Spanning 122.4 miles across Kentucky, this journey from Grayson to Independence is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 2 hours and 47 minutes. Because the drive is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to complete the trek. The route keeps you within the Southeast region for the duration of your travel. It is a practical connection between these two points, offering a consistent pace for drivers looking to reach their destination without the need for multiple rest stops.
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
61.2 miles from Grayson, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AA Highway
109.1 mi
2h 26m
Madison Pike
5.2 mi
8m
Ronald Reagan Highway
2.8 mi
3m
Licking Pike
1.8 mi
3m
Carol Malone Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
KY 17 Business
1.1 mi
2m
Pelly Road
0.3 mi
<1m
East Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
AA Highway
— 109.1 mi, about 2h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grayson, KY and Independence, KY.
1
Start on US 60
0.2 mi·22 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn left onto KY 1; KY 7
1.4 mi·2 min·Carol Malone Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto KY 9; AA
26 mi·34 min·AA Highway
Use the left lane.
4
At end of road, turn left onto KY 9; KY 10; KY 1149; AA
83 mi·1 hr 51 min·AA Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Continue on KY 9; AA
1.8 mi·3 min·Licking Pike
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 275 West: AirportUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 275
2.8 mi·3 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 80Toward KY 17: Independence, CovingtonUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto KY 17
5.2 mi·8 min·Madison Pike
Toward IndependenceUse the left / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto KY 17 Business
0.3 mi·30 sec·Pelly Road
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on KY 17 Business
1.1 mi·2 min·KY 17 Business
12
Arrive at destination
KY 17 Business; KY 2045
Trip Plan
Given the local nature of these roads, plan for a flexible departure time to avoid potential congestion on the smaller thoroughfares. You only need to account for one planned stop to keep your trip efficient and on schedule. Since you are navigating local roads rather than high-speed interstates, stay alert to changing speed limits and varying road conditions as you transition between the primary segments. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early on, as the winding sections can sometimes affect your fuel efficiency differently than open highway driving. Prioritize comfort and patience, as this route is designed for steady, local transit rather than rapid transit.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 61.2 miles from Grayson, KY, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.1 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 27 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.2 miles or 1h 22m 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 14m
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 Grayson, 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 Grayson, KY
This is one driving day of about 122.4 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Grayson, 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 AA Highway for about 109.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 115.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|KY 1; KY 7 / Carol Malone Boulevard
Turn left onto KY 1; KY 7 / Carol Malone Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
27.8 mi into trip|~36m in|KY 9; KY 10; KY 1149; AA / AA Highway
At end of road, turn left onto KY 9; KY 10; KY 1149; AA / AA Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
112.4 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 275 West: Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 275 West: Airport
8
115.5 mi into trip|~2h 35m 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
115.8 mi into trip|~2h 36m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.14 one way
$38.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.01
$42.02
premium
$4.89
$23.55
$47.11
diesel
$5.61
$27.02
$54.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.7
0
$12.85
$5.88
Efficient EV
30.6
0
$10.71
$4.90
EV Truck/SUV
49
0
$17.14
$7.83
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Grayson, KY
Night
in Grayson on Saturday
Local time
10:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, KY
Night
in Independence on Saturday
Local time
10:44 PM
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
3 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
2h 47m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features a 0% highway share. Your journey will take you along Carol Malone Boulevard, the AA Highway, and Licking Pike, requiring your full attention behind the wheel. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches—with 0 miles of straight highway on Carol Malone Boulevard—you will find the driving experience to be consistently engaging and technical. Prepare for a winding path that demands active steering compared to the typical highway experience. This is a route where the road itself dictates your speed and focus throughout the 122.4-mile transit.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.1 mi on AA Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near KY 1; KY 7 / Carol Malone Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 47m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (KY 1; KY 7 / Carol Malone Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.8 miles (KY 9; KY 10; KY 1149; AA / AA Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 112.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Grayson, KY to Independence, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Covington along the way.
Covington
115.5 mi in|~2h 35m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 122.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 109.1 miles on AA Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (KY 1; KY 7 / Carol Malone Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.8 miles (KY 9; KY 10; KY 1149; AA / AA Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 112.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Independence, KY before heading back.
