The drive from Hazard, KY to Independence, KY covers 178.8 miles and takes about 3h 25m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, Mountain Parkway, KY 15 Business for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.7 miles on I 75.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.95 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
89.4 miles from Hazard, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 178.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 25m highway drive covering 178.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and Mountain Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 53.7 miles on I 75.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 53.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Mountain Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near KY 1762 / L O Davis Drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 178.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (KY 1762 / L O Davis Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 108.6 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|KY 1762 / L O Davis Drive
At end of road, turn right onto KY 1762 / L O Davis Drive
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
8
108.6 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West, I 75 North: Louisville, Cincinnati
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 64 West, I 75 North: Louisville, Cinci...
7
115.5 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|I 75
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75 toward I 75 North: Cincinnati
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Cincinnati
8
169.2 mi into trip|~3h 8m in
Take the exit toward KY 14, KY 16: Verona, Walton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 171
Toward KY 14, KY 16: Verona, Walton
6
169.7 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|School Road
Turn left onto School Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hazard, KY and Independence, KY, road signs point toward Cincinnati and Walton.
Cincinnati
108.6 mi in|~2h 2m|via I 64
Walton
169.2 mi in|~3h 8m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
53.7 mi
57m
Mountain Parkway
42.7 mi
45m
KY 15 Business
27.4 mi
31m
I 64
22.4 mi
24m
KY 15
18.6 mi
21m
Walton Nicholson Pike
4.1 mi
6m
Park Road
3.1 mi
3m
Madison Pike
2.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 53.7 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hazard, KY and Independence, KY.
1
Start on Laurel Street
0.2 mi·47 sec·Laurel Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto KY 1762
0.2 mi·29 sec·L O Davis Drive
3
Turn right onto KY 15 Business
0.4 mi·37 sec·Memorial Drive
4
Continue on KY 15 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·North Main Street
5
Continue on KY 15 Business
27 mi·31 min·KY 15 Business
6
Continue on KY 15; KY 30
3.1 mi·3 min·Park Road
7
Turn right onto KY 15
19 mi·21 min·KY 15
Use the straight lane.
8
Merge onto Mountain Parkway
43 mi·45 min·Mountain Parkway
9
Merge onto I 64
16 mi·16 min·I 64
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
6.9 mi·8 min·I 64
Toward I 64 West, I 75 North: Louisville, CincinnatiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75
54 mi·57 min·I 75
Toward I 75 North: CincinnatiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 171Toward KY 14, KY 16: Verona, WaltonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto KY 14; KY 16
0.2 mi·28 sec·Mary Grubbs Highway
14
Turn left onto School Road
0.5 mi·1 min·School Road
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on Stephenson Mill Road
0.3 mi·38 sec·Stephenson Mill Road
16
Continue on Old Beaver Road
0.2 mi·27 sec·Old Beaver Road
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 25; KY 16
0.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
18
Continue on US 25; KY 16
0.6 mi·59 sec·Dixie Highway
19
Turn left onto KY 16
0.4 mi·35 sec·Walton Nicholson Road
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on KY 16
4.1 mi·6 min·Walton Nicholson Pike
21
Turn left onto KY 17
1.3 mi·2 min·Madison Pike
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left onto Sidney Drive
243 ft·8 sec·Sidney Drive
23
Continue on Madison Pike
1.3 mi·2 min·Madison Pike
24
Arrive at destination
KY 17 Business; KY 2045
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 89.4 miles from Hazard, KY, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.7 miles.
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 39 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.4 miles or 1h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Independence, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hazard, 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 Hazard, KY
This is one driving day of about 178.8 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Hazard, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 53.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 89.4 mi from Hazard, KY
· 1h 41m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Camp Nelson National Monument
National Monument
The US Army established Camp Nelson as a fortified supply depot in April 1863. Over the next 3 years, the site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for United States Colored Troops a...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 111
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.95 one way
$55.91 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.69
$61.38
premium
$4.89
$34.41
$68.82
diesel
$5.61
$39.48
$78.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.6
0
$18.77
$8.58
Efficient EV
44.7
0
$15.65
$7.15
EV Truck/SUV
71.5
0
$25.03
$11.44
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Hazard, KY
Morning
in Hazard on Friday
Local time
8:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, KY
Morning
in Independence on Friday
Local time
8:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
26 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 25m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Hazard, KY to Independence, KY covers 178.8 miles and takes about 3h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, Mountain Parkway, KY 15 Business. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 89.4 miles from Hazard, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.95 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 178.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (KY 1762 / L O Davis Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 108.6 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Hazard, KY and Independence, KY, road signs point toward Cincinnati and Walton.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
