Skip to main content

Trip from Independence, KY to Hodgenville, KY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 49m

Distance

144.4 mi

232 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 38m ★
6 AM
2h 49m
8 AM
3h 11m
10 AM
2h 57m
12 PM
2h 55m
3 PM
2h 58m
5 PM
3h 10m
8 PM
2h 42m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Kentucky, United States

Independence, KY

Wikimedia Commons

city in LaRue County, Kentucky, United States

Hodgenville, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Independence, KY to Hodgenville, KY covers 144.4 miles and takes about 2h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Independence Road, Bristow Road, Mount Zion Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.58 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

72.2 miles from Independence, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 144.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 49m drive with frequent turns across 144.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Independence Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Independence, KY to Hodgenville, KY is easy. At 2h 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Independence, KY to Hodgenville, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Independence Road
Bristow Road
Mount Zion Road
KY 536 East
I 75
I 71 South
I 264 West
Henry Watterson Expressway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Independence Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Independence, KY and Hodgenville, KY.

1

Start on Madison Pike

371 ft · 10 sec · Madison Pike
2

Turn right onto Independence Road

1.3 mi · 3 min · Independence Road
3

Turn right onto Bristow Road

2.2 mi · 3 min · Bristow Road
4

Keep slight left to continue on Mount Zion Road

0.5 mi · 59 sec · Mount Zion Road
5

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Mount Zion Road

89 ft · 2 sec · Mount Zion Road
6

Exit the roundabout onto Mount Zion Road

0.5 mi · 52 sec · Mount Zion Road
7

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Mount Zion Road

128 ft · 3 sec · Mount Zion Road
8

Exit the roundabout onto Mount Zion Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Mount Zion Road
9

Turn right onto KY 536 East

0.5 mi · 51 sec · KY 536 East
10

Take the ramp slight left toward I 75, I 71

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 75, I 71
11

Merge slight left

4.9 mi · 5 min
12

Take the exit slight right toward I 71 South: Louisville

72 mi · 1 hr 17 min · I 71 South: Louisville
13

Take the exit slight left toward I 264 West: Watterson Expressway

0.4 mi · 45 sec · I 264 West: Watterson Expressway
14

Continue on Henry Watterson Expressway

10.0 mi · 13 min · Henry Watterson Expressway
15

Take the exit slight right toward I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis

0.2 mi · 15 sec · I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis
16

Keep slight left to continue on I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, Indianapolis

0.2 mi · 15 sec · I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, Indianapolis
17

Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Nashville

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 65 South: Nashville
18

Merge slight left

39 mi · 42 min
19

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

0.2 mi · 26 sec · KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Paducah, Western Kentucky Parkway
20

Keep slight left to continue on KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Hodgenville

0.4 mi · 51 sec · KY 61 South: Elizabethtown, Hodgenville
21

Keep slight right to continue on KY 61: Elizabethtown, Hodgenville

0.3 mi · 50 sec · KY 61: Elizabethtown, Hodgenville
22

Merge slight left onto Western Kentucky Parkway

0.4 mi · 27 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway
23

Continue on Lincoln Parkway

9.0 mi · 10 min · Lincoln Parkway
24

Turn left onto West Main Street

0.6 mi · 56 sec · West Main Street
25

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Lincoln Square

197 ft · 3 sec · Lincoln Square
26

Exit the rotary onto East Main Street

154 ft · 10 sec · East Main Street
27

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.2 miles from Independence, KY, or about 1h 24m into the drive.

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 32 miles or 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 72.2 miles or 1h 24m 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 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hodgenville, KY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Independence, 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 Independence, KY

This is one driving day of about 144.4 miles and 2h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Independence, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72.2 mi from Independence, KY · 1h 24m into the drive

Downtown Hurstbourne Acres, KY, KY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hurstbourne Acres, KY

72 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Warsaw, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hurstbourne Acres, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.2 miles from Independence, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Hodgenville, KY

The final approach into Hodgenville, 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 Hodgenville, KY.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.58 one way

$45.15 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $24.79 $49.57
premium $4.89 $27.79 $55.58
diesel $5.61 $31.88 $63.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.3 0 $15.16 $6.93
Efficient EV 36.1 0 $12.64 $5.78
EV Truck/SUV 57.8 0 $20.22 $9.24

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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 15, 2026

Origin

Independence, KY

Afternoon in Independence on Friday

Local time

1:38 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hodgenville, KY

Afternoon in Hodgenville on Friday

Local time

1:38 PM

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

2h 49m 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 Independence, KY to Hodgenville, KY covers 144.4 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Independence Road, Bristow Road, Mount Zion Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 72.2 miles from Independence, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.58 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Independence, KY to Hodgenville, KY is easy. At 2h 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Independence, KY to Hodgenville, KY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Independence, KY to Hodgenville, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Independence, KY or browse trips ending in Hodgenville, KY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KY road trips.