Origin
Independence, KY
Morning in Independence on Saturday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
11.5 mi
18 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Villa Hills, KY
Ahmet ÇÖTÜR
This straightforward 11.5-mile journey from Independence to Villa Hills, KY, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in about 21 minutes. It's ideal as a single-day excursion, especially given its short distance and modest estimated fuel cost of around $2. The route predominantly uses state highways and local roads, offering a mixed driving experience. Since both the origin and destination are within the Southeast region of Kentucky, you won't be crossing any major geographic or regional boundaries. Plan for a simple drive with no overnight stays required.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 11.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Straightforward navigation.
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with approximately 50% of the travel occurring on highway segments. Your longest continuous stretch without a turn will be about 5.4 miles along KY 17. The drive progresses through a combination of main roads, including KY 17, Buttermilk Pike, and Orphanage Road, suggesting a blend of faster-paced sections and more residential or local thoroughfares. This isn't a monotonous drive; it offers some variety as you navigate between these different road types.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near KY 17.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 21m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (KY 17): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles (KY 371 / Orphanage Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles (US 25; US 42; US 127; KY 371 / Dixie Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto KY 17
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto KY 371 / Orphanage Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 25; US 42; US 127; KY 371 / Dixie Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto KY 371 / Buttermilk Pike
Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn right onto Amsterdam Road
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| KY 17 | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| Buttermilk Pike | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Orphanage Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Madison Pike | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Collins Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| KY 17 Business | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Dixie Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Amsterdam Road | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, KY and Villa Hills, KY.
Start on KY 17 Business; KY 2045
Continue on KY 17 Business
Turn left onto KY 17
Turn left onto KY 371
Turn left onto US 25; US 42; US 127; KY 371
Turn right onto KY 371
Continue on KY 371
At end of road, turn right onto Amsterdam Road
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$1.80 one way
$3.60 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.97 | $3.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.21 | $4.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.54 | $5.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.21 | $0.55 |
| Efficient EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.01 | $0.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.74 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Independence on Saturday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Villa Hills on Saturday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
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