Origin
Independence, KY
Late night in Independence on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Independence, KY to Dayton, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
27m
Distance
17.6 mi
28 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Dayton, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through Northern Kentucky, the 17.6-mile trek from Independence to Dayton is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 27 minutes. You can easily complete this journey in a single day, making it an ideal choice for a casual outing rather than an overnight commitment. With fuel costs estimated at around $3, it is a very budget-friendly transit across the region. You will spend roughly half of your time on the highway, balancing local road navigation with faster interstate travel. Since both locations are situated within the Southeast region of Kentucky, the transition between them is seamless and familiar for locals and visitors alike.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| KY 17 | 5 mi | 7m |
| Ronald Reagan Highway | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| I 471 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Madison Pike | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Fairfield Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| 6th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| KY 17 Business | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Dayton Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
KY 17
— 5 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, KY and Dayton, KY.
1
Start on KY 17 Business; KY 2045
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Madison Pike
2
Continue on KY 17 Business
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
KY 17 Business
3
Turn left onto KY 17
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
KY 17
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 275 East: Newport
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 275
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 74B
Toward I 471 North: Newport, Cincinnati
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Merge onto I 471
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
I 471
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 5
Toward KY 8: Newport, Bellevue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto KY 8 Business
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Fairfield Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on KY 8 Business
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Avenue
11
Turn right onto Dayton Avenue
46 ft
·
2 sec
·
Dayton Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Dayton Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 6.4 and 15.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Turn left toward I 275 East: Newport
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 275 East: Newport
5
6.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 275 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Merge onto I 275 / Ronald Reagan Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 471 North: Newport, Cincinnati
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 74B
Toward I 471 North: Newport, Cincinnati
5
12.2 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 471
Merge onto I 471
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
15.7 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward KY 8: Newport, Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward KY 8: Newport, Bellevue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.75 one way
$5.50 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.02 | $6.04 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.39 | $6.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.89 | $7.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.54 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.46 | $1.13 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Dayton, KY
Late night in Dayton on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
7 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
27m 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 drive offers a mixed-road profile, transitioning you from local surface streets onto faster arterial routes. You will start your journey on KY 17, which features your longest uninterrupted stretch of 5 miles before you merge onto the Ronald Reagan Highway and eventually I-471. With a 50% highway share, the experience shifts from steady, moderate-speed driving to the more rhythmic flow of interstate traffic. Expect the personality of the road to change as you move from the residential feel of Independence toward the river-adjacent environment of Dayton. It is a functional drive that requires your attention as you navigate the transition between these distinct roadway types.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5 mi on KY 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 17.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 27m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (I 275 / Ronald Reagan Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Independence, KY and Dayton, KY, road signs point toward Cincinnati and Bellevue.
Cincinnati
11.5 mi in
|
~16m
Bellevue
15.7 mi in
|
~21m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 17.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5 miles on KY 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Dayton, KY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 6.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (I 275 / Ronald Reagan Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dayton, 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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