How far is Ashland, KY from Covington, KY?

The driving distance from Ashland, KY to Covington, KY is about 134.5 miles (216.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 109.1 miles (175.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 54m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
134.5 mi
02h 27m
Flight
109.09 mi
175.56 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ashland.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
109.09 mi
Kilometers
175.56 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
134.5 mi
Kilometers
216.46 km
Drive Time
02h 27m

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 02h 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Covington
Fri, Apr 17, 1:27 PM EDT
Return by in Ashland
Fri, Apr 17, 3:54 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ashland
2026-04-17T11:00
Arrive Covington
Fri, Apr 17, 1:27 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:27 AM to 12:27 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ashland
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Vanceburg
KY

City in Lewis County, Kentucky, United States of America

From Ashland
72.8 mi
01h 13m
To Covington
61.7 mi
01h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Friday

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph W
Destination
83°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ashland and Covington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ashland and Covington.

  1. 1

    Start on 17th Street

    47 m · 7 sec · 17th Street

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Winchester Avenue

    5 m · 1 sec · Winchester Avenue

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto Winchester Avenue

    106 m · 7 sec · Winchester Avenue

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Winchester Avenue

    16 m · 1 sec · Winchester Avenue

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto Winchester Avenue

    107 m · 7 sec · Winchester Avenue

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Winchester Avenue

    17 m · 1 sec · Winchester Avenue

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Winchester Avenue

    104 m · 7 sec · Winchester Avenue

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Winchester Avenue

    15 m · 1 sec · Winchester Avenue

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto Winchester Avenue

    110 m · 11 sec · Winchester Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Simeon Willis Memorial Bridge

    2459 ft · 34 sec · Simeon Willis Memorial Bridge

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    113 m · 9 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight right

    23.9 mi · 26 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 823 North: Chillicothe

    16.4 mi · 18 min · Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on US 23 North: Chillicothe

    2634 ft · 50 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    10.5 mi · 13 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    1406 ft · 39 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway

    75.2 mi · 1 hr 32 min · James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 275 South: Kentucky

    2647 ft · 1 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Circle Freeway

    10 mi · 11 min · Circle Freeway

  20. 20

    Continue on Ronald Reagan Highway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Ronald Reagan Highway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward I 471 North: Newport, Cincinnati

    2251 ft · 55 sec

  22. 22

    Continue straight

    2.2 mi · 3 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 1892: Newport, Fort Thomas

    1077 ft · 26 sec

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on KY 1892 West: Newport, Grand Avenue

    2645 ft · 1 min

  25. 25

    Turn slight right onto North Grand Avenue

    941 ft · 25 sec · North Grand Avenue

  26. 26

    Continue on Carothers Road

    2191 ft · 60 sec · Carothers Road

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Monmouth Street

    1344 ft · 39 sec · Monmouth Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto East 11th Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · East 11th Street

  29. 29

    Continue on East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

    589 ft · 17 sec · East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Prospect Avenue

    150 m · 19 sec · Prospect Avenue

  31. 31

    Turn left onto East 11th Street

    1853 ft · 1 min · East 11th Street

  32. 32

    Turn right onto Madison Avenue

    1680 ft · 1 min · Madison Avenue

  33. 33

    Turn right onto East 7th Street

    139 m · 20 sec · East 7th Street

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 7th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ashland and Covington.

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
34 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
16
3 merges, 13 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
25.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
75.2 mi · 56%
Simeon Willis Memorial Bridge
24.5 mi · 18%
US 23 North
11.3 mi · 8%
Circle Freeway
9.95 mi · 7%
Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway
8.2 mi · 6%
SR 823 North
8.2 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway

Turn left onto James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway

75.2 mi · 01h 32m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 27m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.4 mi
109.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vanceburg
01h 13m from Ashland
Leave By
1:36 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Ashland and Mostly Sunny near Covington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ashland to Covington?

The road trip is about 134.5 miles (216.5 km) and usually takes 02h 27m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Vanceburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 72.8 miles from Ashland and 61.7 miles from Covington.

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

The direct path is about 109.1 miles (175.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $17.91 one way or $35.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 42.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around Ashland and Mostly Sunny near Covington.

Stop Ideas Near Vanceburg

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

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

RAIL

South Portsmouth–South Shore station

34 mi away
Main St & US 23
RAIL

Maysville

40 mi away
West Front St & Rosemary Clooney St
RAIL

Ashland Transportation Center

61 mi away
99 15th Street
RAIL

Huntington

79 mi away
1050 8th Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ashland and Covington. Straight-line distance: 109.09 mi (175.56 km).

Ashland

#1 Ashland

City in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States

Population20,070
Coordinates38.4784100, -82.6379400
Altitude168
CountryUnited States
Covington

#2 Covington

The county seat of Kenton County, Kentucky.

Population40,314
Coordinates39.0836700, -84.5085500
Altitude155
CountryUnited States
Start: 17th Street (-82.638091, 38.47849)
End: Scott Boulevard (-84.50851, 39.083683)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 216 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 55m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.75 gal
17.97 L · about $17.91
Round trip
$35.82
9.5 gal · 35.94 L
Estimated CO2
42.2 kg one way
Round trip: 84.4 kg / 186 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $17.91 $35.82
Mid-grade $4.25 $20.20 $40.40
Premium $4.65 $22.11 $44.21
Diesel $5.30 $25.19 $50.39

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 Kentucky · Apr 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Ashland and Covington. The current time is 11:00:36.

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.