Drive Time
4h 17m
Distance
274.5 mi
442 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
Photo: Kelly
The drive from Benton, KY to Richmond, KY covers 274.5 miles and takes about 4h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Poplar Street, East 5th Street, Symsonia Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
137.3 miles from Benton, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 17m drive with frequent turns across 274.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 17m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Benton, KY to Richmond, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Poplar Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Symsonia Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 24 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 69 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Western Kentucky Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 65 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lexington | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, KY and Richmond, KY.
Start on East 12th Street
Turn left onto Poplar Street
Continue on East 5th Street
Continue on Symsonia Road
Take the ramp right
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 24 East, I 69 North: Nashville, Henderson
Take the exit slight right toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton
Keep slight right to continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Frankfort
Turn right onto Lexington Road
Continue on Versailles Road
Take the exit slight right toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
Merge slight left onto New Circle Road
Take the exit slight right toward Alumni Drive
Turn right onto Alumni Drive
Turn left onto Man O War Boulevard
Turn right onto Richmond Road
Continue on Athens Boonesboro Road
Take the exit slight right toward I 75 South: Knoxville
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 25 North, US 421 North
Turn right onto Lexington Road
Continue on Lexington Road
Continue on Lexington Road
Continue on West Main Street
Turn left onto North 2nd Street
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.3 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, KY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Benton, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Benton, KY
This is one driving day of about 274.5 miles and 4h 17m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 137.3 mi from Benton, KY · 2h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 137.3 miles from Benton, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Richmond, KY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Richmond, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$41.69 one way
$83.39 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $45.96 | $91.93 |
| premium | $4.80 | $51.82 | $103.64 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $60.98 | $121.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.4 | 1 | $28.82 | $13.18 |
| Efficient EV | 68.6 | 0 | $24.02 | $10.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.8 | 1 | $38.43 | $17.57 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Benton on Sunday
Local time
9:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
10:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
61°F
Louisville, KY
137 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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