How far is Russellville, KY from Independence, KY?

The driving distance from Russellville, KY to Independence, KY is about 235.5 miles (379 km), with a travel time of about 03h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 193.2 miles (310.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 19m 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
235.5 mi
03h 39m
Flight
193.2 mi
310.92 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Russellville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
193.2 mi
Kilometers
310.92 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
235.5 mi
Kilometers
379 km
Drive Time
03h 39m

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 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Independence
Sun, Apr 19, 4:51 AM EDT
Return by in Russellville
Sun, Apr 19, 7:31 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Russellville
2026-04-19T00:11
Arrive Independence
Sun, Apr 19, 3:51 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:40 AM to 12:40 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
9:40 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Russellville
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 Russellville
116.9 mi
01h 49m
To Independence
118.6 mi
01h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph NW
Destination
59°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East 4th Street

    3170 ft · 54 sec · East 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Franklin Street

    114 m · 6 sec · Franklin Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Franklin Road

    1133 ft · 19 sec · Franklin Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Franklin Street

    765 ft · 13 sec · Franklin Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Bowling Green Road

    2964 ft · 52 sec · Bowling Green Road

  6. 6

    Continue on East Jefferson Davis Highway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · East Jefferson Davis Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Bowling Green Road

    11.8 mi · 13 min · Bowling Green Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Russellville Road

    8 mi · 9 min · Russellville Road

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 165 South

    1676 ft · 41 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    4.8 mi · 5 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Louisville

    1997 ft · 59 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Louisville

    1.1 km · 54 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Interstate Highway 65

    108.4 mi · 1 hr 57 min · Interstate Highway 65

  14. 14

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

    1.1 km · 59 sec

  15. 15

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

    1.3 km · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Henry Watterson Expressway

    10 mi · 14 min · Henry Watterson Expressway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 71 North: Cincinnati

    1877 ft · 32 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    71 mi · 1 hr 17 min

  19. 19

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

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  20. 20

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

    1763 ft · 43 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight right

    86 m · 7 sec

  22. 22

    Continue on Mount Zion Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Mount Zion Road

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Mount Zion Road

    37 m · 3 sec · Mount Zion Road

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout onto Mount Zion Road

    2573 ft · 52 sec · Mount Zion Road

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Mount Zion Road

    33 m · 2 sec · Mount Zion Road

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto Mount Zion Road

    2470 ft · 56 sec · Mount Zion Road

  27. 27

    Continue on Bristow Road

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Bristow Road

  28. 28

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

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Independence Road

  29. 29

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

    113 m · 7 sec · Madison Pike

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Madison Pike

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Russellville 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
30 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
4 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Interstate Highway 65
108 mi · 46%
I 71 North
71.4 mi · 30%
Bowling Green Road
12.4 mi · 5%
Henry Watterson Expressway
10 mi · 4%
Russellville Road
8.01 mi · 3%
I 75 North
5.58 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Interstate Highway 65

Merge slight left onto Interstate Highway 65

108 mi · 01h 57m

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 39m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+42.3 mi
193.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lebanon Junction
01h 49m from Russellville
Leave By
9:40 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Russellville and Chance Rain Showers near Independence.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 235.5 miles (379 km) and usually takes 03h 39m 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 116.9 miles from Russellville and 118.6 miles from Independence.

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

The direct path is about 193.2 miles (310.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.3 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 9:40 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.34 one way or $62.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.9 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Russellville and Chance Rain Showers 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 Russellville and Independence. Straight-line distance: 193.2 mi (310.92 km).

Russellville

#1 Russellville

City in Kentucky, USA

Population7,167
Coordinates36.8453200, -86.8872200
Altitude181
CountryUnited States
Independence

#2 Independence

City in Kentucky

Population28,903
Coordinates38.9431200, -84.5441100
Altitude274
CountryUnited States
Start: East 4th Street (-86.887274, 36.84546)
End: Madison Pike (-84.544419, 38.943136)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 379 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.31 gal
31.46 L · about $31.34
Round trip
$62.67
16.62 gal · 62.92 L
Estimated CO2
73.9 kg one way
Round trip: 147.7 kg / 326 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.34 $62.67
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.34 $70.68
Premium $4.65 $38.67 $77.35
Diesel $5.30 $44.08 $88.15

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 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Russellville, KY and Independence, KY. The current time in Russellville is 00:11:47, although it is 01:11:47 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.