Origin
Fern Creek, KY
Late night in Fern Creek on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fern Creek, KY to Richmond, KY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 48m
Distance
96 mi
154 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fern Creek, KY
Lukas Hartmann
Richmond, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fern Creek, KY to Richmond, KY is 96 miles and takes about 1 hour 48 minutes via I 64 and Gene Snyder Freeway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily sticks to major highways, making it a straightforward trip between two points in the Southeast region of Kentucky. You'll spend most of your time on Interstate 64, so expect a functional, highway-focused experience rather than a leisurely exploration of local byways. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion with minimal planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48 miles from Fern Creek, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 82.8 mi | 1h 28m |
| Gene Snyder Freeway | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| Lexington Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Bardstown Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Jefferson Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Fern Creek Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 2nd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 82.8 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fern Creek, KY and Richmond, KY.
1
Start on Fern Creek Road
92 ft
·
9 sec
·
Fern Creek Road
2
Continue on Fern Creek Road
155 ft
·
7 sec
·
Fern Creek Road
3
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Jefferson Street
4
Turn left onto US 31E; US 150
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Bardstown Road
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 265, KY 841: Gene Snyder Freeway
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 265 East, KY 841 East: Gene Snyder Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 265; KY 841
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Gene Snyder Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 25A
Toward I 64 East: Lexington
9
Merge onto I 64
83 mi
·
1 hr 28 min
·
I 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 90B
Toward US 25 North, US 421 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto US 25; US 421
151 ft
·
8 sec
·
Lexington Road
12
Continue on US 25; US 421
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lexington Road
13
Continue on US 25 Business; US 421 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Road
14
Continue on US 25 Business; US 421 Business
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Main Street
15
Turn left onto KY 388
104 ft
·
2 sec
·
North 2nd Street
16
Arrive at destination
KY 388
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility for departure. Leaving Fern Creek anytime in the morning or early afternoon should get you to Richmond with ample daylight remaining. Since the route is largely highway, you won't need many stops, but there are opportunities for fuel and rest along I 64. The $15 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage for Lexington Road as you get closer to Richmond, as this is a key local connector after the interstate portion.
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 48 miles from Fern Creek, KY, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.8 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48 miles or 55m 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 27m
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 Fern Creek, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fern Creek, KY
This is one driving day of about 96 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Fern Creek, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 82.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48 miles from Fern Creek, 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 82.8 miles.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 93 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Jefferson Street
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
8
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 265 East, KY 841 East: Gene Snyder Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 265 East, KY 841 East: Gene Snyder Fre...
5
9.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 64 East: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 25A
Toward I 64 East: Lexington
5
10.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 64
Merge onto I 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
93 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.01 one way
$30.02 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.48 | $32.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.47 | $36.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.20 | $42.39 |
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: 33.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.08 | $4.61 |
| Efficient EV | 24 | 0 | $8.40 | $3.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.4 | 0 | $13.44 | $6.14 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Versailles, KY
48 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
1 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 48m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 94% of the route utilizing major interstates and freeways. You'll encounter stretches on I 64 and the Gene Snyder Freeway, allowing for consistent speeds and efficient travel. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll experience is 82.8 miles on I 64. While the majority of the drive is on high-speed roads, there might be brief transitions onto local roads like Lexington Road as you approach your destination. Expect a practical and direct journey with limited scenic detours.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.8 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Gene Snyder Freeway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jefferson Street.
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 96 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Arriving in Richmond, KY
Full guide →Richmond is a city in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky, about 30 miles (50 km) south of Lexington. The county seat of Madison County, Richmond is best known as the home of Eastern Kentucky University.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 96 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.8 miles on I 64. 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: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 US Trip Planner 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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