Ironville to Burlington is 160.9 miles and takes about 3h 19m via James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Kentucky, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's primarily a surface road trip, so expect more varied scenery and a less direct path than a pure interstate cruise. Given its manageable length and duration, it's a good option for a single-day excursion. Keep in mind the fuel cost is an estimate, so check prices as you go.
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
80.4 miles from Ironville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
75.2 mi
1h 32m
US 52
23.9 mi
25m
Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway
16.4 mi
17m
US 23
10.5 mi
13m
Ronald Reagan Highway
10 mi
11m
Circle Freeway
10 mi
11m
Burlington Pike
4.4 mi
7m
13th Street
2.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
— 75.2 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ironville, KY and Burlington, 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
0.6 mi·1 min·West Donta Road
5
Turn straight onto KY 1134
0.5 mi·1 min·Roberts Drive
6
Turn right onto KY 1134
0.3 mi·47 sec·Winslow Road
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 60
2.6 mi·4 min·13th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
Continue on Simeon Willis Memorial Bridge
0.5 mi·33 sec·Simeon Willis Memorial Bridge
9
Keep slight left at fork
369 ft·9 sec
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto US 52
24 mi·25 min·US 52
11
Take the exit onto SR 823
16 mi·17 min·Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway
Toward SR 823 North: Chillicothe
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·49 sec
Exit 16Toward US 23 North: Chillicothe
13
Merge onto US 23
11 mi·13 min·US 23
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
15
Turn left onto SR 32; SR 124
75 mi·1 hr 32 min·James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 275 South: Kentucky
17
Merge onto I 275
10.0 mi·11 min·Circle Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 275
10 mi·11 min·Ronald Reagan Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 84Toward I 71, I 75: Lexington, Louisville, CincinnatiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South, KY 236 East: Lexington, Louisville, ErlangerUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville
23
Merge onto I 71; I 75
1.5 mi·1 min·I 71; I 75
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 181Toward KY 18: Florence, BurlingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn right onto KY 18
2.9 mi·4 min·Burlington Pike
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on KY 18
1.4 mi·2 min·Burlington Pike
27
Continue on KY 18
0.2 mi·28 sec·Washington Street
28
Turn left onto KY 338
68 ft·1 sec·Jefferson Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
29
Arrive at destination
KY 338
Trip Plan
This is a straightforward 160.9-mile trip that can easily be completed in one day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving Ironville in the morning to have ample daylight for the 3h 19m drive. You'll encounter one designated stop, but feel free to pull over at other points that catch your eye. With a fuel cost estimate of $25, it's wise to fill up before you leave Ironville or at a convenient point along US 52. Pay attention as you transition off the James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway onto surface roads, as navigation may become more intricate.
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 80.4 miles from Ironville, KY, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.2 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 35 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.4 miles or 1h 37m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burlington, 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 160.9 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway for about 75.2 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 152.1 and 160.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
152.1 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 71, I 75: Lexington, Louisville, Cincinnati
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 84
Toward I 71, I 75: Lexington, Louisville, Cinci...
8
152.4 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louis...
8
153.4 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 71 South, I 75 South, KY 236 East: Lexington, Louisville, Erlanger
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South, KY 236 East: Lex...
8
156 mi into trip|~3h 10m in
Take the exit toward KY 18: Florence, Burlington
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 181
Toward KY 18: Florence, Burlington
7
160.9 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|KY 338 / Jefferson Street
Turn left onto KY 338 / Jefferson Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.15 one way
$50.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.62
$55.24
premium
$4.89
$30.96
$61.93
diesel
$5.61
$35.52
$71.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.3
0
$16.89
$7.72
Efficient EV
40.2
0
$14.08
$6.44
EV Truck/SUV
64.4
0
$22.53
$10.30
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Ironville, KY
Late night
in Ironville on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Burlington, KY
Late night
in Burlington on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Jasper, OH
80 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 19m 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?
You'll spend about 29% of this 160.9-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 75.2 miles along the James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway. After this, you'll transition to more surface roads for the remainder of the drive. Expect a mix of cruising and navigating through towns, as the profile is mostly surface roads.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.2 mi on James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 152.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 21 significant decision points across 160.9 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 152.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 153.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Ironville, KY and Burlington, KY, road signs point toward Louisville and Cincinnati.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 19m. Total distance: 160.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.2 miles on James A. Rhodes Appalachian 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 Burlington, 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 152.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 153.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Burlington, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
