PVT PLT IN A BE35 FLIES INTO A RESTR AREA WITHOUT CLRNC. HE WAS RUNNING BENEATH THE CLOUDS AND DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE CORRECT HWY FOR HIS POSITIONAL AWARENESS.

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I DEPARTED VFR FROM EKX ENRTE TO LOU. A DIRECT RTE WOULD VIOLATE THE FORT KNOX RESTR AREA WHICH IS SW OF LOUISVILLE. IT IS NECESSARY TO FLY APPROX 060 DEGS FROM EKX FOR APPROX 10 MI BEFORE TURNING N TO LOU; IN ORDER TO AVOID THE RESTR AREA. THE EASTERN PERIMETER OF THE RESTR AREA IS MORE OR LESS CONTIGUOUS WITH I-65. THAT IS; IF YOU REMAIN E OF I-65; YOU WILL AVOID THE RESTR AREA. AFTER DEP; I TOOK UP A HDG OF 060 DEGS FROM EKX AND CONTACTED LOUISVILLE APCH FOR TA'S AND A CLRNC INTO CLASS C AIRSPACE (LOUISVILLE INTL ARPT) FOR THE TRANSITION TO BOWMAN. I WAS AT APPROX 2000 FT MSL. I WAS GIVEN A SQUAWK CODE; BUT I WAS TOO LOW AND FAR OUT FOR RADAR CONTACT DUE TO THE HILLS IN THE FORT KNOX AREA. STILL ON MY 060 DEG HDG AND WAITING FOR RADAR CONTACT; I HAD TO DSND TO 1600- 1700 FT DUE TO LOWERING CEILING. VISIBILITY WAS MVFR IN THE AREA. I WAS LOOKING FOR I-65 SO I COULD TURN N TOWARD BOWMAN. I CROSSED A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY AFTER A FEW MINS; WHICH I THOUGHT WAS I-65. I WAS WRONG. IT WAS A ROAD APPROX 1.5 MI W OF I-65. SO WHEN I TURNED N; I FLEW INTO THE RESTR AREA. BY THE TIME I REALIZED WHAT HAPPENED; I WAS AT LEAST 1 OR 2 MI INSIDE. ORIENTATION WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF MY LOW ALT; AND THE ABSENCE OF OBVIOUS LANDMARKS. WHEN I SAW A TANK FIRING RANGE BELOW ME (NOT IN USE ON THIS RAINY DAY; THANK GOD) I KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED SE TO EXIT THE RESTR AREA. LOUISVILLE APCH WAS APPARENTLY UNAWARE OF THE VIOLATION; BECAUSE THE CTLR DID NOT ANNOUNCE RADAR CONTACT UNTIL I WAS E OF I-65 AND HAD GAINED SOME ALT. I WILL NEVER AGAIN RELY ON A HWY EXCLUSIVELY FOR VFR NAV; ESPECIALLY IN MARGINAL CONDITIONS.