How far is Covington, KY from Manchester, KY?

The driving distance from Covington, KY to Manchester, KY is about 173.5 miles (279.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 139.4 miles (224.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 27m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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
173.55 mi
03h 13m
Flight
139.39 mi
224.32 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
139.39 mi
Kilometers
224.32 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
173.55 mi
Kilometers
279.3 km
Drive Time
03h 13m

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 03h 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Manchester
Mon, May 4, 4:13 AM EDT
Return by in Covington
Mon, May 4, 7:27 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Covington
2026-05-04T00:59
Arrive Manchester
Mon, May 4, 4:13 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:14 AM to 11:14 AM EDT

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

Leave by
10:32 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Covington
9:00 PM EDT
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
Columbus
KY

City in Hickman County, Kentucky, United States

From Covington
86.8 mi
01h 36m
To Manchester
86.7 mi
01h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Monday

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph SW
Destination
78°F
Monday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East 7th Street

    4 m · 5 sec · East 7th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Scott Boulevard

    2125 ft · 1 min · Scott Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

    1.1 km · 2 min · East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

  4. 4

    Continue on West 12th Street

    62 m · 11 sec · West 12th Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left toward I 71 South, I 75 South

    1766 ft · 43 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    149.4 mi · 2 hr 42 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 80, Hal Rogers Parkway: London, Somerset

    1174 ft · 34 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Hal Rogers Parkway

    20.8 mi · 24 min · Hal Rogers Parkway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 80: Manchester

    1315 ft · 36 sec

  10. 10

    Turn slight left

    954 ft · 22 sec

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    91 m · 7 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Richmond Road

Car Route Details

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

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
13 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 71 South
150 mi · 86%
Hal Rogers Parkway
20.9 mi · 12%
KY 80
1.71 mi · 1%
East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.67 mi
Scott Boulevard
0.4 mi
West 12th Street
0.04 mi
Longest Stretch

I 71 South

Merge slight left

149 mi · 02h 42m

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
03h 13m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.1 mi
139.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Columbus
01h 36m from Covington
Leave By
10:32 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Covington and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Manchester.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 173.5 miles (279.3 km) and usually takes 03h 13m 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?

Columbus is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.8 miles from Covington and 86.7 miles from Manchester.

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

The direct path is about 139.4 miles (224.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.1 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:32 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.08 one way or $46.16 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Covington and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Manchester.

Stop Ideas Near Columbus

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

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

RAIL

Maysville

86 mi away
West Front St & Rosemary Clooney St
RAIL

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal

119 mi away
1301 Western Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Covington and Manchester. Straight-line distance: 139.39 mi (224.32 km).

Covington

#1 Covington

The county seat of Kenton County, Kentucky.

Population40,314
Coordinates39.0836700, -84.5085500
Altitude155
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Manchester

City in Kentucky

Population1,277
Coordinates37.1537000, -83.7618600
Altitude265
CountryUnited States
Start: Covington (-84.50855, 39.08367)
End: Manchester (-83.76186, 37.1537)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 279 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.12 gal
23.18 L · about $23.08
Round trip
$46.16
12.24 gal · 46.36 L
Estimated CO2
54.4 kg one way
Round trip: 108.8 kg / 240 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.08 $46.16
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.03 $52.06
Premium $4.65 $28.48 $56.96
Diesel $5.30 $32.46 $64.92

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 · May 04, 2026

There is no time difference between Covington and Manchester. The current time is 00:59:46.

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.