The drive from Paintsville, KY to Independence, KY covers 178.5 miles and takes about 3h 21m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Mountain Parkway, I 75, I 64 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.9 miles on Mountain Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.91 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
89.3 miles from Paintsville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 178.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 21m highway drive covering 178.5 miles, with most of the trip on Mountain Parkway and I 75. The longest continuous stretch is about 76.9 miles on Mountain Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Mountain Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 76.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Mountain Parkway and I 75. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 108.3 miles in near I 64.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 178.5 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 108.3 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.2 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
108.3 mi into trip|~1h 59m 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
115.2 mi into trip|~2h 7m 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
168.9 mi into trip|~3h 5m 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
169.4 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|School Road
Turn left onto School Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
171.4 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|KY 16 / Walton Nicholson Road
Turn left onto KY 16 / Walton Nicholson 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 Paintsville, KY and Independence, KY, road signs point toward Cincinnati and Walton.
Cincinnati
108.3 mi in|~1h 59m|via I 64
Walton
168.9 mi in|~3h 5m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Mountain Parkway
76.9 mi
1h 22m
I 75
53.7 mi
57m
I 64
22.4 mi
24m
US 460
13.6 mi
15m
Walton Nicholson Pike
4.1 mi
6m
Madison Pike
2.6 mi
4m
3rd Street
2.3 mi
3m
Dixie Highway
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Mountain Parkway
— 76.9 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paintsville, KY and Independence, KY.
1
Start on Court Street
495 ft·26 sec·Court Street
2
Turn left onto KY 40
2.3 mi·3 min·3rd Street
3
Continue on US 460
14 mi·15 min·US 460
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 460
77 mi·1 hr 22 min·Mountain Parkway
5
Merge onto I 64
16 mi·16 min·I 64
6
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.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75
54 mi·57 min·I 75
Toward I 75 North: CincinnatiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 171Toward KY 14, KY 16: Verona, WaltonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto KY 14; KY 16
0.2 mi·28 sec·Mary Grubbs Highway
10
Turn left onto School Road
0.5 mi·1 min·School Road
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on Stephenson Mill Road
0.3 mi·38 sec·Stephenson Mill Road
12
Continue on Old Beaver Road
0.2 mi·27 sec·Old Beaver Road
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 25; KY 16
0.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
14
Continue on US 25; KY 16
0.6 mi·59 sec·Dixie Highway
15
Turn left onto KY 16
0.4 mi·35 sec·Walton Nicholson Road
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on KY 16
4.1 mi·6 min·Walton Nicholson Pike
17
Turn left onto KY 17
1.3 mi·2 min·Madison Pike
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto Sidney Drive
243 ft·8 sec·Sidney Drive
19
Continue on Madison Pike
1.3 mi·2 min·Madison Pike
20
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 89.3 miles from Paintsville, KY, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.9 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 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.3 miles or 1h 38m 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 40m
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 Paintsville, 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 Paintsville, KY
This is one driving day of about 178.5 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Paintsville, 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 Mountain Parkway for about 76.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 89.3 mi from Paintsville, KY
· 1h 38m into the drive
The midpoint is around 89.3 miles from Paintsville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Mountain Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.9 miles.
Arriving in Independence, KY
The final approach into Independence, 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 Independence, KY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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 110.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.91 one way
$55.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.64
$61.28
premium
$4.89
$34.35
$68.70
diesel
$5.61
$39.41
$78.82
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: 62.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.6
0
$18.74
$8.57
Efficient EV
44.6
0
$15.62
$7.14
EV Truck/SUV
71.4
0
$24.99
$11.42
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
Paintsville, KY
Morning
in Paintsville on Saturday
Local time
7:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, KY
Morning
in Independence on Saturday
Local time
7:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 7 mph0% chanceLive 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
33 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 21m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Paintsville, KY to Independence, KY covers 178.5 miles and takes about 3h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mountain Parkway, I 75, I 64. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 89.3 miles from Paintsville, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.91 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 178.5 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 108.3 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.2 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Paintsville, KY and Independence, KY, road signs point toward Cincinnati and Walton.
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.
