Ironville to Eminence is 169.5 miles and takes about 3h 15m via I 64 and US Route 60, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, moving from the Southeast region to another Southeast location. With over 90% of the drive on highways, expect a straightforward cruise for most of the way. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, offering a practical connection between these two points with minimal time commitment.
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
84.7 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
I 64
145.5 mi
2h 37m
Eminence Pike
8.7 mi
12m
US Route 60
4.6 mi
7m
US 60
3.6 mi
5m
Mount Eden Road
1.8 mi
2m
Main Street
1.4 mi
2m
Boone Station Road
1.2 mi
1m
West Donta Road
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 145.5 mi, about 2h 37m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,321 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,725
Quietest
2 AM
~105 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Eminence, 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
6.9 mi·8 min·I 64
Toward I 64 West, I 75 North: Louisville, CincinnatiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
39 mi·42 min·I 64
Toward I 64 West: Frankfort, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 35Toward KY 53: ShelbyvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto KY 53
1.8 mi·2 min·Mount Eden Road
17
Continue on KY 55 Business
1.2 mi·1 min·Boone Station Road
18
Continue on KY 55 Business
8.7 mi·12 min·Eminence Pike
19
Continue on KY 55
1.4 mi·2 min·Main Street
20
Turn left onto Depot Avenue
153 ft·6 sec·Depot Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Depot Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 15-minute duration, departing in the morning allows ample time to reach Eminence comfortably. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $27, you can plan your expenses easily. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 145.5 miles on I 64, so consider a brief stop before or during this segment if needed. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, but an early start ensures you avoid any potential late-day traffic.
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 84.7 miles from Ironville, KY, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.5 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 37 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.7 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eminence, 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 169.5 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 145.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 156 — 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
3
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|KY 766 / West Donta Road
Turn left onto KY 766 / West Donta Road
Navigation decision point
8
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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 64 West, I 75 North: Louisville, Cinci...
8
116.7 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|I 64
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 64 West: Frankfort, Louisville
7
156 mi into trip|~2h 55m in
Take the exit toward KY 53: Shelbyville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35
Toward KY 53: Shelbyville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.56 one way
$53.12 round trip
$3.98/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.55
$30.34
$60.67
premium
$4.98
$33.24
$66.48
diesel
$6.12
$40.84
$81.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.9
0
$17.80
$8.14
Efficient EV
42.4
0
$14.83
$6.78
EV Truck/SUV
67.8
0
$23.73
$10.85
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Ironville, KY
Morning
in Ironville on Saturday
Local time
10:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Rain Showers
W 8 to 12 mph77% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Eminence, KY
Morning
in Eminence on Saturday
Local time
10:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Scattered Rain Showers
NW 10 to 14 mph52% chanceLive 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
10 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 15m 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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 111
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 91% of the 169.5 miles spent on high-speed roads like I 64. You'll encounter a long stretch of 145.5 miles on I 64 before transitioning to surface roads such as Eminence Pike and US Route 60. Expect to notice the frequent exits and merging traffic typical of interstate travel for the majority of your time on the road.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.5 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Eminence Pike. 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.
Driving Effort5/10
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 169.5 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 0.2 miles (KY 766 / West Donta Road): Navigation decision point; at 109.8 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,015 ft645 ft
Total Climb
865 ft
Total Descent
642 ft
Highest Point
1,015 ft
~36.3 mi in
Elevation Range
370 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 Eminence, KY, road signs point toward Cincinnati and Louisville.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 169.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 145.5 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Pine Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (KY 766 / West Donta Road): Navigation decision point; at 109.8 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Camp Nelson National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Eminence, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
