Richmond, KY to South Shore, KY is 137.9 miles and takes about 2h 37m via I 64 and US Highway 23, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, moving through the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive that mostly sticks to major highways, making it a practical choice for a quick transit. You'll cover a significant portion of the distance on I 64, so expect a consistent cruising experience for much of the way. Consider this if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
69 miles from Richmond, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
81.9 mi
1h 27m
US Highway 23
18.7 mi
22m
Industrial Parkway
13.7 mi
15m
Boonesborough Road
12.3 mi
15m
I 75
4.4 mi
4m
Lexington Road
1.8 mi
2m
Boone Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Maple Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 81.9 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, KY and South Shore, KY.
1
Start on KY 388
104 ft·6 sec·North 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52
0.5 mi·45 sec·West Main Street
3
Continue on US 25 Business; US 421 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·Lexington Road
4
Turn left onto US 25; US 421
0.2 mi·28 sec·Lexington Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
6
Merge onto I 75
4.4 mi·4 min·I 75
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward KY 627: Boonesborough, Winchester
8
Turn right onto KY 627
12 mi·15 min·Boonesborough Road
9
Continue on KY 627
1.3 mi·2 min·Boone Avenue
10
Turn left onto KY 627
1.3 mi·2 min·Maple Street
11
Continue on KY 627
0.1 mi·17 sec·Paris Road
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
13
Merge onto I 64
0.9 mi·59 sec·I 64
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
81 mi·1 hr 26 min·I 64
15
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 179Toward KY 67: Wurtland, Greenup
16
Continue on KY 67
14 mi·15 min·Industrial Parkway
17
Turn left onto US 23
19 mi·22 min·US Highway 23
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 23
139 ft·4 sec·US 23
19
Arrive at destination
US 23
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2h 37m drive time, you have a lot of flexibility with when to depart. Leaving in the morning means you'll arrive with plenty of daylight, and the $22 fuel cost is manageable for a single tank. You'll encounter only one main road transition, so plan to make your stop for gas or a break before you get too far into the 81.9-mile stretch on I 64. Since it's a single-day trip, you don't need to worry about overnight accommodations, allowing you to be spontaneous with your departure time.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69 miles from Richmond, KY, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.9 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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69 miles or 1h 19m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Shore, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Richmond, 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 Richmond, KY
This is one driving day of about 137.9 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Richmond, 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 I 64 for about 81.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
$1 to $10
mile 19.7
Winchester, Kentucky
Hours: 6 am–6 pm
+18599793377
The Hub Coffee Co.
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, ~9 min detour
3.6 mi from route
~9 min detour
$1 to $10
mile 39.4
Mt Sterling, Kentucky
Hours: 7 am–5 pm
+18595850406
The Hub Coffee Co.
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, ~10 min detour
3.8 mi from route
~10 min detour
$1 to $10
mile 39.4
Mt Sterling, Kentucky
Hours: 8 am–9 pm
Rest Area I 64 (East Bound)
0 mi from route
Rest Area I 64 (West Bound)
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 119.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street
Turn right onto US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
7 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward KY 627: Boonesborough, Winchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KY 627: Boonesborough, Winchester
4
23.6 mi into trip|~31m in|I 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
104.6 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward KY 67: Wurtland, Greenup
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 179
Toward KY 67: Wurtland, Greenup
4
119.2 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|US 23 / US Highway 23
Turn left onto US 23 / US Highway 23
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.56 one way
$43.12 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.67
$47.34
premium
$4.89
$26.54
$53.08
diesel
$5.61
$30.45
$60.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.4
0
$14.48
$6.62
Efficient EV
34.5
0
$12.07
$5.52
EV Truck/SUV
55.2
0
$19.31
$8.83
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 15, 2026
Origin
Richmond, KY
Late night
in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
3:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Shore, KY
Late night
in South Shore on Sunday
Local time
3:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°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
25 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 37m 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
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 4.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 86% of the 137.9 miles on high-speed roads. You'll have a long stretch of uninterrupted driving for 81.9 miles on I 64. The profile is mostly highway, so expect to spend the bulk of your time on expressways before transitioning to surface roads like US Highway 23 and Industrial Parkway. Watch for a notable increase in exits and potential merging traffic as you approach your destination after leaving the interstate.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.9 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and US Highway 23. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 37m 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: near the start (US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.6 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Richmond, KY and South Shore, KY, road signs point toward Winchester and Greenup.
Winchester
7 mi in|~9m
Greenup
104.6 mi in|~1h 58m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 37m. Total distance: 137.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 81.9 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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: near the start (US 25 Business; US 421 Business; KY 52 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.6 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 South Shore, KY before heading back.
