Origin
Olive Hill, KY
Late night in Olive Hill on Sunday
Local time
12:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Olive Hill, KY to Louisville, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 55m
Distance
155.8 mi
251 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 44m
★
6 AM
2h 55m
8 AM
3h 18m
10 AM
3h 3m
12 PM
3h 1m
3 PM
3h 4m
5 PM
3h 17m
8 PM
2h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Olive Hill, KY
Rosa Stone
Louisville, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 155.8-mile drive from Olive Hill, KY to Louisville, KY is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day, with an estimated duration of 2 hours and 55 minutes. Primarily utilizing I 64, with brief sections on KY 2 and US 60, this route offers a direct path through Kentucky's Southeast region. With a projected fuel cost of around $24, it's an economical option for a day trip. The drive's profile suggests a consistent pace, making it ideal for those who prefer to cover ground efficiently. It's a practical choice if you're looking to get from point A to point B without significant 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
77.9 miles from Olive Hill, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 151.2 mi | 2h 46m |
| KY 2 | 3 mi | 5m |
| US 60 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North 3rd Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Jefferson Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Scott Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Railroad Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Cross Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 151.2 mi, about 2h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Olive Hill, KY and Louisville, KY.
1
Start on KY 986
97 ft
·
3 sec
·
Cross Street
2
Turn right onto Railroad Street
221 ft
·
9 sec
·
Railroad Street
3
Turn left onto Scott Street
372 ft
·
14 sec
·
Scott Street
4
Turn left onto US 60
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 60
5
Turn right onto KY 2
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
KY 2
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
7
Merge onto I 64
74 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 64
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
I 64
Toward I 64 West, I 75 North: Louisville, Cincinnati
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
70 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
I 64
Toward I 64 West: Frankfort, Louisville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 5B
Toward 3rd Street, River Road, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on North 3rd Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
North 3rd Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto West Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
West Jefferson Street
13
Arrive at destination
West Jefferson Street
Trip Plan
Given the efficient 2 hour and 55 minute travel time, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You can depart anytime, but an early start will give you ample time to settle into Louisville. With only one recommended stop, you have a lot of flexibility in pacing your journey. The fuel cost is estimated at $24, so keep this in mind for your budget. A specific tip for this route: be aware that the longest stretch is a significant 151.2 miles on I 64, so ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment to avoid any last-minute stops.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 77.9 miles from Olive Hill, KY, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.2 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 34 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.9 miles or 1h 26m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Louisville, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Olive Hill, 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 Olive Hill, KY
This is one driving day of about 155.8 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Olive Hill, 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 151.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 77.9 miles from Olive Hill, 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 151.2 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 155 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Railroad Street
Turn right onto Railroad Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Scott Street
Turn left onto Scott Street
Navigation decision point
8
78 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m 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
84.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m 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
155 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m in
Take the exit toward 3rd Street, River Road, Downtown
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 5B
Toward 3rd Street, River Road, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.36 one way
$48.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.74 | $53.49 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.98 | $59.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.40 | $68.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.7 | 0 | $16.36 | $7.48 |
| Efficient EV | 39 | 0 | $13.63 | $6.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.3 | 0 | $21.81 | $9.97 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Louisville, KY
Late night in Louisville on Sunday
Local time
12:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live 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
23 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
2h 55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Your drive will be almost entirely on highways, with a 99% highway share, ensuring a consistent and fast-paced experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 151.2 miles on I 64, meaning you'll have long periods of open road. This highway-focused profile means you're unlikely to encounter many winding or slower local roads. Expect a predictable driving environment for the majority of your trip, allowing for a steady cruising speed. The character of the drive remains largely consistent as you progress towards Louisville.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 151.2 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and KY 2. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Railroad Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 155.8 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Railroad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Scott Street): Navigation decision point; at 78 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Olive Hill, KY to Louisville, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Cincinnati along the way.
Cincinnati
78 mi in
|
~1h 26m
|
via I 64
About the Cities
Arriving in Louisville, KY
Full guide →Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky, is known for the Kentucky Derby horserace and as the "gateway to the south" from southern Indiana. It's a lively mid-sized city with an excellent dining scene, ample opportunities for bourbon tasting, and interesting public art. Louisville is also the namesake of the Official Bat of Major League Baseball — the Louisville Slugger.
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 2h 55m. Total distance: 155.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 151.2 miles on I 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (Railroad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Scott Street): Navigation decision point; at 78 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Louisville, KY before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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