates37.7478600, -84.2946500
Altitude289
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Central City

City in Nebraska, United States

Population5,730
Coordinates37.2939300, -87.1233300
Altitude133
CountryUnited States
Start: Richmond (-84.29465, 37.74786)
End: Central City (-87.12333, 37.29393)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 306 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.71 gal
25.4 L · about $25.30
Round trip
$50.61
13.42 gal · 50.8 L
Estimated CO2
59.6 kg one way
Round trip: 119.3 kg / 263 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $25.30 $50.61
Mid-grade $4.25 $28.54 $57.08
Premium $4.65 $31.23 $62.46
Diesel $5.30 $35.59 $71.18

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 · Jun 02, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Richmond, KY and Central City, KY. The current time in Richmond is 07:22:06, although it is 06:22:06 in Central City.

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.