Florence, KY to South Shore, KY is 113.7 miles and takes about 2h 29m via James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, connecting two points in the Southeast region. You'll find the route offers a mix of driving experiences, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. Consider this drive if you're looking for an uncomplicated way to travel between these two locations without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.8 miles from Florence, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
55 mi
1h 8m
SR 73
29.9 mi
44m
Ronald Reagan Highway
10.2 mi
11m
Circle Freeway
9.5 mi
10m
US 23 Truck
3.2 mi
3m
SR 852
1.5 mi
2m
I 71
1.5 mi
1m
Turfway Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
— 55 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, KY and South Shore, KY.
1
Start on Main Street
96 ft·10 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left
252 ft·20 sec
3
Turn right onto US 25; US 42; US 127
0.4 mi·42 sec·Dixie Highway
4
Turn left onto KY 1017
0.7 mi·1 min·Turfway Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 71 North, I 75 North: CincinnatiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 71; I 75
1.5 mi·1 min·I 71; I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 185Toward I 275Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 275 East
9
Merge onto I 275
10 mi·11 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 275
9.5 mi·10 min·Circle Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 63A-BToward SR 32: Newtown, Eastgate Boulevard, BataviaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 63AToward SR 32 West: Eastgate Boulevard, NewtownUse the slight left lane.
13
Turn right onto SR 32
55 mi·1 hr 8 min·James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
Toward Eastgate BoulevardUse the right lane.
14
Turn right onto SR 73
30 mi·44 min·SR 73
15
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 852
1.5 mi·2 min·SR 852
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 23 Truck; KY 8
3.2 mi·3 min·US 23 Truck; KY 8
17
Arrive at destination
US 23
Trip Plan
Since this trip is just over 2 hours, it's easily doable in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to arrive with daylight to spare. You'll be covering 113.7 miles, so while stops aren't mandatory, taking a break around the halfway point might be comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $18 for the trip; it's wise to start with a full tank. The longest stretch is 55 miles on the James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway, so plan your refueling before you begin that segment if needed.
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 56.8 miles from Florence, KY, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.8 miles or 1h 11m 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
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 Florence, 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 Florence, KY
This is one driving day of about 113.7 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Florence, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway for about 55 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 24.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 71 North, I 75 North: Cincinnati
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 71 North, I 75 North: Cincinnati
7
3 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 275
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 185
Toward I 275
8
23.6 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward SR 32: Newtown, Eastgate Boulevard, Batavia
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 63A-B
Toward SR 32: Newtown, Eastgate Boulevard, Bata...
9
23.9 mi into trip|~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 32 West: Eastgate Boulevard, Newtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 63A
Toward SR 32 West: Eastgate Boulevard, Newtown
7
24.1 mi into trip|~30m in|SR 32 / James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
Turn right onto SR 32 / James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway toward Eastgate Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Eastgate Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.78 one way
$35.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.52
$39.03
premium
$4.89
$21.88
$43.76
diesel
$5.61
$25.10
$50.21
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: 39.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.1
0
$11.94
$5.46
Efficient EV
28.4
0
$9.95
$4.55
EV Truck/SUV
45.5
0
$15.92
$7.28
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Florence, KY
Night
in Florence on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Shore, KY
Night
in South Shore on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
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
3 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 29m 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?
About 40% of this 113.7-mile drive is on highways, with the longest continuous stretch being 55 miles along the James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway. After this section, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. Expect a change in pace as you move from faster highway speeds to more local road conditions. The route includes a notable mix of both.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55 mi on James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
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 14 significant decision points across 113.7 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 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Florence, KY and South Shore, KY, road signs point toward Batavia and Newtown.
Florence is a city of 33,000 people (2019) in Kentucky's Northern Ohio River Region, near Cincinnati. Florence is well known in surrounding cities for a water tower visible from I-71/I-75 that reads "Florence Y'all".
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 113.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55 miles on James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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.
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 South Shore, 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. There are 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at South Shore, KY before heading back.
