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Trip from Mount Vernon, KY to Meads, KY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 10m

Distance

112 mi

180 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 1m ★
6 AM
2h 10m
8 AM
2h 29m
10 AM
2h 17m
12 PM
2h 15m
3 PM
2h 18m
5 PM
2h 28m
8 PM
2h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Mount Vernon, KY, KY

Mount Vernon, KY

David Kanigan

suburb in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK

Meads, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Embark on a 112-mile journey from Mount Vernon, KY, to Meads, KY, taking approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes. This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 94% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 64 and US 60. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, especially considering the estimated fuel cost of $18 for the journey. You'll be spending most of your time on the interstate, making for a straightforward drive through the Southeast region of Kentucky. This route is designed for efficiency, getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

56 miles from Mount Vernon, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 64 99.2 mi 1h 46m
US 60 4 mi 6m
Winchester Road 3.4 mi 5m
US Route 60 2 mi 3m
South Ashland Avenue 0.7 mi 2m
Walton Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
Kastle Road 0.2 mi <1m
I 75 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 64 — 99.2 mi, about 1h 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mount Vernon, KY and Meads, KY.

1

Start on Kastle Road

0.2 mi · 41 sec · Kastle Road
2

At end of road, turn right onto Sunset Drive

176 ft · 15 sec · Sunset Drive
3

Turn left onto South Ashland Avenue

0.7 mi · 2 min · South Ashland Avenue
4

Turn left onto US 25; US 421

0.1 mi · 20 sec · East Main Street
5

Turn right onto Walton Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Walton Avenue
6

At end of road, turn right onto US 60

3.4 mi · 5 min · Winchester Road
Use the left lane.
7

Turn left

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Toward I 75 North: Ashland, Cincinnati, Louisville Use the left lane.
8

Merge onto I 75

0.2 mi · 13 sec · I 75
9

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 111 Toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 64

16 mi · 16 min · I 64
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 64

84 mi · 1 hr 29 min · I 64
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Exit 181 Toward US 60
13

Turn left onto US 60

4.0 mi · 6 min · US 60
14

Turn left onto US 60

2.0 mi · 3 min · US Route 60
15

Turn right onto Marsh Hill Drive

110 ft · 8 sec · Marsh Hill Drive
16

Turn left onto Midland Trail Road

410 ft · 19 sec · Midland Trail Road
17

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 2-hour and 10-minute duration, this trip is easily manageable within a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and take advantage of lighter traffic. While there are no specific stops noted, planning for a brief rest break around the halfway point, perhaps after the 99.2-mile stretch on I 64, can help keep you alert. Your estimated fuel cost is $18, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Mount Vernon. Keep an eye on your GPS for the transition from I 64 to US 60 and then Winchester Road as you near Meads.

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 56 miles from Mount Vernon, KY, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 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 25 miles or 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 56 miles or 1h 6m 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 45m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meads, KY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Mount Vernon, 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 Mount Vernon, KY

This is one driving day of about 112 miles and 2h 10m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Mount Vernon, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 99.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Rowan County, Kentucky

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Morehead, KY

56 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

Winchester, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Morehead, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 56 miles from Mount Vernon, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.2 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 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 105.5 — 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 | Sunset Drive

At end of road, turn right onto Sunset Drive

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

6
1.5 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 60 / Winchester Road

At end of road, turn right onto US 60 / Winchester Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
4.9 mi into trip | ~10m in

Turn left toward I 75 North: Ashland, Cincinnati, Louisville

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 75 North: Ashland, Cincinnati, Louisvi...
8
5.5 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the exit toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland

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 111 Toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland
5
105.5 mi into trip | ~1h 59m in

Take the exit toward US 60

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 181 Toward US 60

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.51 one way

$35.02 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $19.23 $38.45
premium $4.89 $21.55 $43.11
diesel $5.61 $24.73 $49.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.6 0 $11.76 $5.38
Efficient EV 28 0 $9.80 $4.48
EV Truck/SUV 44.8 0 $15.68 $7.17

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 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 20, 2026

Origin

Mount Vernon, KY

Morning in Mount Vernon on Tuesday

Local time

8:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Meads, KY

Morning in Meads on Tuesday

Local time

8:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°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

21 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 10m 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.

Camp Nelson National Monument

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...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a highway-focused drive, meaning you'll spend the vast majority of your 112 miles on high-speed roads. With 94% of the route on highways like I 64 and US 60, expect a consistent pace for much of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 99.2 miles on I 64. This suggests a relatively smooth and continuous driving experience, with fewer transitions between different road types. The profile points to a drive where reaching your destination efficiently is the primary goal.

94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.2 mi on I 64.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and US 60. 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 Sunset Drive.

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 112 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 (Sunset Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.5 miles (US 60 / Winchester Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 112 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 10m 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 99.2 miles on I 64. 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 (Sunset Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.5 miles (US 60 / Winchester Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — 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 Meads, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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