The drive from Union, KY to Jeffersontown, KY covers 84.2 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, US 42, Gene Snyder Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57 miles on I 71.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.16 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
42.1 miles from Union, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 84.2 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 (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 41m highway drive covering 84.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 71 and US 42. The longest continuous stretch is about 57 miles on I 71.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 57 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and US 42. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Old Union Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.2 miles you will encounter 19 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 (Old Union Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (KY 536 / Mount Zion Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 67.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Old Union Road
Turn left onto Old Union Road
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|KY 536 / Mount Zion Road
Enter roundabout onto KY 536 / Mount Zion Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
67.6 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward KY 329: Crestwood, Pewee Valley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 14
Toward KY 329: Crestwood, Pewee Valley
8
80.6 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward KY 155: Taylorsville, Jeffersontown
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 23
Toward KY 155: Taylorsville, Jeffersontown
8
80.9 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Jeffersontown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Jeffersontown
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Union, KY to Jeffersontown, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Pewee Valley along the way.
Pewee Valley
67.6 mi in|~1h 17m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
57 mi
1h 1m
US 42
7.8 mi
11m
Gene Snyder Freeway
6.6 mi
7m
Taylorsville Road
3.1 mi
4m
La Grange Road
2.5 mi
3m
Verona-Mudlick Road
2.1 mi
3m
KY 329
1.6 mi
2m
Lagrange Road
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 57 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, KY and Jeffersontown, KY.
1
Start on Union School Road
148 ft·12 sec·Union School Road
2
Turn left onto Old Union Road
361 ft·9 sec·Old Union Road
3
Enter roundabout onto KY 536
195 ft·4 sec·Mount Zion Road
4
Continue on KY 536
0.2 mi·26 sec·Mount Zion Road
5
Turn right onto US 42; US 127
0.2 mi·13 sec·US 42; US 127
6
Continue on US 42; US 127
7.7 mi·10 min·US 42; US 127
7
Turn left onto KY 14
2.1 mi·3 min·Verona-Mudlick Road
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
9
Merge onto I 71
57 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 14Toward KY 329: Crestwood, Pewee Valley
11
At end of road, turn left onto KY 329
0.4 mi·35 sec·Halls Hill Road
12
Turn right onto KY 329
1.6 mi·2 min·KY 329
13
Turn left onto KY 22
78 ft·4 sec·Ballardsville Road
14
Turn right onto KY 329
473 ft·13 sec·Railroad Avenue
15
Turn right onto KY 146
0.9 mi·1 min·Lagrange Road
16
Continue on KY 146
0.9 mi·1 min·La Grange Road
17
Continue on KY 146
0.3 mi·22 sec·Lagrange Road
18
Continue on KY 146
1.5 mi·2 min·La Grange Road
19
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 265 South, KY 841 South
20
Merge onto I 265; KY 841
6.6 mi·7 min·Gene Snyder Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 23Toward KY 155: Taylorsville, JeffersontownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork
350 ft·8 sec
Toward JeffersontownUse the right lane.
23
Turn slight right onto KY 155
3.1 mi·4 min·Taylorsville Road
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn right onto Neal Drive
232 ft·15 sec·Neal Drive
25
Turn left
37 ft·2 sec
26
Arrive at destination
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 42.1 miles from Union, KY, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.1 miles or 50m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jeffersontown, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Union, KY
This is one driving day of about 84.2 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Union, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 71 for about 57 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.16 one way
$26.33 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.45
$28.91
premium
$4.89
$16.20
$32.41
diesel
$5.61
$18.59
$37.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.3
0
$8.84
$4.04
Efficient EV
21.1
0
$7.37
$3.37
EV Truck/SUV
33.7
0
$11.79
$5.39
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Union, KY
Evening
in Union on Friday
Local time
7:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jeffersontown, KY
Evening
in Jeffersontown on Friday
Local time
7:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Carrollton, KY
42 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
1 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Union, KY to Jeffersontown, KY covers 84.2 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 71, US 42, Gene Snyder Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.1 miles from Union, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.16 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.2 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Old Union Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (KY 536 / Mount Zion Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 67.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Union, KY to Jeffersontown, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Pewee Valley along the way.
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.
