Trip from Wilder, KY to Ironville, KY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 1m

Distance

146.8 mi

236 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min

4 AM

2h 50m ★

6 AM

3h 1m

8 AM

3h 24m

10 AM

3h 9m

12 PM

3h 7m

3 PM

3h 10m

5 PM

3h 23m

8 PM

2h 54m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Wilder, KY

Thomas P

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

Ironville, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Embarking from Wilder, Kentucky, this 146.8-mile journey to Ironville, Kentucky, is a straightforward 3-hour drive, making it an ideal day trip. The route primarily utilizes the James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway, US 52, and the Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway, with about 30% of the drive on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $23, this trip offers a budget-friendly excursion. You'll experience a mixed drive profile as you travel within the Southeast region of Kentucky. This route is well-suited for a single day of exploration, allowing you to reach your destination and return without needing an overnight stay.

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

73.4 miles from Wilder, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway	75 mi	1h 32m
US 52	23.5 mi	25m
Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway	16.5 mi	17m
US 23	10.5 mi	13m
Circle Freeway	9.5 mi	10m
13th Street	2.1 mi	3m
Moock Road	1.6 mi	3m
Ronald Reagan Highway	1.6 mi	1m

Longest stretch: James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway — 75 mi, about 1h 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wilder, KY and Ironville, KY.

Start on Center Street

41 ft · 3 sec · Center Street

Turn right onto KY 9

507 ft · 16 sec · Licking Pike

Turn left onto KY 1632

1.6 mi · 3 min · Moock Road

Use the left lane.

Turn sharp right onto US 27; KY 8

325 ft · 10 sec · Alexandria Pike

Use the right lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Toward I 471 South

Merge onto I 471

1.1 mi · 1 min · I 471

Use the slight left / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Exit 1A Toward I 275 East: Columbus, Ohio Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Merge onto I 275

1.6 mi · 1 min · Ronald Reagan Highway

Continue on I 275

9.5 mi · 10 min · Circle Freeway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Exit 63A-B Toward SR 32: Newtown, Eastgate Boulevard, Batavia Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Exit 63A Toward SR 32 West: Eastgate Boulevard, Newtown Use the slight left lane.

Turn right onto SR 32

75 mi · 1 hr 32 min · James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway

Toward Eastgate Boulevard Use the right lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec

Merge onto US 23

10 mi · 13 min · US 23

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward SR 823 South: Ironton

Continue on SR 823

17 mi · 17 min · Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway

Merge onto US 52

23 mi · 25 min · US 52

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Continue on Ben Williamson Memorial Bridge

0.5 mi · 31 sec · Ben Williamson Memorial Bridge

Continue on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

0.5 mi · 55 sec · Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

Use the straight lane.

Turn slight right onto US 60

2.1 mi · 3 min · 13th Street

Turn right onto KY 1134

0.3 mi · 52 sec · Winslow Road

At end of road, turn left onto KY 1134

0.5 mi · 1 min · Roberts Drive

Keep slight right at fork onto West Donta Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Donta Road

Turn right onto Pine Street

157 ft · 8 sec · Pine Street

Turn right onto Brett Street

524 ft · 22 sec · Brett Street

Continue on Tiffany Drive

382 ft · 16 sec · Tiffany Drive

Arrive at destination

Tiffany Drive

Trip Plan

For this 146.8-mile, 3-hour trip, leaving in the morning offers ample time to reach Ironville and explore before heading back, as it's easily manageable in one day. Given the $23 fuel estimate, planning your fuel stops beforehand is wise, especially considering the longest stretch of 75 miles on the James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway. While there's only one suggested stop on this route, feel free to make additional breaks as needed to enjoy the mixed drive. Keep an eye out for transitions between highway and local roads, which are characteristic of this route's profile.

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 73.4 miles from Wilder, KY, or about 1h 32m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75 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 32 miles or 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 73.4 miles or 1h 32m 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 28m

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 Wilder, 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 Wilder, KY

This is one driving day of about 146.8 miles and 3h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Wilder, 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 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Jasper, OH

73 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

Batavia, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jasper, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.4 miles from Wilder, 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 miles.

