Russell Springs to Ironville is 198.8 miles and takes about 3h 52m via I 64, I 75, and Cumberland Parkway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Kentucky, connecting two points in the Southeast region. With most of your driving on major highways, this route is efficient for covering distance. It's a straightforward drive, suitable for a single day if you're looking to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
99.4 miles from Russell Springs, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 64
84.5 mi
1h 30m
I 75
32.2 mi
34m
Cumberland Parkway
23.2 mi
24m
KY 461
17.6 mi
20m
Boonesborough Road
12.3 mi
15m
KY 80
10.7 mi
14m
US Route 60
4.6 mi
7m
US 60
4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 64
— 84.5 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Russell Springs, KY and Ironville, KY.
1
Start on KY 379
0.2 mi·20 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto KY 619
0.9 mi·2 min·Maple Street
3
Turn right onto US 127
0.3 mi·22 sec·US 127
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward Cumberland Parkway East
5
Merge onto Cumberland Parkway
23 mi·24 min·Cumberland Parkway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 86Toward KY 914: Somerset, Burnside
7
Continue on KY 914
0.4 mi·33 sec·KY 914
8
Turn left onto KY 80
11 mi·14 min·KY 80
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
10
Turn straight onto KY 461
18 mi·20 min·KY 461
11
Continue on US 25
0.8 mi·1 min·Richmond Street
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Use the left lane.
13
Merge onto I 75
32 mi·34 min·I 75
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward KY 627: Boonesborough, Winchester
15
Turn right onto KY 627
12 mi·15 min·Boonesborough Road
16
Continue on KY 627
1.3 mi·2 min·Boone Avenue
17
Turn left onto KY 627
1.3 mi·2 min·Maple Street
18
Continue on KY 627
0.1 mi·17 sec·Paris Road
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
20
Merge onto I 64
0.9 mi·59 sec·I 64
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
84 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 64
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 181Toward US 60
23
Turn left onto US 60
4.0 mi·6 min·US 60
24
Turn left onto US 60
4.6 mi·7 min·US Route 60
25
Continue on US 60
0.3 mi·28 sec·13th Street
26
Turn left onto KY 766
0.5 mi·1 min·Bob McCullough Drive
27
At end of road, turn right onto KY 766
0.3 mi·43 sec·Roberts Drive
28
Turn sharp left onto KY 766
0.6 mi·1 min·West Donta Road
29
Turn right onto Pine Street
157 ft·8 sec·Pine Street
30
Turn right onto Brett Street
524 ft·22 sec·Brett Street
31
Continue on Tiffany Drive
382 ft·16 sec·Tiffany Drive
32
Arrive at destination
Tiffany Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 52m estimated drive time, starting your day after breakfast should allow you to reach Ironville with plenty of daylight remaining. You'll have one planned stop included in the route data, but with only 198.8 miles, you can be flexible with breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 84.5-mile stretch on I 64, to ensure you have enough to reach the next service area. The fuel cost is estimated at $31, so budget accordingly.
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 99.4 miles from Russell Springs, KY, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.5 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 44 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.4 miles or 1h 56m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ironville, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Russell Springs, 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 Russell Springs, KY
This is one driving day of about 198.8 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Russell Springs, 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 84.5 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 25 and 198.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
25 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward KY 914: Somerset, Burnside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 86
Toward KY 914: Somerset, Burnside
5
55.5 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
87.9 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward KY 627: Boonesborough, Winchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward KY 627: Boonesborough, Winchester
5
188 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Take the exit toward US 60
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 181
Toward US 60
5
198.6 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|Brett Street
Turn right onto Brett Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.08 one way
$62.16 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.12
$68.25
premium
$4.89
$38.26
$76.51
diesel
$5.61
$43.89
$87.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.6
0
$20.87
$9.54
Efficient EV
49.7
0
$17.40
$7.95
EV Truck/SUV
79.5
0
$27.83
$12.72
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 20, 2026
Origin
Russell Springs, KY
Morning
in Russell Springs on Tuesday
Local time
9:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ironville, KY
Morning
in Ironville on Tuesday
Local time
10:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Richmond, KY
99 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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 52m 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.
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...
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
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 82.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 89% of this 198.8-mile drive on highways, meaning you'll encounter a good number of exits and higher speed limits for most of the trip. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 84.5 miles on I 64. Expect to transition from highway cruising to more rural, surface road driving as you approach your destination.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.5 mi on I 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and I 75. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 25 miles in.
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 198.8 miles you will encounter 20 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 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Russell Springs, KY and Ironville, KY, road signs point toward Burnside and Winchester.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 198.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.5 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 Ironville, 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 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Ironville, KY, but most travelers stay overnight.
