This 175.3-mile journey from Ironville, KY to Bardstown, KY is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 3 hours and 23 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily on local roads, including Brett Street, Pine Street, and West Donta Road, with no significant highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $27. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace and potential for spontaneous stops. Both Ironville and Bardstown are located within Kentucky's Southeast region, so you'll remain in familiar territory throughout your drive.
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
87.6 miles from Ironville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
101.7 mi
1h 50m
Bluegrass Parkway
46.2 mi
49m
West New Circle Road
5.8 mi
8m
US Route 60
4.6 mi
7m
Versailles Road
4.5 mi
6m
US 60
3.6 mi
5m
Springfield Road
1.4 mi
2m
Lexington Road
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 101.7 mi, about 1h 50m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~645 veh/hr typical
· worst 968
Quietest
2 AM
~56 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ironville, KY and Bardstown, KY.
1
Start on Tiffany Drive
382 ft·16 sec·Tiffany Drive
2
Continue on Brett Street
524 ft·28 sec·Brett Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto Pine Street
157 ft·7 sec·Pine Street
4
Turn left onto KY 766
0.5 mi·1 min·West Donta Road
5
Turn right onto KY 766
94 ft·3 sec·KY 766
6
Continue on KY 766
0.3 mi·45 sec·Roberts Drive
7
Turn left onto KY 766
0.5 mi·1 min·Bob McCullough Drive
8
Turn right onto US 60
0.3 mi·24 sec·13th Street
9
Continue on US 60
4.6 mi·7 min·US Route 60
10
Turn right onto US 60
3.6 mi·5 min·US 60
11
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
12
Merge onto I 64
99 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 64
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
2.4 mi·3 min·I 64
Toward I 64 West, I 75 North: Louisville, Cincinnati
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 113Toward US 27, US 68: Paris, LexingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto US 27; US 68
1.2 mi·2 min·North Broadway
16
Turn right onto US KY4
5.8 mi·8 min·West New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 5BToward US 60 West: VersaillesUse the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto US 60
4.5 mi·6 min·Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on US 60
1.3 mi·1 min·Lexington Road
20
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward Elizabethtown
21
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
46 mi·49 min·Bluegrass Parkway
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Bardstown
23
Merge onto US 150; US 31E Truck
1.4 mi·2 min·Springfield Road
24
Continue on US 150
0.8 mi·1 min·East Stephen Foster Avenue
25
Enter roundabout onto US 31E; US 62; US 150
201 ft·3 sec·Court Square
26
Arrive at destination
US 31E; US 62; US 150
Trip Plan
With a total duration of 3 hours and 23 minutes, this 175.3-mile drive from Ironville to Bardstown is easily accomplishable in one day. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your time at your destination. Since there's a 0% highway share, you'll be on local roads for the entire trip, so be mindful of posted speed limits and potential for frequent turns. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to decide when and where to take a break. The estimated fuel cost is $27, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Ironville to avoid unnecessary detours for gas.
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 87.6 miles from Ironville, KY, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.7 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 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.6 miles or 1h 40m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bardstown, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ironville, 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 Ironville, KY
This is one driving day of about 175.3 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Ironville, 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 101.7 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 119.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Pine Street
At end of road, turn left onto Pine Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
109.8 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West, I 75 North: Louisville, Cincinnati
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 64 West, I 75 North: Louisville, Cinci...
8
112.2 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Take the exit toward US 27, US 68: Paris, Lexington
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 113
Toward US 27, US 68: Paris, Lexington
5
113.8 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|US KY4 / West New Circle Road
Turn right onto US KY4 / West New Circle Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
119.6 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Take the exit toward US 60 West: Versailles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward US 60 West: Versailles
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.15 one way
$58.29 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$31.75
$63.49
premium
$5.18
$35.77
$71.54
diesel
$5.35
$36.92
$73.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.6
0
$18.41
$8.41
Efficient EV
43.8
0
$15.34
$7.01
EV Truck/SUV
70.1
0
$24.54
$11.22
Gas CO2
61 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.
Forecast as of May 31, 2026
Origin
Ironville, KY
Evening
in Ironville on Wednesday
Local time
5:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:38AM CDT until June 3 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Bardstown, KY
Evening
in Bardstown on Wednesday
Local time
5:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
N 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:38AM CDT until June 3 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
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
4 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 23m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 120.9
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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 175.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 175.3-mile route, as it features a 0% highway share. This means you'll be interacting with local roads like Brett Street, Pine Street, and West Donta Road for the full 3 hours and 23 minutes. Without long highway stretches, the journey offers a continuous engagement with the landscape and community as you make your way from Ironville to Bardstown. The character of the drive remains consistent, focusing on navigating smaller roadways rather than covering long distances at high speeds.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.7 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Bluegrass Parkway. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Pine Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 175.3 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Pine Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 109.8 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,030 ft637 ft
Total Climb
793 ft
Total Descent
861 ft
Highest Point
1,030 ft
~87.6 mi in
Elevation Range
393 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ironville, KY and Bardstown, KY, road signs point toward Cincinnati, Lexington and Elizabethtown.
Bardstown is a city in the Kentucky Derby Region, located 40 miles southeast of Louisville. It is the county seat of Nelson County. It calls itself "The Most Beautiful Small Town in America" and it's certainly at least a contender.
Top landmarks
•Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral — catholic church
•Cobblestone Path — street
•Bardstown Historic District — registered historic district on the National Register of Historic Places
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 175.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.7 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.
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 Bardstown, 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. There are 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Pine Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 109.8 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Camp Nelson National Monument and Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical 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 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Bardstown, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