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

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · early in the drive

The Underground Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Sardinia, Ohio

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch · 52min in 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+13263481002

Visit website

Riverside Korean Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Covington, Kentucky

2.4 mi

Coppin's Restaurant & Bar

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Covington, Kentucky

2.2 mi

Best coffee break

Reality Tuesday Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Park Hills, Kentucky

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+18592614939

Visit website

The Underground Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Sardinia, Ohio

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+13263481002

Visit website

Riverside Korean Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

Covington, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+18592911484

Visit website

Coppin's Restaurant & Bar

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

Covington, Kentucky

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+18599056800

Visit website

Bouquet Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour Expensive

Covington, Kentucky

Hours: 4–10 pm

+18594917777

Visit website

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10

Cincinnati, Ohio

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Deeper Roots Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10

Cincinnati, Ohio

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+15133812141

Visit website

Williamsburg Mercantile

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10

Williamsburg, Ohio

Hours: 5 am–4 pm

+15137245282

Visit website

Urbana Cafe Atlas Building

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10

Cincinnati, Ohio

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+15137212233

Visit website

Ludlow Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10

Ludlow, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–12 pm

+18593412928

Visit website

The Highlands Museum & Discovery Center

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Ashland, Kentucky

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+16063298888

Visit website

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 0.1 and 15.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | KY 1632 / Moock Road

Turn left onto KY 1632 / Moock Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

3.3 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit toward I 275 East: Columbus, Ohio

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 1A Toward I 275 East: Columbus, Ohio

14.9 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward SR 32: Newtown, Eastgate Boulevard, Batavia

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 63A-B Toward SR 32: Newtown, Eastgate Boulevard, Bata...

15.2 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight left at fork toward SR 32 West: Eastgate Boulevard, Newtown

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 63A Toward SR 32 West: Eastgate Boulevard, Newtown

15.4 mi into trip | ~21m in | SR 32 / James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway

Turn right onto SR 32 / James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway toward Eastgate Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward Eastgate Boulevard

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.95 one way

$45.90 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$25.20	$50.40
premium	$4.89	$28.25	$56.50
diesel	$5.61	$32.41	$64.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	44	$15.41	$7.05
Efficient EV	36.7	$12.85	$5.87
EV Truck/SUV	58.7	$20.55	$9.40

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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

Wilder, KY

Late night in Wilder on Tuesday

Local time

4:50 AM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ironville, KY

Late night in Ironville on Tuesday

Local time

4:50 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

51°F

Jasper, OH

73 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

22 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 1m 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?

This drive offers a varied experience, blending highway stretches with other road types. You'll encounter approximately 30% highway driving, which includes a significant 75-mile segment on the James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway. The profile is described as a 'mixed drive,' suggesting transitions between faster-paced highway sections and potentially more winding or local road segments. This variety means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate grind, offering a more engaging experience behind the wheel as the landscape and road conditions likely change throughout the 3-hour duration.

30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 75 mi on James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near KY 1632 / Moock Road.

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 20 significant decision points across 146.8 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 0.1 miles (KY 1632 / Moock Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Wilder, KY and Ironville, KY, road signs point toward Batavia and Newtown.

Batavia

14.9 mi in | ~19m

Newtown

15.2 mi in | ~20m

About the Cities

Arriving in Ironville, 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 1m. Total distance: 146.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 75 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Ironville, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Wilder, KY or browse trips ending in Ironville, KY.

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Trip from Wilder, KY to Ironville, KY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

The Underground Cafe

Reality Tuesday Cafe

The Underground Cafe

Riverside Korean Restaurant

Coppin's Restaurant & Bar

Bouquet Restaurant

La Mexicana Restaurant

Pepper Pod Restaurant

The Indian Bistro Restaurant

M & J Cafe and Food Truck

Reality Tuesday Cafe

Lola's Coffee + Bar

Deeper Roots Coffee

Williamsburg Mercantile

Urbana Cafe Atlas Building

Ludlow Coffee

The Highlands Museum & Discovery Center

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Wilder, KY

Ironville, KY

Same local time

22 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 1m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Arriving in Ironville, KY

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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