How far is Cincinnati, OH from Louisville, OH?

The driving distance from Cincinnati, OH to Louisville, OH is about 242.1 miles (389.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 208.9 miles (336.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
242.09 mi
04h 52m
Flight
208.92 mi
336.22 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cincinnati.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
208.92 mi
Kilometers
336.22 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
242.09 mi
Kilometers
389.61 km
Drive Time
04h 52m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Louisville
Sun, Apr 19, 6:07 AM EDT
Return by in Cincinnati
Sun, Apr 19, 11:00 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cincinnati
2026-04-19T01:15
Arrive Louisville
Sun, Apr 19, 6:07 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:52 AM to 12:52 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:16 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cincinnati
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Westerville
OH

City in Ohio

From Cincinnati
120.9 mi
02h 26m
To Louisville
121.2 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 13 mph W
Destination
53°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 17 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cincinnati and Louisville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cincinnati and Louisville.

  1. 1

    Start on Ohio Avenue

    30 m · 6 sec · Ohio Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West McMillan Avenue

    876 ft · 27 sec · West McMillan Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on East McMillan Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · East McMillan Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left

    1755 ft · 43 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Northeast Expressway

    28.8 mi · 35 min · Northeast Expressway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 123: Morrow, Lebanon

    1484 ft · 39 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right

    157 m · 12 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left

    4.3 mi · 9 min

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Middleboro Road

    1.9 mi · 5 min · Middleboro Road

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Wilmington Road

    103 m · 10 sec · Wilmington Road

  11. 11

    Take the ramp right toward I 71 North: Columbus

    1495 ft · 36 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    68.9 mi · 1 hr 15 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeling

    2063 ft · 46 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto South Innerbelt

    1.3 mi · 2 min · South Innerbelt

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 71 North: Cleveland

    1.6 km · 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    67.9 mi · 1 hr 14 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 30: Mansfield, Wooster

    2770 ft · 1 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on US 30 East: Wooster, College of Wooster

    650 ft · 12 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    57 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 43 North: Cherry Avenue, Downtown

    1307 ft · 32 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight left

    67 m · 6 sec

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Cherry Avenue Southeast

    1.3 km · 1 min · Cherry Avenue Southeast

  23. 23

    Continue on Cherry Avenue Northeast

    1058 ft · 22 sec · Cherry Avenue Northeast

  24. 24

    Turn right onto 5th Street Northeast

    1506 ft · 31 sec · 5th Street Northeast

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Mahoning Road Northeast

    1.3 km · 2 min · Mahoning Road Northeast

  26. 26

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Mahoning Road Northeast

    24 m · 2 sec · Mahoning Road Northeast

  27. 27

    Exit the roundabout onto Mahoning Road Northeast

    1369 ft · 28 sec · Mahoning Road Northeast

  28. 28

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Mahoning Road Northeast

    27 m · 2 sec · Mahoning Road Northeast

  29. 29

    Exit the roundabout onto Mahoning Road Northeast

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Mahoning Road Northeast

  30. 30

    Continue on Louisville Street Northeast

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Louisville Street Northeast

  31. 31

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

  32. 32

    Turn right onto South Chapel Street

    37 m · 3 sec · South Chapel Street

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Chapel Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cincinnati and Louisville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
33 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
4 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 71 North
138 mi · 57%
US 30 East
57.2 mi · 24%
Northeast Expressway
28.8 mi · 12%
Mahoning Road Northeast
3.59 mi · 1%
Middleboro Road
1.94 mi · 1%
Louisville Street Northeast
1.61 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 71 North

Merge slight left

68.9 mi · 01h 15m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 52m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.2 mi
208.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Westerville
02h 26m from Cincinnati
Leave By
7:16 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Cincinnati and Chance Rain Showers near Louisville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cincinnati to Louisville?

The road trip is about 242.1 miles (389.6 km) and usually takes 04h 52m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Westerville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120.9 miles from Cincinnati and 121.2 miles from Louisville.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 208.9 miles (336.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:16 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.64 one way or $63.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 75.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cincinnati and Chance Rain Showers near Louisville.

Stop Ideas Near Westerville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Westerville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Westerville.

BUS

Columbus, OH

19 mi away
111 East Town Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cincinnati and Louisville. Straight-line distance: 208.92 mi (336.22 km).

Cincinnati

#1 Cincinnati

The third most populous city in Ohio and the center of the Cincinnati metropolitan area.

Population304,548
Coordinates39.1271100, -84.5143900
Altitude191
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Louisville

City in Stark County, Ohio

Population9,126
Coordinates40.8372800, -81.2595500
Altitude348
CountryUnited States
Start: Cincinnati (-84.51439, 39.12711)
End: Louisville (-81.25955, 40.83728)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 390 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.54 gal
32.34 L · about $31.64
Round trip
$63.28
17.08 gal · 64.68 L
Estimated CO2
75.9 kg one way
Round trip: 151.8 kg / 335 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.71 $31.64 $63.28
Mid-grade $4.24 $36.23 $72.45
Premium $4.79 $40.91 $81.81
Diesel $4.30 $36.76 $73.51

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Ohio · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Cincinnati and Louisville. The current time is 01:15:36.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.