Park Hills to Meads is 134.1 miles and takes about 3h 3m via AA Highway and I 64, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, traversing the Southeast region for its entirety. Expect a route characterized by frequent turns and local road driving, making it a more engaging experience than a straightforward interstate journey. With a drive time under four hours and a modest fuel cost, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, offering a practical way to get from point A to point B.
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
67.1 miles from Park Hills, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AA Highway
109 mi
2h 26m
I 64
9.2 mi
9m
US 60
4 mi
6m
Ronald Reagan Highway
2.7 mi
3m
US Route 60
2 mi
3m
Highland Pike
1.4 mi
2m
Licking Pike
1.4 mi
2m
Kyles Lane
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
AA Highway
— 109 mi, about 2h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Park Hills, KY and Meads, KY.
1
Start on this road
60 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Hamilton Road
54 ft·7 sec·Hamilton Road
3
Turn left onto Amsterdam Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Amsterdam Road
4
Turn sharp left onto KY 1072
0.4 mi·53 sec·Sleepy Hollow Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 25; US 42; US 127; KY 1072
0.2 mi·27 sec·Dixie Highway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto KY 1072
0.7 mi·1 min·Kyles Lane
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on KY 1072
1.4 mi·2 min·Highland Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn right onto KY 17
0.5 mi·57 sec·Madison Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 275 East: NewportUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 275
2.7 mi·3 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 77Toward KY 9, AA: Wilder, MaysvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward KY 9, AA: Alexandria, MaysvilleUse the right lane.
13
Merge onto KY 9; AA
1.4 mi·2 min·Licking Pike
Toward Alexandria, Maysville
14
Continue on KY 9; AA
83 mi·1 hr 51 min·AA Highway
15
Continue on KY 9; KY 1149; AA
26 mi·34 min·AA Highway
16
Take the exit
248 ft·6 sec
Use the right lane.
17
Merge onto KY 1; KY 7
0.5 mi·46 sec·Carol Malone Boulevard
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
19
Merge onto I 64
9.2 mi·9 min·I 64
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 181Toward US 60
21
Turn left onto US 60
4.0 mi·6 min·US 60
22
Turn left onto US 60
2.0 mi·3 min·US Route 60
23
Turn right onto Marsh Hill Drive
110 ft·8 sec·Marsh Hill Drive
24
Turn left onto Midland Trail Road
410 ft·19 sec·Midland Trail Road
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 3m duration, starting your drive in Park Hills after the morning rush, around 9:00 AM, should allow ample time to reach Meads comfortably within daylight hours. With only one recommended stop, you can be flexible with your timing; consider a brief break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you transition off the AA Highway, as services might be more spaced out on the local roads. The $21 fuel estimate is quite reasonable, so you won't need to worry excessively about budgeting for gas on this 134.1-mile trip.
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 67.1 miles from Park Hills, KY, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109 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 30 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.1 miles or 1h 34m 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 31m
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 Park Hills, 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 Park Hills, KY
This is one driving day of about 134.1 miles and 3h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Park Hills, 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 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 7.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in|KY 1072 / Sleepy Hollow Road
Turn sharp left onto KY 1072 / Sleepy Hollow Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
1 mi into trip|~2m in|US 25; US 42; US 127; KY 1072 / Dixie Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 25; US 42; US 127; KY 1072 / Dixie Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
3.3 mi into trip|~7m in|KY 17 / Madison Pike
Turn right onto KY 17 / Madison Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
6.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward KY 9, AA: Wilder, Maysville
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 77
Toward KY 9, AA: Wilder, Maysville
9
7.1 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward KY 9, AA: Alexandria, Maysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward KY 9, AA: Alexandria, Maysville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.97 one way
$41.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.02
$46.04
premium
$4.89
$25.81
$51.61
diesel
$5.61
$29.61
$59.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.2
0
$14.08
$6.44
Efficient EV
33.5
0
$11.73
$5.36
EV Truck/SUV
53.6
0
$18.77
$8.58
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Park Hills, KY
Late night
in Park Hills on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Meads, KY
Late night
in Meads on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 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
22 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
3h 3m 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?
This drive is best described as turn-heavy, with a significant portion on local roads rather than high-speed highways. Only 11% of the journey is on highways, meaning you'll be navigating more varied terrain and road conditions. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 109 miles along the AA Highway, offering a more consistent pace before transitioning. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience, as the route shifts between the efficiency of major roads like I 64 and US 60, and the more winding, community-focused paths of local routes.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109 mi on AA Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near KY 1072 / Sleepy Hollow Road.
Driving Effort9/10
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 134.1 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 0.6 miles (KY 1072 / Sleepy Hollow Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1 miles (US 25; US 42; US 127; KY 1072 / Dixie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (KY 17 / Madison Pike): 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.
Between Park Hills, KY and Meads, KY, road signs point toward Aa: Wilder, Maysville, Aa: Alexandria and Alexandria.
Aa: Wilder
6.9 mi in|~12m
Maysville
6.9 mi in|~12m
Aa: Alexandria
7.1 mi in|~12m
Alexandria
7.3 mi in|~13m|via KY 9; AA
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 3m. Total distance: 134.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109 miles on AA Highway. 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 Meads, 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 0.6 miles (KY 1072 / Sleepy Hollow Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1 miles (US 25; US 42; US 127; KY 1072 / Dixie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (KY 17 / Madison Pike): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Meads, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
