How far is Covington, KY from Middlesboro, KY?

The driving distance from Covington, KY to Middlesboro, KY is about 209 miles (336.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 176.4 miles (283.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 52m 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
209 mi
03h 56m
Flight
176.39 mi
283.88 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
176.39 mi
Kilometers
283.88 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
209 mi
Kilometers
336.36 km
Drive Time
03h 56m

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 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Middlesboro
Thu, Apr 23, 4:10 AM EDT
Return by in Covington
Thu, Apr 23, 8:06 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Covington
2026-04-23T00:14
Arrive Middlesboro
Thu, Apr 23, 4:10 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:56 AM to 11:56 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
9:08 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
Richmond
KY

City in and the county seat of Madison County, Kentucky, United States

From Covington
104.6 mi
01h 58m
To Middlesboro
104.4 mi
01h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph SW
Destination
83°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 3 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 · 13 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

    161.1 mi · 2 hr 54 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25, US 25E: Corbin, Barbourville

    1752 ft · 38 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Corbin Bypass

    2 mi · 3 min · Corbin Bypass

  9. 9

    Continue on Cumberland Gap Parkway

    30.7 mi · 37 min · Cumberland Gap Parkway

  10. 10

    Continue on Bob Madon Bypass

    5.3 mi · 7 min · Bob Madon Bypass

  11. 11

    Continue on Wilderness Road

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Wilderness Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Pineville Road

    1.6 km · 1 min · Pineville Road

  13. 13

    Continue on 12th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 12th Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto East Cumberland Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · East Cumberland Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn right onto 21st Street

    155 m · 28 sec · 21st Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Lothbury Avenue

    53 m · 8 sec · Lothbury Avenue

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Lothbury Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
17 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 71 South
161 mi · 77%
Cumberland Gap Parkway
30.7 mi · 15%
Bob Madon Bypass
5.33 mi · 3%
Wilderness Road
5.16 mi · 2%
Corbin Bypass
2.03 mi · 1%
Pineville Road
0.99 mi
Longest Stretch

I 71 South

Merge slight left

161 mi · 02h 54m

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 56m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.6 mi
176.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Richmond
01h 58m from Covington
Leave By
9:08 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Covington and Sunny near Middlesboro.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 209 miles (336.4 km) and usually takes 03h 56m 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?

Richmond is a useful midpoint, sitting about 104.6 miles from Covington and 104.4 miles from Middlesboro.

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

The direct path is about 176.4 miles (283.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.6 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:08 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.83 one way or $55.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Covington and Sunny near Middlesboro.

Stop Ideas Near Richmond

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

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

RAIL

Maysville

110 mi away
West Front St & Rosemary Clooney St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Covington and Middlesboro. Straight-line distance: 176.39 mi (283.88 km).

Covington

#1 Covington

The county seat of Kenton County, Kentucky.

Population40,314
Coordinates39.0836700, -84.5085500
Altitude155
CountryUnited States
Middlesboro

#2 Middlesboro

City in Bell County, Kentucky, United States of America

Population10,730
Coordinates36.6084200, -83.7165800
Altitude348
CountryUnited States
Start: Covington (-84.50855, 39.08367)
End: Middlesboro (-83.71658, 36.60842)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 336 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.38 gal
27.92 L · about $27.83
Round trip
$55.66
14.76 gal · 55.84 L
Estimated CO2
65.6 kg one way
Round trip: 131.2 kg / 289 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.83 $55.66
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.39 $62.77
Premium $4.65 $34.35 $68.69
Diesel $5.30 $39.14 $78.29

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Covington and Middlesboro. The current time is 00:14:21.

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.