Primary route
I-71
Louisville to Cleveland
Length344.9 mi
Designated1959
States2
Junctions6
About I-71
From Louisville, KY (I-64/I-65) to Cleveland, OH (I-90)
Interstate 71 is a north-south route running about 345 miles from Louisville, Kentucky, northeast across Ohio to Cleveland on the shore of Lake Erie. It links three of Ohio's largest metropolitan areas, passing through Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland along a diagonal path across the state. The route serves as a primary connector between the Ohio River valley and the Lake Erie shore.
From Louisville the road crosses the Ohio River and runs northeast through northern Kentucky into Cincinnati, then continues to Columbus near the center of the state before turning north to Cleveland. Along this path it ties together the state capital and the two largest cities, carrying a heavy mix of commuter, intercity, and freight traffic. It runs concurrently with other Interstates through parts of the major urban areas it serves.
State-by-state mileage
| State | Miles |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | 97.4 |
| Ohio | 247.5 |
| Total | 344.9 |
History
Interstate 71 was designated in 1959 and built through the 1960s and into the 1970s as Ohio and Kentucky completed their Interstate networks. It was assembled to connect Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland along a corridor that had no single continuous predecessor highway.
Major cities and places
LouisvilleCincinnatiColumbusCleveland
Did you know
- Connects Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland.
- Designated in 1959 and completed over the following decades.
- Runs concurrently with I-75 through parts of the Cincinnati area.
- Ends at I-65 in Louisville and near Lake Erie in Cleveland.