How far is Covington, LA from Ruston, LA?

The driving distance from Covington, LA to Ruston, LA is about 276.4 miles (444.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 205.8 miles (331.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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
276.44 mi
04h 37m
Flight
205.81 mi
331.22 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Covington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
205.81 mi
Kilometers
331.22 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
276.44 mi
Kilometers
444.88 km
Drive Time
04h 37m

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 04h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ruston
Tue, May 5, 4:11 AM CDT
Return by in Covington
Tue, May 5, 8:48 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Covington
2026-05-04T23:34
Arrive Ruston
Tue, May 5, 4:11 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:37 AM to 12:37 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:46 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Covington
9:00 PM CDT
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
Vidalia
LA

Largest city and the parish seat of Concordia Parish, Louisiana, United States

From Covington
137.8 mi
02h 18m
To Ruston
138.7 mi
02h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW
Destination
79°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    46 m · 5 sec

  2. 2

    Turn slight right

    60 m · 4 sec

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto West 21st Avenue

    1910 ft · 45 sec · West 21st Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto South Tyler Street

    2 mi · 4 min · South Tyler Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Highway 21

    1.6 km · 2 min · Highway 21

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 12 West: Hammond

    1787 ft · 44 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto West Florida Republic Parkway

    20.7 mi · 22 min · West Florida Republic Parkway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Jackson

    2308 ft · 56 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway

    56.4 mi · 1 hr · Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    29.3 mi · 34 min

  11. 11

    At the end of the road, turn left

    1.2 km · 53 sec

  12. 12

    Take the exit left

    1612 ft · 46 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    28.2 mi · 33 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    6 mi · 7 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right

    13.2 mi · 16 min

  16. 16

    Continue on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North

    63.2 mi · 1 hr 13 min · E. E. Wallace Boulevard North

  17. 17

    Turn left

    1459 ft · 36 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    50.5 mi · 56 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right

    803 ft · 20 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    59 m · 8 sec

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Farmerville Highway

    1.1 km · 2 min · Farmerville Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on East Georgia Avenue

    2281 ft · 1 min · East Georgia Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn left onto North Farmerville Street

    2856 ft · 2 min · North Farmerville Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto East California Avenue

    2145 ft · 54 sec · East California Avenue

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East California Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
25 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
133 mi · 48%
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
114 mi · 41%
West Florida Republic Parkway
20.7 mi · 8%
South Tyler Street
2.04 mi · 1%
Highway 21
1 mi
Farmerville Highway
0.71 mi
Longest Stretch

E. E. Wallace Boulevard North

Continue on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North

63.2 mi · 01h 13m

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
04h 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+70.6 mi
205.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vidalia
02h 18m from Covington
Leave By
7:46 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Covington and Mostly Sunny near Ruston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 276.4 miles (444.9 km) and usually takes 04h 37m 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?

Vidalia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 137.8 miles from Covington and 138.7 miles from Ruston.

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

The direct path is about 205.8 miles (331.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 70.6 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:46 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.96 one way or $73.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 86.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Covington and Mostly Sunny near Ruston.

Stop Ideas Near Vidalia

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

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

RAIL

Brookhaven

93 mi away
East Monticello St. and South Railroad Ave.
BUS

Vicksburg, MS

98 mi away
1295 South Frontage Road
RAIL

McComb

99 mi away
114 Northeast Railroad Ave.
RAIL

Hazlehurst station

103 mi away
North Ragsdale Ave and East Conway St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Covington and Ruston. Straight-line distance: 205.81 mi (331.22 km).

Covington

#1 Covington

City in St.

Population10,560
Coordinates30.4754900, -90.1004200
Altitude8
CountryUnited States
Ruston

#2 Ruston

Small city and parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States

Population21,891
Coordinates32.5232100, -92.6379300
Altitude102
CountryUnited States
Start: East 21st Avenue (-90.100462, 30.475407)
End: East California Avenue (-92.637902, 32.52365)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 445 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.76 gal
36.93 L · about $36.96
Round trip
$73.92
19.52 gal · 73.86 L
Estimated CO2
86.7 kg one way
Round trip: 173.5 kg / 383 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $36.96 $73.92
Mid-grade $4.26 $41.57 $83.14
Premium $4.63 $45.14 $90.28
Diesel $5.42 $52.85 $105.70

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 Louisiana · May 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Covington and Ruston. The current time is 23:34:13.

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.