How far is Richmond, KY from Franklin, KY?

The driving distance from Richmond, KY to Franklin, KY is about 184.7 miles (297.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 144.2 miles (232 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 57m 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
184.7 mi
03h 28m
Flight
144.17 mi
232.02 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
144.17 mi
Kilometers
232.02 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
184.7 mi
Kilometers
297.25 km
Drive Time
03h 28m

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 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Franklin
Sat, May 30, 5:07 PM CDT
Return by in Richmond
Sat, May 30, 9:36 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Richmond
2026-05-30T14:38
Arrive Franklin
Sat, May 30, 6:07 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
8:29 AM to 10:29 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
10:02 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

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
Columbia
KY

City in Adair County, Kentucky, United States

From Richmond
92.3 mi
01h 44m
To Franklin
92.4 mi
01h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph NE
Destination
79°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Richmond and Franklin.

  1. 1

    Start on North 2nd Street

    32 m · 6 sec · North 2nd Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    865 ft · 22 sec · West Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Lancaster Avenue

    1.6 km · 2 min · Lancaster Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Eastern Bypass

    1.6 km · 2 min · Eastern Bypass

  5. 5

    Continue on Barnes Mill Road

    156 m · 17 sec · Barnes Mill Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp left

    1255 ft · 31 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    24.7 mi · 26 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25: Renfro Valley, Mount Vernon

    1643 ft · 28 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on US 25: Renfro Valley, Mount Vernon

    100 m · 6 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Richmond Street

    1 km · 49 sec · Richmond Street

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto Cumberland Lake Parkway

    18 mi · 21 min · Cumberland Lake Parkway

  12. 12

    Merge slight right onto Hal Rogers Parkway

    10.9 mi · 15 min · Hal Rogers Parkway

  13. 13

    Turn right

    2233 ft · 35 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Bowling Green

    3226 ft · 2 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Cumberland Parkway

    85.9 mi · 1 hr 32 min · Cumberland Parkway

  16. 16

    Continue on Cumberland Parkway

    1612 ft · 20 sec · Cumberland Parkway

  17. 17

    Continue on Cumberland Expressway

    1.2 km · 2 min · Cumberland Expressway

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    36.2 mi · 39 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 100: Scottsville, Franklin

    1279 ft · 31 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Scottsville Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Scottsville Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Rapids Road

    78 m · 10 sec · Rapids Road

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Scottsville Road

    3226 ft · 1 min · Scottsville Road

  23. 23

    Continue on East Cedar Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · East Cedar Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto North Water Street

    30 m · 4 sec · North Water Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Water Street

Car Route Details

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

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
25 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
5 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Cumberland Parkway
86.2 mi · 47%
Cumberland Expressway
37 mi · 20%
Barnes Mill Road
25 mi · 14%
Cumberland Lake Parkway
18 mi · 10%
Hal Rogers Parkway
10.9 mi · 6%
Scottsville Road
1.73 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Cumberland Parkway

Merge slight left onto Cumberland Parkway

85.9 mi · 01h 32m

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 28m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.5 mi
144.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Columbia
01h 44m from Richmond
Leave By
10:02 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Richmond and Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Franklin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Richmond to Franklin?

The road trip is about 184.7 miles (297.3 km) and usually takes 03h 28m 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?

Columbia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 92.3 miles from Richmond and 92.4 miles from Franklin.

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

The direct path is about 144.2 miles (232 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.5 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 10:02 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.59 one way or $49.17 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57.9 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Richmond and Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Franklin.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Richmond and Franklin. Straight-line distance: 144.17 mi (232.02 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
Franklin

#2 Franklin

City in and county seat of Simpson County, Kentucky, United States

Population9,046
Coordinates36.7222600, -86.5772200
Altitude216
CountryUnited States
Start: Richmond (-84.29465, 37.74786)
End: Franklin (-86.57722, 36.72226)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 297 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 04m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 38m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.52 gal
24.67 L · about $24.59
Round trip
$49.17
13.04 gal · 49.34 L
Estimated CO2
57.9 kg one way
Round trip: 115.9 kg / 256 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $24.59 $49.17
Mid-grade $4.25 $27.73 $55.46
Premium $4.65 $30.34 $60.69
Diesel $5.30 $34.58 $69.16

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 Richmond, KY and Franklin, KY. The current time in Richmond is 14:38:47, although it is 13:38:47 in Franklin.

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.