Trip from Ironville, KY to Carlisle, KY

Drive Time

2h 4m

Distance

94.4 mi

152 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 56m ★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
2h 0m

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

Downtown Ironville, KY, KY

Ironville, KY

Vietnam Hidden Light

Downtown Carlisle, KY, KY

Carlisle, KY

Vietnam Hidden Light

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion across Kentucky, the 94.4-mile trek from Ironville to Carlisle is a straightforward journey that takes roughly 2 hours and 4 minutes. Because the route is compact, it works perfectly as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $14 for fuel, making this an economical choice for your travel plans. The drive remains entirely within the Southeast region, ensuring a consistent regional feel throughout the transit. Since there are no mandatory stops required by the route plan, you have the flexibility to make this a direct run or customize your own pace.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

47.2 miles from Ironville, KY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .

Drive Character

This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 84% of your time spent on major routes like I-64, KY-36, and Moorefield Road. You will settle into a steady rhythm early on, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 57.7 miles on I-64. After navigating the interstate, the transition to local roads like KY-36 and Moorefield Road provides a shift in pace from high-speed travel to a more localized driving experience. Expect a functional trip that prioritizes efficiency over technical winding roads. It is a reliable path that gets you from point A to point B with minimal complexity.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 57.7 miles.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,195 ft 592 ft

Total Climb

1,234 ft

Total Descent

1,090 ft

Highest Point

1,195 ft

~43.3 mi in

Elevation Range

603 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and KY 36. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Pine Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Pine Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (KY 766 / West Donta Road): Navigation decision point; at 68.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Pine Street

At end of road, turn left onto Pine Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

3
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | KY 766 / West Donta Road

Turn left onto KY 766 / West Donta Road

Navigation decision point

6
68.2 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in

Take the exit toward US 60: Salt Lick, Owingsville

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

Exit 123 Toward US 60: Salt Lick, Owingsville
5
81.8 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in | KY 11; KY 36

At end of road, turn right onto KY 11; KY 36

Navigation decision point

4
85.6 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in | KY 36 / Moorefield Road

Keep slight right at fork onto KY 36 / Moorefield Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Ironville, KY to Carlisle, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Owingsville along the way.

Owingsville

68.2 mi in | ~1h 20m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 64 57.7 mi 1h 1m
KY 36 10.9 mi 19m
Moorefield Road 10.1 mi 17m
US Route 60 4.6 mi 7m
US 60 3.6 mi 5m
KY 11 2.1 mi 3m
Midland Trail 2 mi 3m
West Donta Road 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 64 — 57.7 mi, about 1h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Tiffany Drive

382 ft · 16 sec · Tiffany Drive
2

Continue on Brett Street

524 ft · 28 sec · Brett Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto Pine Street

157 ft · 7 sec · Pine Street
4

Turn left onto KY 766

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Donta Road
5

Turn right onto KY 766

94 ft · 3 sec · KY 766
6

Continue on KY 766

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Roberts Drive
7

Turn left onto KY 766

0.5 mi · 1 min · Bob McCullough Drive
8

Turn right onto US 60

0.3 mi · 24 sec · 13th Street
9

Continue on US 60

4.6 mi · 7 min · US Route 60
10

Turn right onto US 60

3.6 mi · 5 min · US 60
11

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
12

Merge onto I 64

58 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 64
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 42 sec
Exit 123 Toward US 60: Salt Lick, Owingsville
14

Turn straight onto US 60

2.0 mi · 3 min · Midland Trail
15

Continue on US 60

0.2 mi · 23 sec · East High Street
16

Turn right onto KY 36

11 mi · 19 min · KY 36
17

At end of road, turn right onto KY 11; KY 36

2.1 mi · 3 min · KY 11; KY 36
18

Turn left onto KY 36

1.7 mi · 2 min · Moorefield Road
19

Keep slight right at fork onto KY 36

8.4 mi · 14 min · Moorefield Road
20

Continue on KY 36

0.3 mi · 35 sec · East Main Street
21

Arrive at destination

KY 36

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 94.4-mile trip, consider departing during off-peak hours to ensure you maintain the estimated 2-hour and 4-minute travel time. Since the route lacks scheduled stops, take advantage of the flexibility by planning your own breaks along the interstate portion before transitioning to the local roads. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early in the drive, as the $14 cost estimate assumes steady highway speeds. Because the majority of your time is spent on I-64, ensure your vehicle is prepared for a sustained period of high-speed travel. If you prefer a relaxed pace, treat the transition from the interstate to the local roads as your natural halfway point for a quick stretch.

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 47.2 miles from Ironville, KY, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.7 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 80 miles or 1h 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 47.2 miles or 57m 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 35m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Ironville, 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 Ironville, KY

This is one driving day of about 94.4 miles and 2h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ironville, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 57.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 47.2 mi from Ironville, KY · 57m into the drive

Downtown Meads, KY, KY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Meads, KY

47 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

Lexington-Fayette, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Meads, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.2 miles from Ironville, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Carlisle, KY

The final approach into Carlisle, 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 Carlisle, KY.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.34 one way

$28.68 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $15.81 $31.61
premium $4.80 $17.82 $35.64
diesel $5.64 $20.97 $41.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.3 0 $9.91 $4.53
Efficient EV 23.6 0 $8.26 $3.78
EV Truck/SUV 37.8 0 $13.22 $6.04

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Ironville, KY

Afternoon in Ironville on Sunday

Local time

4:14 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Carlisle, KY

Afternoon in Carlisle on Sunday

Local time

4:14 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

2h 4m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Ironville, KY to Carlisle, KY covers 94.4 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, KY 36, Moorefield Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.2 miles from Ironville, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.34 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Pine Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (KY 766 / West Donta Road): Navigation decision point; at 68.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Ironville, KY to Carlisle, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Owingsville along the way.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 592 ft to 1,195 ft elevation with about 1,234 ft of total climbing.

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