The drive from Hickman, KY to Ironville, KY covers 422.3 miles and takes about 7h 57m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 69, I 64, Western Kentucky Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 104 miles on I 69.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $66.02 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
211.2 miles from Hickman, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 57m. Total distance: 422.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 7h 57m highway drive covering 422.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 69 and I 64. The longest continuous stretch is about 104 miles on I 69.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 69 is the longest continuous segment at about 104 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and I 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 67.8 miles in near I 69.
Driving Effort10/10
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 27 significant decision points across 422.3 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 67.8 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.7 miles (Western Kentucky Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 222 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 27 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
67.8 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|I 69
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69 toward I 24 East, I 69 North: Nashville, Henderson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 24 East, I 69 North: Nashville, Hender...
8
122.7 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|Western Kentucky Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Western Kentucky Parkway toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 106A-B
Toward I 169 South: Hopkinsville
8
222 mi into trip|~4h 6m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 137B
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
8
224.3 mi into trip|~4h 10m in
Take the exit toward Lexington, Bardstown
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 93
Toward Lexington, Bardstown
8
311.4 mi into trip|~5h 50m in|I 64
Take the exit onto I 64 toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland
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 111
Toward I 64 East: Winchester, Ashland
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hickman, KY and Ironville, KY, road signs point toward Henderson, Princeton, Elizabethtown, Louisville, Lexington and Bardstown - among others.
Henderson
67.8 mi in|~1h 20m|via I 69
Princeton
84.5 mi in|~1h 38m|via I 69
Elizabethtown
123.1 mi in|~2h 20m|via Western Kentucky Parkway
Louisville
222 mi in|~4h 6m
Lexington
224.3 mi in|~4h 10m
Bardstown
224.3 mi in|~4h 10m
Ashland
309.3 mi in|~5h 47m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
104 mi
1h 52m
I 64
101.8 mi
1h 50m
Western Kentucky Parkway
99.2 mi
1h 46m
Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi
1h 15m
Moscow Avenue
16 mi
23m
New Circle Road
5.7 mi
8m
Versailles Road
4.6 mi
6m
US Route 60
4.6 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 104 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hickman, KY and Ironville, KY.
1
Start on KY 125
57 ft·3 sec·Troy Avenue
2
Turn right onto KY 94
16 mi·23 min·Moscow Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 51
2.5 mi·3 min·US 51
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·29 sec
5
Merge onto I 69
49 mi·52 min·I 69
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69
17 mi·17 min·I 69
Toward I 24 East, I 69 North: Nashville, Henderson
7
Take the exit onto I 69
38 mi·41 min·I 69
Exit 42Toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton
8
Keep slight right at fork onto Western Kentucky Parkway
0.3 mi·22 sec·Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit 106A-BToward I 169 South: HopkinsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
99 mi·1 hr 46 min·Western Kentucky Parkway
Exit 106BToward ElizabethtownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 137BToward I 65 North: Lexington, LouisvilleUse the right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
12
Merge onto I 65
1.4 mi·1 min·I 65
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 93Toward Lexington, BardstownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
71 mi·1 hr 15 min·Bluegrass Parkway
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 60 West: Frankfort
16
Turn right onto US 60
1.7 mi·2 min·Lexington Road
17
Continue on US 60
4.6 mi·6 min·Versailles Road
Use the left lane.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward KY 4 North: New Circle Road
19
Merge onto KY 4
5.7 mi·8 min·New Circle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn left onto US 27; US 68
1.0 mi·1 min·North Broadway
21
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 South, I 64 East: Knoxville, Ashland
22
Merge onto I 64; I 75
1.6 mi·1 min·I 64; I 75
23
Take the exit onto I 64
17 mi·18 min·I 64
Exit 111Toward I 64 East: Winchester, AshlandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
84 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 64
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 181Toward US 60
26
Turn left onto US 60
4.0 mi·6 min·US 60
27
Turn left onto US 60
4.6 mi·7 min·US Route 60
28
Continue on US 60
0.3 mi·28 sec·13th Street
29
Turn left onto KY 766
0.5 mi·1 min·Bob McCullough Drive
30
At end of road, turn right onto KY 766
0.3 mi·43 sec·Roberts Drive
31
Turn sharp left onto KY 766
0.6 mi·1 min·West Donta Road
32
Turn right onto Pine Street
157 ft·8 sec·Pine Street
33
Turn right onto Brett Street
524 ft·22 sec·Brett Street
34
Continue on Tiffany Drive
382 ft·16 sec·Tiffany Drive
35
Arrive at destination
Tiffany Drive
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 211.2 miles from Hickman, KY, or about 3h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104 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 93 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 211.2 miles or 3h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 45m
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 Hickman, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hickman, KY
This is one driving day of about 422.3 miles and 7h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Hickman, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 69 for about 104 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 211.2 mi from Hickman, KY
· 3h 55m into the drive
The midpoint is around 211.3 miles from Hickman, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ironville, KY
The final approach into Ironville, KY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Ironville, KY.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
For over a century people from around the world have come to rural Central Kentucky to honor the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 233.1
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...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 291.4
Rolling hills, deep river valleys, and the world's longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, e...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 189.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.02 one way
$132.04 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg148 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$72.49
$144.98
premium
$4.89
$81.27
$162.54
diesel
$5.61
$93.24
$186.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 147.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
126.7
1
$44.34
$20.27
Efficient EV
105.6
1
$36.95
$16.89
EV Truck/SUV
168.9
2
$59.12
$27.03
Gas CO2
148 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Hickman, KY
Morning
in Hickman on Saturday
Local time
8:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ironville, KY
Morning
in Ironville on Saturday
Local time
9:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
7 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
7h 57m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Hickman, KY to Ironville, KY covers 422.3 miles and takes about 7h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 69, I 64, Western Kentucky Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 211.2 miles from Hickman, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $66.02 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 422.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 67.8 miles (I 69): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.7 miles (Western Kentucky Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 222 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Hickman, KY and Ironville, KY, road signs point toward Henderson, Princeton, Elizabethtown, Louisville, Lexington and Bardstown - among others.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
