Origin
Russell, KY
Night in Russell on Wednesday
Local time
11:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Russell, KY to Independence, KY
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 3m
Distance
138.9 mi
223 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 52m
★
6 AM
3h 4m
8 AM
3h 27m
10 AM
3h 12m
12 PM
3h 10m
3 PM
3h 13m
5 PM
3h 26m
8 PM
2h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Russell, KY to Independence, KY covers 138.9 miles and takes about 3h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway, SR 73, US Highway 23 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55 miles on James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.72 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
69.4 miles from Russell, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Russell, KY to Independence, KY covers 138.9 miles and takes about 3h 3m, 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 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 55 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near KY 750 / Powell Lane.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 138.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.4 miles (KY 750 / Powell Lane): Navigation decision point; at 59.5 miles (SR 32 / James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 115 miles (I 275 / Circle Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
KY 750 / Powell Lane
At end of road, turn right onto KY 750 / Powell Lane
Navigation decision point
5
59.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
SR 32 / James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
Turn left onto SR 32 / James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
115 mi into trip
|
~2h 32m in
|
I 275 / Circle Freeway
Merge onto I 275 / Circle Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
131.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
Take the exit toward KY 17: Independence, Covington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 80
Toward KY 17: Independence, Covington
6
132.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m in
|
KY 17 / Madison Pike
Turn right onto KY 17 / Madison Pike toward Independence
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward Independence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Russell, KY to Independence, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Covington along the way.
Covington
131.9 mi in
|
~2h 52m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway | 55 mi | 1h 8m |
| SR 73 | 29.9 mi | 44m |
| US Highway 23 | 25.3 mi | 30m |
| Circle Freeway | 10 mi | 11m |
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 7 mi | 8m |
| Madison Pike | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| Carl Perkins Memorial Bridge | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| KY 17 Business | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
— 55 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Russell, KY and Independence, KY.
1
Start on Gesling Road
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Gesling Road
2
Turn straight onto KY 750
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Seaton Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto KY 750
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Powell Lane
4
Continue on KY 750
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lexington Avenue
5
Continue on KY 750
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Raceland Avenue
6
Continue on KY 750
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Pond Run Road
7
Turn left onto US 23
25 mi
·
30 min
·
US Highway 23
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 23 Truck
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Carl Perkins Memorial Bridge
9
Turn straight onto SR 73; SR 104
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
SR 73; SR 104
10
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 73
25 mi
·
37 min
·
SR 73
11
Turn left onto SR 32
55 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 275 South: Kentucky
13
Merge onto I 275
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Circle Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 275
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 80
Toward KY 17: Independence, Covington
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto KY 17
5.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Madison Pike
Toward Independence
Use the left / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto KY 17 Business
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Pelly Road
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on KY 17 Business
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
KY 17 Business
19
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 69.4 miles from Russell, KY, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55 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 31 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.4 miles or 1h 35m 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 31m
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 Russell, 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 Russell, KY
This is one driving day of about 138.9 miles and 3h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Russell, 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 James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway for about 55 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.4 mi from Russell, KY · 1h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.4 miles from Russell, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.72 one way
$43.43 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.84 | $47.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $26.73 | $53.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.67 | $61.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.6 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 | 41.7 | 0 | $14.58 | $6.67 |
| Efficient EV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.15 | $5.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.6 | 0 | $19.45 | $8.89 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Independence, KY
Night in Independence on Wednesday
Local time
11:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Jasper, OH
69 mi in
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
2 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 3m 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 Russell, KY to Independence, KY covers 138.9 miles and takes about 3h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway, SR 73, US Highway 23. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.4 miles from Russell, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.72 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 138.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.4 miles (KY 750 / Powell Lane): Navigation decision point; at 59.5 miles (SR 32 / James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 115 miles (I 275 / Circle Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Russell, KY to Independence, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Covington along the way.
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