Origin
Whitley City, KY
Afternoon in Whitley City on Saturday
Local time
2:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Whitley City, 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 36m
Distance
83.2 mi
134 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Whitley City, KY
Kelly
Richmond, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Whitley City, KY to Richmond, KY covers 83.2 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, US Route 27, KY 461 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.5 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.01 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.
Midpoint
41.6 miles from Whitley City, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 24.5 mi | 26m |
| US Route 27 | 21.4 mi | 24m |
| KY 461 | 17.6 mi | 20m |
| Hal Rogers Parkway | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| KY 914 | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| KY 1247 | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Lancaster Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 24.5 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Whitley City, KY and Richmond, KY.
1
Start on KY 478
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Williamsburg Street
2
Turn left onto US 27
21 mi
·
24 min
·
US Route 27
3
Continue on US 27; KY 90
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
4
Take the exit onto KY 90
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
KY 90
5
Turn right onto KY 1247
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
KY 1247
6
Turn right onto KY 914
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
KY 914
7
Turn right onto KY 80
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Hal Rogers Parkway
Use the right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
9
Turn straight onto KY 461
18 mi
·
20 min
·
KY 461
10
Continue on US 25
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Richmond Street
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Use the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 75
25 mi
·
26 min
·
I 75
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward KY 876: Richmond, Lancaster
14
Keep slight right at fork
324 ft
·
9 sec
15
Turn straight onto KY 876
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Eastern Bypass
16
Turn left onto KY 52
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lancaster Avenue
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Main Street
18
Turn left onto KY 388
104 ft
·
2 sec
·
North 2nd Street
19
Arrive at destination
KY 388
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 41.6 miles from Whitley City, KY, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.5 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 18 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.6 miles or 49m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Whitley City, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Whitley City, KY
This is one driving day of about 83.2 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Whitley City, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 24.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.6 miles from Whitley City, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 83.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 27 / US Route 27
Turn left onto US 27 / US Route 27
Navigation decision point
6
31.3 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
KY 80 / Hal Rogers Parkway
Turn right onto KY 80 / Hal Rogers Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
55.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
80.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward KY 876: Richmond, Lancaster
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KY 876: Richmond, Lancaster
5
83.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
KY 388 / North 2nd Street
Turn left onto KY 388 / North 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.01 one way
$26.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.28 | $28.56 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.01 | $32.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.37 | $36.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25 | 0 | $8.74 | $3.99 |
| Efficient EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.28 | $3.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.65 | $5.32 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Richmond, KY
Afternoon in Richmond on Saturday
Local time
2:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Somerset, KY
42 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
27 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 36m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
The US won a significant victory early in the Civil War at the Battle of Mill Springs. Explore the rolling fields of Kentucky where the battle took place and learn about that state's strategic importa...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 25.8
View on nps.gov
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 80.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
83.2 mi in 1h 36m, mostly highway — 24.5 mi of that is on I 75.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US Route 27. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 27 / US Route 27.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 83.2 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 0.2 miles (US 27 / US Route 27): Navigation decision point; at 31.3 miles (KY 80 / Hal Rogers Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 55.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 83.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.5 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 27 / US Route 27): Navigation decision point; at 31.3 miles (KY 80 / Hal Rogers Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 55.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument and Camp Nelson National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Richmond, KY before heading back.
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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