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Trip from Ironville, KY to Oakbrook, KY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 19m

Distance

160.1 mi

258 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 7m ★
6 AM
3h 19m
8 AM
3h 43m
10 AM
3h 28m
12 PM
3h 25m
3 PM
3h 29m
5 PM
3h 42m
8 PM
3h 12m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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village and civil parish in Amber Valley district, Derbyshire, England, UK

Ironville, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Oakbrook, KY, KY

Oakbrook, KY

Daisy Laparra

Trip Overview

The drive from Ironville, KY to Oakbrook, KY covers 160.1 miles and takes about 3h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway, US 52, Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75.2 miles on James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.82 one way before food or hotel costs.

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 miles from Ironville, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m 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
13th Street 2.6 mi 4m
Burlington Pike 2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway — 75.2 mi, about 1h 32m

Traffic on I-275

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~3,572 veh/hr typical · worst 4,294

Quietest

2 AM

~141 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

25.3×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Oakbrook, 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 16 Toward 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 84 Toward I 71, I 75: Lexington, Louisville, Cincinnati Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 2 min
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville Use 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, Erlanger Use 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 181 Toward KY 18: Florence, Burlington Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Turn right onto KY 18

2.0 mi · 3 min · Burlington Pike
Use the left lane.
26

Turn slight left

323 ft · 16 sec
Use the left lane.
27

Turn left onto Oakbrook Drive

1.7 mi · 4 min · Oakbrook Drive
Use the straight lane.
28

Arrive at destination

Oakbrook Drive

Trip Plan

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 miles from Ironville, KY, or about 1h 36m 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 miles or 1h 36m 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 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakbrook, 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 160.1 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.

Downtown Peebles, OH, OH

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Peebles, OH

80 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Lucasville, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Peebles, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80 miles from Ironville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

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

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.82 one way

$49.64 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.32 $27.22 $54.43
premium $4.93 $31.06 $62.12
diesel $5.60 $35.29 $70.58

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 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48 0 $16.81 $7.68
Efficient EV 40 0 $14.01 $6.40
EV Truck/SUV 64 0 $22.41 $10.25

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 Sep 2, 2026

Origin

Ironville, KY

Morning in Ironville on Friday

Local time

9:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Clear

SW 1 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued September 2 at 12:36AM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 1:06AM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV

Destination

Oakbrook, KY

Morning in Oakbrook on Friday

Local time

9:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Clear

SW 3 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued September 2 at 12:36AM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 1:06AM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV

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

3h 19m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

160.1 mi in 3h 19m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 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 0.2 miles in near Pine Street.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 22 significant decision points across 160.1 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 0.2 miles (Pine Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; 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.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

979 ft 540 ft

Total Climb

1,053 ft

Total Descent

896 ft

Highest Point

979 ft

~102.9 mi in

Elevation Range

440 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Ironville, KY

Full guide →

Arriving in Oakbrook, KY

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 19m. Total distance: 160.1 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 Oakbrook, 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 0.2 miles (Pine Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; 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.

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 Oakbrook, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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