Origin
Owenton, KY
Afternoon in Owenton on Saturday
Local time
1:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Owenton, KY to Richmond, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
76.6 mi
123 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Owenton, KY
Vietnam Hidden Light
Richmond, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Owenton, KY to Richmond, KY covers 76.6 miles and takes about 1h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Frankfort Highway, Versailles Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.7 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.98 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 76.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Owenton, KY to Richmond, KY covers 76.6 miles and takes about 1h 29m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 43.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.4 miles in near US 127; KY 22; KY 227 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 29m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 127; KY 22; KY 227 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 25.4 miles (US 127): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 29.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 127; KY 22; KY 227 / South Main Street
Turn right onto US 127; KY 22; KY 227 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
25.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
US 127
Take the exit onto US 127
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
29.6 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
30 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
I 64
Merge onto I 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
73.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward US 25 North, US 421 North
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 90B
Toward US 25 North, US 421 North
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 43.7 mi | 46m |
| Frankfort Highway | 24.3 mi | 27m |
| Versailles Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Lexington Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Wilkinson Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Seminary Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 43.7 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Owenton, KY and Richmond, KY.
1
Start on KY 22
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
West Seminary Street
2
Turn right onto US 127; KY 22; KY 227
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 127
24 mi
·
27 min
·
Frankfort Highway
4
Continue on KY 2261
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
KY 2261
5
Take the exit onto US 127
40 ft
·
1 sec
·
US 127
6
Turn right
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
7
Merge onto US 421
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilkinson Boulevard
8
Continue on US 60; US 421
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Versailles Road
9
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
10
Merge onto I 64
44 mi
·
46 min
·
I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 90B
Toward US 25 North, US 421 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto US 25; US 421
151 ft
·
8 sec
·
Lexington Road
13
Continue on US 25; US 421
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lexington Road
14
Continue on US 25 Business; US 421 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Road
15
Continue on US 25 Business; US 421 Business
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Main Street
16
Turn left onto KY 388
104 ft
·
2 sec
·
North 2nd Street
17
Arrive at destination
KY 388
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.3 mi from Owenton, KY · 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.3 miles from Owenton, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Richmond, KY
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.98 one way
$23.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.15 | $26.30 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.74 | $29.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.91 | $33.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23 | 0 | $8.04 | $3.68 |
| Efficient EV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.70 | $3.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.6 | 0 | $10.72 | $4.90 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Richmond, KY
Afternoon in Richmond on Saturday
Local time
1:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
23 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
1h 29m 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 Owenton, KY to Richmond, KY covers 76.6 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Frankfort Highway, Versailles Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.3 miles from Owenton, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.98 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 29m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 127; KY 22; KY 227 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 25.4 miles (US 127): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 29.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Owenton, KY to Richmond, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Camp Nelson National Monument.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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