Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 12m
Distance
168.5 mi
271 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ironville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Elk Creek, KY
Niki Clark
This 168.5-mile journey from Ironville, KY to Elk Creek, KY takes approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day road trip. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 93% of the drive on major roads like I 64, Taylorsville Road, and US Route 60. You can expect a fuel cost of around $26 for this drive. Given its manageable length and the focus on high-speed travel, this route is ideal for a straightforward trip without the need for an overnight stop. The drive keeps you within the Southeast region, primarily within Kentucky, offering a consistent travel experience.
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
84.2 miles from Ironville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 148.8 mi | 2h 40m |
| Taylorsville Road | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| US Route 60 | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| US 60 | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Shelbyville Road | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| West Donta Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Bob McCullough Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| KY 1633 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ironville, KY and Elk Creek, KY.
Start on Tiffany Drive
Continue on Brett Street
At end of road, turn left onto Pine Street
Turn left onto KY 766
Turn right onto KY 766
Continue on KY 766
Turn left onto KY 766
Turn right onto US 60
Continue on US 60
Turn right onto US 60
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto KY 55
Continue on KY 55
Continue on KY 1633
Arrive at destination
With a total duration of just over 3 hours, this 168.5-mile trip from Ironville to Elk Creek offers plenty of flexibility for departure times. You can easily start your drive in the morning and be at your destination by lunchtime, or depart in the afternoon and arrive before dinner. The longest stretch on I 64 is nearly 150 miles, so plan for one main fuel and rest stop around the halfway point to break up the drive. The estimated fuel cost is $26, so factoring that into your budget is straightforward. Keep an eye on the mileage markers for I 64 as you approach your exit for Elk Creek.
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.
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 37 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.2 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elk Creek, KY than in the middle of the route.
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 168.5 miles and 3h 12m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 84.2 miles from Ironville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 148.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 159.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto Pine Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West, I 75 North: Louisville, Cincinnati
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West: Frankfort, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward KY 55: Shelbyville, Taylorsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$26.34 one way
$52.69 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.92 | $57.85 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.43 | $64.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.20 | $74.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.6 | 0 | $17.69 | $8.09 |
| Efficient EV | 42.1 | 0 | $14.74 | $6.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.4 | 0 | $23.59 | $10.78 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Ironville on Sunday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Elk Creek on Sunday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
75°F
Winchester, KY
84 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Prepare for a largely highway-focused experience, as 93% of this 168.5-mile route is on major roads. You'll spend a significant amount of time on I 64, including an uninterrupted stretch of 148.8 miles. This means you'll be covering ground efficiently, with fewer distractions from local traffic. The transition onto Taylorsville Road and US Route 60 will likely offer a slight change in pace before reaching your destination. Overall, expect a drive characterized by steady progress on well-maintained highways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Taylorsville Road. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Pine Street.
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 168.5 miles you will encounter 12 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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.7 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ironville, KY and Elk Creek, KY, road signs point toward Cincinnati, Louisville and Taylorsville.
Cincinnati
Louisville
Taylorsville
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 168.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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