Origin
Oak Grove, KY
Late night in Oak Grove on Tuesday
Local time
4:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oak Grove, 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
3h 25m
Distance
178.2 mi
287 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 14m
★
6 AM
3h 26m
8 AM
3h 50m
10 AM
3h 34m
12 PM
3h 32m
3 PM
3h 36m
5 PM
3h 49m
8 PM
3h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Grove, KY
Skyler Ewing
Richmond, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Oak Grove, KY to Richmond, KY is 178.2 miles and takes about 3h 25m via Bluegrass Parkway, Western Kentucky Parkway, and I-75, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, connecting two points in the Southeast region. With 86% highway driving, it's a straightforward route for a single day. The relatively short distance and efficient roadways make this a convenient option for moving between locations or for a quick regional excursion. Expect a mostly efficient drive with minimal need for overnight stays.
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
89.1 miles from Oak Grove, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass Parkway | 70.7 mi | 1h 15m |
| Western Kentucky Parkway | 61.9 mi | 1h 6m |
| I 75 | 13.3 mi | 14m |
| New Circle Road | 7.3 mi | 9m |
| US Highway 231 | 4.8 mi | 7m |
| Versailles Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Lexington Road | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Athens Boonesboro Road | 2.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Bluegrass Parkway
— 70.7 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Grove, KY and Richmond, KY.
1
Start on KY 505
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 505
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 231
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
US Highway 231
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
4
Merge onto Western Kentucky Parkway
62 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Western Kentucky Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 137B
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
7
Merge onto I 65
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 65
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 93
Toward Lexington, Bardstown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
71 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
Bluegrass Parkway
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward US 60 West: Frankfort
11
Turn right onto US 60
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Road
12
Continue on US 60
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
14
Merge onto KY 4
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 16
Toward Alumni Drive
16
Turn right onto Alumni Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Alumni Drive
17
Turn left onto Man O War Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Man O War Boulevard
18
Turn right onto US 25; US 421
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Richmond Road
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on KY 418
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Athens Boonesboro Road
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 75 South: Knoxville
21
Merge onto I 75
13 mi
·
14 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 90B
Toward US 25 North, US 421 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto US 25; US 421
151 ft
·
8 sec
·
Lexington Road
24
Continue on US 25; US 421
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lexington Road
25
Continue on US 25 Business; US 421 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Road
26
Continue on US 25 Business; US 421 Business
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Main Street
27
Turn left onto KY 388
104 ft
·
2 sec
·
North 2nd Street
28
Arrive at destination
KY 388
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 25m estimated drive time, leaving Oak Grove in the morning allows ample time to reach Richmond before evening. The total distance is 178.2 miles, and with a fuel cost estimated around $28, planning for one stop for gas and a break is sensible. The longest stretch without a major break opportunity is 70.7 miles on the Bluegrass Parkway, so ensure you're comfortable for that segment. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time, but an early start is recommended to maximize your day upon arrival in Richmond.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 89.1 miles from Oak Grove, KY, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.7 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 39 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.1 miles or 1h 41m 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 43m
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 Oak Grove, 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 Oak Grove, KY
This is one driving day of about 178.2 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Oak Grove, 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 Bluegrass Parkway for about 70.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
89 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 89.1 miles from Oak Grove, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Bluegrass Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.7 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 175.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 231 / US Highway 231
At end of road, turn right onto US 231 / US Highway 231
Navigation decision point
8
68.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 137B
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
6
68.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
8
70.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward Lexington, Bardstown
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 93
Toward Lexington, Bardstown
8
175.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m 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
$27.86 one way
$55.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $30.59 | $61.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $34.29 | $68.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.34 | $78.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.5 | 0 | $18.71 | $8.55 |
| Efficient EV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.59 | $7.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.3 | 0 | $24.95 | $11.40 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
5:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Bloomfield, KY
89 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 25m 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.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
For over a century people from around the world have come to rural Central Kentucky to honor the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 73.8
View on nps.gov
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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 153.7
View on nps.gov
Mammoth Cave National Park
National Park
Rolling hills, deep river valleys, and the world's longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, e...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 36.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 86% of the 178.2 miles on major roadways like the Bluegrass Parkway, Western Kentucky Parkway, and I-75. You'll experience a long stretch of 70.7 miles on the Bluegrass Parkway before transitioning to other main roads. The profile is mostly highway, suggesting consistent driving speeds and fewer interruptions from local traffic until the final segments. Expect typical highway conditions with a steady flow of traffic.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.7 mi on Bluegrass Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bluegrass Parkway and Western Kentucky Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near US 231 / US Highway 231.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 178.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (US 231 / US Highway 231): Navigation decision point; at 68.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,022 ft
475 ft
Total Climb
835 ft
Total Descent
417 ft
Highest Point
1,022 ft
~152.8 mi in
Elevation Range
547 ft
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 Oak Grove, KY and Richmond, KY, road signs point toward Louisville, Lexington and Bardstown.
Louisville
68.3 mi in
|
~1h 17m
Lexington
70.6 mi in
|
~1h 20m
Bardstown
70.6 mi in
|
~1h 20m
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 3h 25m. Total distance: 178.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.7 miles on Bluegrass Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Richmond, KY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (US 231 / US Highway 231): Navigation decision point; at 68.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Camp Nelson National Monument and Mammoth Cave National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Richmond, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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