The Cost of Driving from Cary, NC to Louisville, KY: A Comparison of Routes Based on Current Gas Prices

Are you planning a road trip from Cary, North Carolina to Louisville, Kentucky? There are multiple routes you can take to reach your destination, but which one will be the most cost-effective? Let's take a closer look at the cost of each route based on current gas prices.

Route 1: I-85 North and I-77 North

This route is the most direct, and it takes you through Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Charlotte, before eventually connecting with I-64 West just outside of Charleston. This route covers a distance of 524 miles and should take approximately 8.5 hours without factoring in any stops along the way.

At the time of writing, the average gas price in North Carolina is $2.86 per gallon, while the average gas price in Kentucky is $3.04 per gallon. Using these prices, and assuming you'll be driving a car with an average fuel efficiency of 25 miles per gallon, the cost of gas for this route will be approximately $77.84 one-way. There are no tolls along this route, so the total cost of this trip would be solely dependent on gas prices.

Route 2: I-40 West

This route is a bit longer, but it takes you through Knoxville, Tennessee, before eventually connecting with I-64 West and taking you into Louisville. This route covers a distance of 543 miles and should take approximately 9 hours without factoring in any stops along the way.

At the time of writing, the average gas price in North Carolina is $2.86 per gallon, while the average gas price in Tennessee is $2.93 per gallon and the average gas price in Kentucky is $3.04 per gallon. Using these prices, and assuming you'll be driving a car with an average fuel efficiency of 25 miles per gallon, the cost of gas for this route will be approximately $80.22 one-way. There are no tolls along this route, so the total cost of this trip would be solely dependent on gas prices.

Route 3: I-85 North, I-77 North, and I-64 West

This route takes you along the same path as Route 1, but once you reach Charleston, West Virginia, you'll pick up I-64 West and take that all the way into Louisville. This route covers a distance of 615 miles and should take approximately 10 hours without factoring in any stops along the way.

At the time of writing, the average gas price in North Carolina is $2.86 per gallon, while the average gas price in West Virginia is $3.02 per gallon, and the average gas price in Kentucky is $3.04 per gallon. Using these prices, and assuming you'll be driving a car with an average fuel efficiency of 25 miles per gallon, the cost of gas for this route will be approximately $92.76 one-way. In addition to gas, there are two tolls along this route: one in West Virginia for $4.00 and one in Kentucky for $1.00. So the total cost of this route, including tolls, would be approximately $97.76.

Final Thoughts

While the most direct route – Route 1 – might seem like the cheapest option based on distance, it's important to consider the cost of gas and tolls along the way. If you're aiming for the most cost-effective option, Route 2 might be your best bet, as it only adds a few extra miles and takes you through Tennessee, where gas prices tend to be lower than in other states. Whatever route you choose, be sure to factor in the cost of gas and tolls when planning your road trip budget. Safe travels!