How far is Jefferson, IN from Louisville, KY?

The driving distance from Jefferson, IN to Louisville, KY is about 163.7 miles (263.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 146.8 miles (236.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 13m 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
163.64 mi
03h 06m
Flight
146.81 mi
236.27 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jefferson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
146.81 mi
Kilometers
236.27 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
163.64 mi
Kilometers
263.35 km
Drive Time
03h 06m

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 03h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Louisville
Mon, Aug 3, 4:06 PM EDT
Return by in Jefferson
Mon, Aug 3, 7:13 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jefferson
2026-08-03T13:00
Arrive Louisville
Mon, Aug 3, 4:06 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:07 AM to 11:07 AM EDT

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

Leave by
10:46 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jefferson
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
Edinburgh
IN

Town in Indiana, United States

From Jefferson
81.9 mi
01h 33m
To Louisville
81.8 mi
01h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Monday

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Aug 3 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NE
Destination
82°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Aug 3 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Washington Street

    669 ft · 20 sec · Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn right

    3.8 mi · 6 min

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left toward I 65 South: Indianapolis

    1760 ft · 43 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    28.2 mi · 30 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight left

    17.1 mi · 22 min

  6. 6

    Continue on I 70 East: Dayton

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    110.9 mi · 2 hr 2 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64, I 71 North: Lexington, Cincinnati, Saint Louis

    2054 ft · 41 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight right

    1096 ft · 17 sec

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward 3rd Street, River Road, Downtown

    1223 ft · 30 sec

  11. 11

    Continue on North 3rd Street

    1839 ft · 40 sec · North 3rd Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West Jefferson Street

    1181 ft · 44 sec · West Jefferson Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Jefferson Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Jefferson 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
13 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 East
113 mi · 69%
I 65 South
45.6 mi · 28%
I 64
0.6 mi
North 3rd Street
0.35 mi
3rd Street
0.23 mi
West Jefferson Street
0.22 mi
Longest Stretch

I 70 East

Keep slight left

111 mi · 02h 02m

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
03h 06m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.9 mi
146.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Edinburgh
01h 33m from Jefferson
Leave By
10:46 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving Jefferson and Mostly Sunny near Louisville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 163.7 miles (263.4 km) and usually takes 03h 06m 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?

Edinburgh is a useful midpoint, sitting about 81.9 miles from Jefferson and 81.8 miles from Louisville.

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

The direct path is about 146.8 miles (236.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.9 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 10:46 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.76 one way or $43.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny around Jefferson and Mostly Sunny near Louisville.

Stop Ideas Near Edinburgh

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Edinburgh, 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 Edinburgh.

RAIL

Indianapolis Union Station

48 mi away
350 South Illinois Street
RAIL

Connersville station

79 mi away
1012 Eastern Avenue
RAIL

Crawfordsville

111 mi away
Spring and Green Streets
BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

114 mi away
1000 Smith Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jefferson and Louisville. Straight-line distance: 146.81 mi (236.27 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Jefferson

Unincorporated community in Clinton County, Indiana

Population2,523
Coordinates40.2794800, -86.5900000
Altitude262
CountryUnited States
Louisville

#2 Louisville

The nineteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Louisville metropolitan area.

Population760,026
Coordinates38.2542400, -85.7594100
Altitude142
CountryUnited States
Start: Jefferson (-86.59, 40.27948)
End: Louisville (-85.75941, 38.25424)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 263 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.77 gal
21.86 L · about $21.76
Round trip
$43.52
11.54 gal · 43.72 L
Estimated CO2
51.3 kg one way
Round trip: 102.6 kg / 226 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $21.76 $43.52
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.54 $49.08
Premium $4.65 $26.85 $53.71
Diesel $5.30 $30.60 $61.21

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 Indiana · Aug 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Jefferson and Louisville. The current time is 13:00:17.

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.