Trip from Saint Dennis, KY to Independence, KY

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

2h 1m

Distance

98.9 mi

159 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

1h 53m ★

6 AM

2h 2m

8 AM

2h 19m

10 AM

2h 8m

12 PM

2h 6m

3 PM

2h 9m

5 PM

2h 18m

8 PM

1h 56m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Independence, KY

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Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Dennis, KY to Independence, KY covers 98.9 miles and takes about 2h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 71, Shawnee Expressway, Mount Zion Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 82.4 miles on I 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.46 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

49.4 miles from Saint Dennis, KY

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

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Drive Character

This is a 2h 1m highway drive covering 98.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 71 and Shawnee Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 82.4 miles on I 71.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 82.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Shawnee Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 98.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5.3 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the exit toward River Park Drive

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 2 Toward River Park Drive

8.2 mi into trip | ~15m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 64 East: Lexington

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 64 East: Lexington

10 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward I 71 North: Cincinnati

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6 Toward I 71 North: Cincinnati

86.9 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in | I 71

Keep slight left at fork onto I 71 toward I 75 North, I 71 North: 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 75 North, I 71 North: Cincinnati

92.5 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in

Take the exit toward KY 536: Mount Zion Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 178 Toward KY 536: Mount Zion Road

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Saint Dennis, KY and Independence, KY, road signs point toward Saint Louis and Lexington.

Saint Louis

8.2 mi in | ~15m

Lexington

8.2 mi in | ~15m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 71	82.4 mi	1h 30m
Shawnee Expressway	3.3 mi	4m
Mount Zion Road	2.3 mi	4m
Bristow Road	2.2 mi	4m
West Chestnut Street	1.7 mi	3m
I 64	1.5 mi	2m
Independence Road	1.3 mi	3m
Cane Run Road	1.1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 71 — 82.4 mi, about 1h 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Lynnview Drive

0.5 mi · 2 min · Lynnview Drive

Turn left onto South Crums Lane

356 ft · 14 sec · South Crums Lane

Turn right onto KY 1934

1.1 mi · 2 min · Cane Run Road

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Toward I 264 West

Merge onto I 264

3.3 mi · 4 min · Shawnee Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Exit 2 Toward River Park Drive Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto River Park Drive

0.4 mi · 57 sec · River Park Drive

Continue on West Chestnut Street

1.7 mi · 3 min · West Chestnut Street

Turn left onto Roy Wilkins Avenue

0.5 mi · 54 sec · Roy Wilkins Avenue

Take the ramp

455 ft · 11 sec

Toward I 64 West, I 64 East: New Albany, Saint Louis, Lexington

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Toward I 64 East: Lexington Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 64

1.5 mi · 2 min · I 64

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 16 sec

Exit 6 Toward I 71 North: Cincinnati Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 71

77 mi · 1 hr 24 min · I 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 71

5.6 mi · 5 min · I 71

Toward I 75 North, I 71 North: Cincinnati Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Exit 178 Toward KY 536: Mount Zion Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

283 ft · 6 sec

Continue on KY 536

1.3 mi · 2 min · Mount Zion Road

Use the left lane.

Enter roundabout onto KY 536

122 ft · 2 sec · Mount Zion Road

Continue on KY 536

0.5 mi · 51 sec · Mount Zion Road

Enter roundabout onto KY 536

108 ft · 2 sec · Mount Zion Road

Continue on KY 536

0.5 mi · 55 sec · Mount Zion Road

Continue on KY 536

2.2 mi · 4 min · Bristow Road

At end of road, turn left onto KY 2045

1.3 mi · 3 min · Independence Road

At end of road, turn left onto KY 17 Business; KY 2045

371 ft · 7 sec · Madison Pike

Arrive at destination

KY 17 Business; KY 2045

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.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 49.4 miles from Saint Dennis, KY, or about 1h 1m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.4 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 49.4 miles or 1h 1m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 36m

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 Saint Dennis, 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 Saint Dennis, KY

This is one driving day of about 98.9 miles and 2h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Dennis, KY.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on I 71 for about 82.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 49.4 mi from Saint Dennis, KY · 1h 1m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Louisville, KY

49 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

Cincinnati, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Louisville, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 49.4 miles from Saint Dennis, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82.4 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.46 one way

$30.92 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$16.98	$33.95
premium	$4.89	$19.03	$38.06
diesel	$5.61	$21.84	$43.67

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	29.7	$10.38	$4.75
Efficient EV	24.7	$8.65	$3.96
EV Truck/SUV	39.6	$13.85	$6.33

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 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 data refreshed 30 minutes from now

Origin

Saint Dennis, KY

Morning in Saint Dennis on Wednesday

Local time

11:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Independence, KY

Morning in Independence on Wednesday

Local time

11:25 AM

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

2 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

2h 1m 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 Saint Dennis, KY to Independence, KY covers 98.9 miles and takes about 2h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 71, Shawnee Expressway, Mount Zion Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 49.4 miles from Saint Dennis, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.46 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.

Between Saint Dennis, KY and Independence, KY, road signs point toward Saint Louis and Lexington.

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