Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Florence, KY to Simpsonville, KY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 41m

Distance

79.6 mi

128 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 34m ★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 37m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Boone County, Kentucky, United States

Florence, KY

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Simpsonville, KY, KY

Simpsonville, KY

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Florence, KY to Simpsonville, KY covers 79.6 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 71, South 1st Street, Todds Point Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.6 miles on I 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.44 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

39.8 miles from Florence, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 71 61.6 mi 1h 6m
South 1st Street 4.4 mi 6m
Todds Point Road 4.1 mi 7m
Hanna Road 3.5 mi 8m
Hannah Road 2 mi 4m
Aiken Road 1.6 mi 2m
US 42 1.3 mi 2m
3rd Street 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 71 — 61.6 mi, about 1h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Florence, KY and Simpsonville, KY.

1

Start on Main Street

28 ft · 3 sec · Main Street
2

Turn right onto US 42; US 127

1.1 mi · 1 min · US 42; US 127
Use the right lane.
3

Continue on US 42; US 127

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 42; US 127
4

Turn left

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville Use the left lane.
5

Merge onto I 71; I 75

6.9 mi · 7 min · I 71; I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit onto I 71

55 mi · 59 min · I 71
Exit 173 Toward I 71 South: Louisville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 22 Toward KY 53: La Grange, Ballardsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

132 ft · 5 sec
Toward KY 53 South: Ballardsville, Shelbyville Use the left lane.
9

Turn slight left onto KY 53

4.4 mi · 6 min · South 1st Street
10

Turn right onto KY 1315

3.5 mi · 8 min · Hanna Road
11

Continue on KY 1315

2.0 mi · 4 min · Hannah Road
12

At end of road, turn right onto KY 362

1.6 mi · 2 min · Aiken Road
13

Turn straight onto KY 1848

4.1 mi · 7 min · Todds Point Road
14

Continue on KY 1848

0.4 mi · 45 sec · 3rd Street
15

Arrive at destination

KY 1848

Trip Plan

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.8 miles from Florence, KY, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.6 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 18 miles or 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.8 miles or 44m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Simpsonville, KY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Florence, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Florence, KY

This is one driving day of about 79.6 miles and 1h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Florence, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 71 for about 61.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

capital city of Oldham County, Kentucky, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

La Grange, KY

40 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

Warsaw, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Carrollton, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.8 miles from Florence, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.6 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Matsuya Japanese Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Florence, Kentucky

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+18597461199

Visit website

Twin Peaks

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Florence, Kentucky

1.4 mi

Yum Yum Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Glencoe, Kentucky

0.9 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Velocity Bike & Bean

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Florence, Kentucky

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+18593718356

Visit website

Matsuya Japanese Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30

Florence, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+18597461199

Visit website

Twin Peaks

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30

Florence, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+18598170555

Visit website

Yum Yum Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 22.7

Glencoe, Kentucky

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+18596433300

Visit website

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30

Florence, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+18592828865

Visit website

Palermo's Italian Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 62.5

La Grange, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15022650039

Visit website

O'Charley's Restaurant & Bar

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately

Florence, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+18595256622

Visit website

Mi Viejo Carrollton

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 39.8

Carrollton, Kentucky

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15026622079

Visit website

Two Rivers Restaurant

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 39.8

Carrollton, Kentucky

Hours: 8 am–7 pm

+15027326400

Velocity Bike & Bean

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Florence, Kentucky

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+18593718356

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 63.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 42; US 127

Turn right onto US 42; US 127

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
1.3 mi into trip | ~2m in

Turn left toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louisville

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 71 South, I 75 South: Lexington, Louis...
7
8.6 mi into trip | ~10m in | I 71

Take the exit onto I 71 toward I 71 South: Louisville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 173 Toward I 71 South: Louisville
8
63.4 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Take the exit toward KY 53: La Grange, Ballardsville

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 22 Toward KY 53: La Grange, Ballardsville
9
63.6 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

Keep slight left at fork toward KY 53 South: Ballardsville, Shelbyville

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

Use the left lane. Toward KY 53 South: Ballardsville, Shelbyville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.44 one way

$24.89 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.66 $27.33
premium $4.89 $15.32 $30.64
diesel $5.61 $17.57 $35.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.9 0 $8.36 $3.82
Efficient EV 19.9 0 $6.96 $3.18
EV Truck/SUV 31.8 0 $11.14 $5.09

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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

Florence, KY

Afternoon in Florence on Saturday

Local time

3:02 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Simpsonville, KY

Afternoon in Simpsonville on Saturday

Local time

3:02 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

74°F

La Grange, KY

40 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

7 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

1h 41m 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?

79.6 mi in 1h 41m, mostly highway — 61.6 mi of that is on I 71.

79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.6 mi on I 71.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and South 1st Street. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 42; US 127.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 79.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 (US 42; US 127): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles (I 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Florence, KY and Simpsonville, KY, road signs point toward Ballardsville and Shelbyville.

Ballardsville

63.4 mi in | ~1h 9m

Shelbyville

63.6 mi in | ~1h 10m

About the Cities

Starting in Florence, KY

Full guide →

Florence is a city of 33,000 people (2019) in Kentucky's Northern Ohio River Region, near Cincinnati. Florence is well known in surrounding cities for a water tower visible from I-71/I-75 that reads "Florence Y'all".

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 1h 41m. Total distance: 79.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 61.6 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Simpsonville, KY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 42; US 127): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles (I 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Simpsonville, KY before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Simpsonville, KY

Nevada, KY 56.8 mi · 1h 10m Jacksonville, KY 22 mi · 36m

More from Florence, KY

Clinton, KY 336.6 mi · 6h 20m Hendron, KY 304.7 mi · 5h 39m Benton, KY 294.6 mi · 5h 26m Ledbetter, KY 293.3 mi · 5h 27m Cadiz, KY 274.4 mi · 5h 6m Coal Run Village, KY 200.5 mi · 3h 41m

More trips to Simpsonville, KY

Georgetown, KY 221.4 mi Meads, KY 161.7 mi
Escape planner: Florence, KY Scenic drives in KY

Explore more options from Florence, KY or browse trips ending in Simpsonville, KY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse KY road trips.