How far is New Orleans, LA from Covington, KY?

The driving distance from New Orleans, LA to Covington, KY is about 799.6 miles (1286.9 km), with a travel time of about 14h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 705.5 miles (1135.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 29h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
799.66 mi
14h 36m
Flight
705.5 mi
1135.39 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from New Orleans.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
705.5 mi
Kilometers
1135.39 km
Flight Time
01h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
799.66 mi
Kilometers
1286.93 km
Drive Time
14h 36m

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 14h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Covington
Wed, Aug 26, 1:41 PM EDT
Return by in New Orleans
Thu, Aug 27, 3:17 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave New Orleans
2026-08-25T22:04
Arrive Covington
Wed, Aug 26, 12:41 PM CDT
Route Timing
14h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
9:36 PM to 11:06 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
6:48 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in New Orleans
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Falkville
AL

Town of the United States

From New Orleans
400.2 mi
07h 18m
To Covington
399.5 mi
07h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Tue, Aug 25 5:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
82°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Aug 25 7:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New Orleans and Covington.

  1. 1

    Start on Tulane Avenue

    12 m · 3 sec · Tulane Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Loyola Avenue

    73 m · 11 sec · Loyola Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Loyola Avenue

    94 m · 17 sec · Loyola Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Tulane Avenue

    1495 ft · 43 sec · Tulane Avenue

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 10 East: Slidell

    1407 ft · 34 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    32.1 mi · 37 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    159.6 mi · 2 hr 52 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscaloosa

    148.4 mi · 2 hr 40 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight left toward I 65 North: Huntsville

    45 m · 4 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on I 65 North: Huntsville

    1027 ft · 25 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight right

    187.8 mi · 3 hr 23 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Knoxville

    1720 ft · 41 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

    665 ft · 10 sec · Downtown Loop

  14. 14

    Continue on Downtown Loop

    2764 ft · 43 sec · Downtown Loop

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Downtown Loop

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Downtown Loop

  16. 16

    Continue on I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, Louisville

    9 mi · 11 min

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    1170 ft · 14 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    155.9 mi · 2 hr 48 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward I 264: Watterson Expressway, Airport

    1.1 km · 59 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on I 264 East: Watterson Expressway

    1.3 km · 1 min

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Henry Watterson Expressway

    10 mi · 14 min · Henry Watterson Expressway

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on I 71 North: Cincinnati

    1877 ft · 32 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    71 mi · 1 hr 17 min

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North, I 71 North: Cincinnati

    18 mi · 22 min

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward 12th Street, Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Pike Street, Covington

    1673 ft · 41 sec

  26. 26

    Continue on Simon Kenton Way

    153 m · 19 sec · Simon Kenton Way

  27. 27

    Turn right onto West Pike Street

    3055 ft · 2 min · West Pike Street

  28. 28

    Continue on West 7th Street

    1102 ft · 35 sec · West 7th Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 7th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
29 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
5 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 10 East
192 mi · 24%
I 65 North
188 mi · 24%
I 24 West
165 mi · 21%
I 59 North
148 mi · 19%
I 71 North
71.4 mi · 9%
I 75 North
18 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 65 North

Merge slight right

188 mi · 03h 23m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
14h 36m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
29h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+94.1 mi
705.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Falkville
07h 18m from New Orleans
Leave By
6:48 AM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving New Orleans and Sunny near Covington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from New Orleans to Covington?

The road trip is about 799.6 miles (1286.9 km) and usually takes 14h 36m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Falkville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 400.2 miles from New Orleans and 399.5 miles from Covington.

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

The direct path is about 705.5 miles (1135.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 94.1 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $106.87 one way or $213.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 250.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between New Orleans and Covington, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around New Orleans and Sunny near Covington.

Stop Ideas Near Falkville

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

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

RAIL

Birmingham

96 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between New Orleans and Covington. Straight-line distance: 705.5 mi (1135.39 km).

New Orleans

#1 New Orleans

The most populous city in Louisiana and the center of the New Orleans metropolitan area.

Population389,476
Coordinates29.9546500, -90.0750700
Altitude0
CountryUnited States
Covington

#2 Covington

The county seat of Kenton County, Kentucky.

Population40,314
Coordinates39.0836700, -84.5085500
Altitude155
CountryUnited States
Start: New Orleans (-90.07507, 29.95465)
End: Covington (-84.50855, 39.08367)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 1287 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)26h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)19h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)15h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)13h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)11h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)09h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
28.22 gal
106.82 L · about $106.87
Round trip
$213.74
56.44 gal · 213.64 L
Estimated CO2
250.8 kg one way
Round trip: 501.6 kg / 1106 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $106.87 $213.74
Mid-grade $4.26 $120.19 $240.38
Premium $4.63 $130.52 $261.03
Diesel $5.42 $152.81 $305.62

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 · Aug 26, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between New Orleans, LA and Covington, KY. The current time in New Orleans is 22:04:50, although it is 23:04:50 in Covington.

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.