Drive or Fly: Union, KY to Ironville, KY?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for CVG–HTS. At 161 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 19m

Distance

161.3 mi

Total Cost

$71

CO2

65 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$36

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 38m

13m in the air

Air Distance

112 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

29 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union, KY → CVG 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HTS → Ironville, KY 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Union, KY CVG — Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Ironville, KY HTS — Tri-State Airport / Milton J. Ferguson Field 10 mi, ~14m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CVG and HTS. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 19m

3h 8m on rail

Total Cost

$22

CO2

6 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union, KY → Cincinnati Union Terminal 21m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 188m

Arrival 10m

Ashland Amtrak Station → Ironville, KY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $22) $22

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Cincinnati Union Terminal 14 mi, ~21m drive

To Ashland Amtrak Station 3 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	3h 19m	2h 38m	4h 19m
Total cost (1 person)	$71	$124	$22
Carbon footprint	65 kg CO₂	29 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

161.3 mi 3h 18m

via SR 32, US 52, I 275

Shortest (+2 min)

147 mi 3h 21m

via KY 9; AA, KY 9; KY 1149; AA, I 64

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Union, KY to Ironville, KY with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.