Origin
Independence, KY
Late night in Independence on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Independence, KY to Berea, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 1m
Distance
106.6 mi
172 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
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 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Berea, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Independence, KY to Berea, KY is 106.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 1 minute via I 75 and KY 17, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, moving from Northern Kentucky towards the central part of the state. Given its relatively short distance and straightforward highway focus, this route is best suited for a single-day journey. You'll find it a convenient option if you're looking for a direct path between these two points without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.3 miles from Independence, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 95.5 mi | 1h 42m |
| Walton Nicholson Pike | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| KY 17 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Madison Pike | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Chestnut Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Dixie Highway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| School Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 95.5 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, KY and Berea, KY.
1
Start on KY 17 Business; KY 2045
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Madison Pike
2
Turn right onto KY 17
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
KY 17
3
Turn right onto KY 16
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Walton Nicholson Pike
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on KY 16
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Walton Nicholson Road
5
Turn right onto US 25; KY 16
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
Dixie Highway
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on US 25; KY 16
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
7
Turn right onto Old Beaver Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Old Beaver Road
8
Continue on Stephenson Mill Road
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Stephenson Mill Road
9
Keep slight left at fork onto School Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
School Road
10
Turn right onto KY 14; KY 16
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Mary Grubbs Highway
Use the right lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 75 South: Lexington
Use the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 75
96 mi
·
1 hr 42 min
·
I 75
Toward I 75 South: Lexington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 76
Toward KY 21: Berea
14
Turn left onto KY 21
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Paint Lick Road
15
Continue on KY 21
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Chestnut Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 25; KY 21
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over two hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. You might consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour traffic. Since the longest stretch on the interstate is substantial at 95.5 miles, plan for a fuel stop before you depart Independence, KY, as services may be more spaced out on that particular segment. There are no recommended stops built into this route, so you can decide on the fly if you need a break.
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 53.3 miles from Independence, KY, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.5 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 23 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.3 miles or 1h 3m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Berea, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Independence, 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 Independence, KY
This is one driving day of about 106.6 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Independence, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 95.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 53.3 miles from Independence, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 95.5 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 9.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
KY 16 / Walton Nicholson Pike
Turn right onto KY 16 / Walton Nicholson Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
7.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
US 25; KY 16 / Dixie Highway
Turn right onto US 25; KY 16 / Dixie Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
9.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway
Turn right onto KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
9.4 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 South: Lexington
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 75 South: Lexington
6
9.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75 toward I 75 South: Lexington
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 South: Lexington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.67 one way
$33.33 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.30 | $36.60 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.51 | $41.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.54 | $47.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32 | 0 | $11.19 | $5.12 |
| Efficient EV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.33 | $4.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.6 | 0 | $14.92 | $6.82 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Berea, KY
Late night in Berea on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Williamstown, KY
53 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the journey utilizing major highways like I 75. Expect long stretches of consistent driving, including a 95.5-mile segment on I 75 where you can settle into a rhythm. While the majority is interstate, the initial and final portions may involve local roads like Walton Nicholson Pike and KY 17, offering a brief change of pace before reaching your destination. The character is efficient and direct, minimizing time spent on slower, winding roads.
91% 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: 95.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Walton Nicholson Pike. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near KY 16 / Walton Nicholson Pike.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 1m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (KY 16 / Walton Nicholson Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (US 25; KY 16 / Dixie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 106.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 95.5 miles on I 75. 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 2.6 miles (KY 16 / Walton Nicholson Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (US 25; KY 16 / Dixie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (KY 14; KY 16 / Mary Grubbs Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Berea, 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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