Scottsburg offers a rural setting near Louisville along Interstate 65
About 35 miles north of Louisville, the Indiana suburb of Scottsburg has a rural setting. Homes often come on acreage, and the city is surrounded by country roads and open fields. “The big draw is being so close to Interstate 65. It still feels like it’s somewhat rural, but it’s about half an hour out of Louisville,” says Jae McRae, a Realtor with RE/MAX First. “Scottsburg, Austin and out west toward Salem, that’s our farm country. Your neighbors aren’t right on top of you.”
Cottages from as far back as the 1860s and New Traditional homes
Homes in Scottsburg date as far back as the 1860s, and cottages, bungalows and ranch-style houses continued to be built through the 1970s. These properties come with grassy backyards —some on lots up to 5 acres in size — and range from $80,000 to $380,000. Older homes tend to be concentrated on the gridded streets around Kentucky state Route 56 and U.S. Route 31, while more recent constructions are scattered throughout the city. New Traditional homes built starting in the 1990s and completed as recently as 2025 fetch between $175,000 and $500,000. Most have attached garages, and some come with as much as 2 acres of land.
Highway connections to Louisville, Jeffersonville and Salem
Both Interstate 65 and U.S. Route 31 traverse Scottsburg and lead south toward downtown Louisville, roughly 35 miles away. Clarksville and Jeffersonville are larger metropolitan areas on the Indiana side of the Ohio River, across from Louisville. Kentucky state Route 56 cuts through the center of Scottsburg and travels west toward the communities of Salem and Paoli. Though there’s no fixed-route public transportation in Scottsburg, the Southern Indiana Transit System offers on-demand, door-to-door van service.
Local restaurants like Flipdaddy’s and Puerto Vallarta on Highway 56
Many of Scottsburg’s restaurants are located along Kentucky state Route 56, also known as McClain Avenue, which runs east to west through town. The owners of Flipdaddy’s are passionate about craft beer — the bathroom sinks are fashioned from the top of a keg. Paired with over 40 craft brews on tap, craft burgers are made with the restaurant’s proprietary blend of brisket, short rib and chuck. Flipdaddy’s is also dog-friendly, offering an extensive “doggies menu” with options like chopped chicken breast or chopped burger patty with banana slices. Diners enjoy a variety of quesadillas, burritos and fajita plates in plush leather booths at Puerto Vallarta Mexican Restaurant, which has been serving the community for over 15 years. Walmart Supercenter, Jay C Food Stores and Save A Lot carry the essentials nearby.
The Annual Scott County Fair
What began as the Scott County Agricultural Fair in 1857 still brings residents out at the end of every July. Festivities of what is now known as the Scott County Fair include draft horse and livestock shows, comedy and magic performances, ranch rodeos and live music.
Fishing at Lake Iola, sports at Scottsburg community parks and golf
William H. Graham Park surrounds Lake Iola, which was originally developed for the interurban railroad that once connected Louisville and Indianapolis. A wooden gazebo offers views of the placid water, though largemouth bass, channel catfish and bluegill swim below the still surface, occasionally making a fisher’s day. Children can practice their swings on one of Linza Graham Park’s sandy baseball diamonds or cool off on its splashpad during hot summer days. Athletes will find two basketball courts, a tennis court, a volleyball court and a softball diamond at Beechwood Park, on the other side of Scottsburg’s railroad tracks. The Westwood Golf Club, which opened in 1966, has a nine-hole layout with water features open to the public.
Basketball rivalry and career preparation at Scottsburg High School
Most children can start their K-12 journeys at Scottsburg Elementary School, which scores a B-minus grade from Niche. However, those who live in the eastern part of the city are zoned for Vienna-Finley Elementary School, which earns a B-plus. Students from both schools may move forward to Scottsburg Middle School — receiving a B-minus as well — before concluding their secondary education at Scottsburg High School. Maintaining a C-plus grade, the high school offers dedicated paths to business ownership, college enrollment, the workforce and the military with courses in manufacturing, health sciences, horticulture, engineering, accounting and more. “There’s an old country town feel to the school when you go in for a baseball or a basketball game,” McRae says. “The high school sports are very good. Anything that has to do with basketball has a lot of rivalry.”
