Origin
Simpsonville, KY
Late night in Simpsonville on Saturday
Local time
12:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Simpsonville, 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 28m
Distance
79.1 mi
127 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Simpsonville, KY
Tom Fisk
Richmond, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Simpsonville, KY to Richmond, KY covers 79.1 miles and takes about 1h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Lexington Road, Simpsonville-Buck Creek Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 74.2 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 79.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 28m highway drive covering 79.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and Lexington Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 74.2 miles on I 64.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 74.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Lexington Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 60; KY 1848 / Shelbyville Road.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Simpsonville, KY to Richmond, KY is easy. At 1h 28m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 60; KY 1848 / Shelbyville Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (KY 1848 / Buckcreek Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 60; KY 1848 / Shelbyville Road
Turn left onto US 60; KY 1848 / Shelbyville Road
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
KY 1848 / Buckcreek Road
Turn right onto KY 1848 / Buckcreek Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 64
Merge onto I 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
76.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m 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
4
79 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
KY 388 / North 2nd Street
Turn left onto KY 388 / North 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 74.2 mi | 1h 19m |
| Lexington Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Simpsonville-Buck Creek Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Shelbyville Road | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Buckcreek Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North 2nd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 74.2 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Simpsonville, KY and Richmond, KY.
1
Start on KY 1848
65 ft
·
8 sec
·
3rd Street
2
Turn left onto US 60; KY 1848
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
Shelbyville Road
3
Turn right onto KY 1848
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Buckcreek Road
4
Continue on KY 1848
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Simpsonville-Buck Creek Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 64 East
6
Merge onto I 64
74 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 90B
Toward US 25 North, US 421 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto US 25; US 421
151 ft
·
8 sec
·
Lexington Road
9
Continue on US 25; US 421
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lexington Road
10
Continue on US 25 Business; US 421 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Road
11
Continue on US 25 Business; US 421 Business
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Main Street
12
Turn left onto KY 388
104 ft
·
2 sec
·
North 2nd Street
13
Arrive at destination
KY 388
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.5 mi from Simpsonville, KY · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 39.5 miles from Simpsonville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.2 miles.
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
$12.37 one way
$24.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.58 | $27.16 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.22 | $30.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.46 | $34.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.31 | $3.80 |
| Efficient EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.92 | $3.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.6 | 0 | $11.07 | $5.06 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Late night in Richmond on Saturday
Local time
12:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Versailles, KY
40 mi in
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
29 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 28m 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 Simpsonville, KY to Richmond, KY covers 79.1 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, Lexington Road, Simpsonville-Buck Creek 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 39.5 miles from Simpsonville, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.37 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.
The drive from Simpsonville, KY to Richmond, KY is easy. At 1h 28m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 60; KY 1848 / Shelbyville Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (KY 1848 / Buckcreek Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (I 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Simpsonville, KY to Richmond, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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