Ironville, KY to Stearns, KY is 202.3 miles and takes about 3h 54m via I 64, I 75, and US 27, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, beginning in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making for a straightforward drive. This route is best suited for those looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two points without extensive detours.
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
101.2 miles from Ironville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
84.6 mi
1h 30m
I 75
32.1 mi
34m
US 27
24.2 mi
27m
Cumberland Lake Parkway
18 mi
21m
Boonesboro Road
12.4 mi
15m
Hal Rogers Parkway
5.8 mi
6m
US Route 60
4.6 mi
7m
KY 914
4.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 84.6 mi, about 1h 30m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~633 veh/hr typical
· worst 977
Quietest
2 AM
~57 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 96 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 Stearns, 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
85 mi·1 hr 30 min·I 64
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward KY 627: Paris , Winchester
14
Turn left onto KY 627
0.5 mi·50 sec·Paris Road
15
Continue on KY 627
1.3 mi·2 min·North Maple Street
16
Turn right onto KY 627
1.3 mi·1 min·Boone Avenue
17
Continue on KY 627
12 mi·15 min·Boonesboro Road
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 75 South
19
Merge onto I 75
32 mi·34 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 62Toward US 25: Renfro Valley, Mount Vernon
21
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·5 sec
Exit 62Toward US 25: Renfro Valley, Mount Vernon
22
Merge onto US 25
0.6 mi·49 sec·Richmond Street
23
Turn straight onto KY 461
18 mi·21 min·Cumberland Lake Parkway
Use the straight lane.
24
Merge onto KY 80
5.8 mi·6 min·Hal Rogers Parkway
25
Turn left onto KY 914
1.0 mi·1 min·KY 914
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on KY 914
3.3 mi·3 min·KY 914
27
Turn left onto KY 1247
3.8 mi·4 min·KY 1247
28
Continue on KY 90
0.2 mi·15 sec·KY 90
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
30
Merge onto US 27
24 mi·27 min·US 27
31
Turn right onto KY 92
1.1 mi·1 min·Wilburn Ross Highway
32
Turn right onto KY 1651
0.2 mi·21 sec·KY 1651
33
Continue on this road
90 ft·11 sec·this road
34
Turn left
81 ft·6 sec
35
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 54-minute estimated drive time, this route is comfortably a same-day trip. Leaving Ironville, KY in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Stearns, KY. With only one stop suggested, you can be flexible with your timing. The route is primarily highway, so factor in the $32 fuel cost and plan your refueling stops accordingly, especially before heading onto the longer 84.6-mile stretch on I 64. You should have ample time to make a quick stop for gas or a break without significantly extending your travel day.
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 101.2 miles from Ironville, KY, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.6 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 45 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.2 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stearns, 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 202.3 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 84.6 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 143.6 — 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
5
95.1 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward KY 627: Paris , Winchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KY 627: Paris , Winchester
5
110.9 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 75 South
6
143.3 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward US 25: Renfro Valley, Mount Vernon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 62
Toward US 25: Renfro Valley, Mount Vernon
7
143.6 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 25: Renfro Valley, Mount Vernon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 62
Toward US 25: Renfro Valley, Mount Vernon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.75 one way
$67.49 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$36.68
$73.35
premium
$5.26
$41.89
$83.77
diesel
$6.18
$49.21
$98.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.7
0
$21.24
$9.71
Efficient EV
50.6
0
$17.70
$8.09
EV Truck/SUV
80.9
1
$28.32
$12.95
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 19, 2026
Origin
Ironville, KY
Morning
in Ironville on Tuesday
Local time
8:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
NE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Stearns, KY
Morning
in Stearns on Tuesday
Local time
8:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
NNW 0 to 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
71°F
Richmond, KY
101 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
2 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 54m 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.
Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
The US won a significant victory early in the Civil War at the Battle of Mill Springs. Explore the rolling fields of Kentucky where the battle took place and learn about that state's strategic importa...
9 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 174.4
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...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 111.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to be on highways for about 90% of this 202.3-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on the interstate will be 84.6 miles on I 64. After that, you'll transition to US 27, which will feel more like surface road cruising. Keep an eye out for dense exit activity as you navigate the interstate segments.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.6 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 75. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 202.3 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 95.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,354 ft713 ft
Total Climb
1,369 ft
Total Descent
728 ft
Highest Point
1,354 ft
~202.3 mi in
Elevation Range
641 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 Stearns, KY, road signs point toward Winchester and Mount Vernon.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 54m. Total distance: 202.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.6 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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 Stearns, 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 9 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 95.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument and Camp Nelson National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Stearns, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
