Ironville, KY to Taylorsville, KY is 173.6 miles and takes about 3h 19m via I 64 and US Route 60, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Kentucky's Southeast region, offering a straightforward journey for a single day trip. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it an efficient way to cover the distance. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct path with minimal fuss and a predictable travel time. The relatively low fuel cost also makes it an economical option for a weekend excursion or a mid-week drive.
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
86.8 miles from Ironville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
148.8 mi
2h 40m
Taylorsville Road
11.5 mi
15m
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
Roberts Drive
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 148.8 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ironville, KY and Taylorsville, 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
43 mi·45 min·I 64
Toward I 64 West: Frankfort, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 32Toward KY 55: Shelbyville, TaylorsvilleUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
361 ft·14 sec
17
Turn left onto KY 55
6.1 mi·9 min·Taylorsville Road
18
Continue on KY 55
2.6 mi·3 min·Shelbyville Road
19
Turn left onto KY 55
5.4 mi·6 min·Taylorsville Road
20
At end of road, turn right onto KY 44; KY 55
317 ft·9 sec·East Main Street
21
Turn right
41 ft·3 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive duration of just over 3 hours, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day adventure, so you have flexibility with your departure time. You'll encounter one designated stop point according to the data, but given the drive's length, you might not need to stop unless for a quick break or fuel. The fuel cost is estimated at $27, so plan accordingly, though it's advisable to check current prices. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 148.8-mile stretch on I 64, as services can be spaced out on interstates.
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 86.8 miles from Ironville, KY, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.8 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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.8 miles or 1h 39m 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 Taylorsville, 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 173.6 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 148.8 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 15
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.
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
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
8
159.3 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 32
Toward KY 55: Shelbyville, Taylorsville
5
159.5 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.14 one way
$54.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.80
$59.60
premium
$4.89
$33.41
$66.82
diesel
$5.61
$38.33
$76.66
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: 60.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.1
0
$18.23
$8.33
Efficient EV
43.4
0
$15.19
$6.94
EV Truck/SUV
69.4
0
$24.30
$11.11
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Ironville, KY
Morning
in Ironville on Sunday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Taylorsville, KY
Morning
in Taylorsville on Sunday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Winchester, KY
87 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
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
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.
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 113.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 90% of the route utilizing major roads like I 64 and US Route 60. You can expect a consistent pace for the majority of your journey, especially during the longest stretch of 148.8 miles on I 64. While the initial and final segments might involve local roads like Taylorsville Road, the bulk of the drive is designed for efficient travel. This means fewer turns and more time spent cruising at highway speeds, making it a relatively smooth and predictable experience behind the wheel.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148.8 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Taylorsville Road. You will hit about 15 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 Effort6/10
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 173.6 miles you will encounter 15 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.
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 Taylorsville, KY, road signs point toward Cincinnati and Louisville.
Cincinnati
109.8 mi in|~2h 4m|via I 64
Louisville
116.7 mi in|~2h 12m|via I 64
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 19m. Total distance: 173.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m 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 148.8 miles on I 64. 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 Taylorsville, 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 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.
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 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Taylorsville, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
