How far is Princeton, KY from Covington, KY?
The driving distance from Princeton, KY to Covington, KY is about 267.9 miles (431.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 05m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 228.5 miles (367.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 10m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 05m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
City in Bullitt County, Kentucky, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Princeton and Covington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Princeton and Covington.
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1
Start on East Market Street
22 m · 1 sec · East Market Street
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2
Exit the roundabout onto West Market Street
30 m · 4 sec · West Market Street
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3
Turn right onto Alley 21
105 m · 18 sec · Alley 21
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4
Turn right onto West Locust Street
61 m · 14 sec · West Locust Street
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5
Turn left onto North Jefferson Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · North Jefferson Street
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6
Take the ramp slight right
2993 ft · 1 min
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7
Merge slight left
24.1 mi · 26 min
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
1783 ft · 22 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway
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9
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
98.9 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Western Kentucky Parkway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
1955 ft · 48 sec
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
3052 ft · 1 min
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12
Merge slight left
37.9 mi · 41 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 264: Watterson Expressway, Airport
1.1 km · 59 sec
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14
Keep slight right to continue on I 264 East: Watterson Expressway
1.3 km · 1 min
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15
Merge slight left onto Henry Watterson Expressway
10 mi · 14 min · Henry Watterson Expressway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 71 North: Cincinnati
1877 ft · 32 sec
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17
Merge slight left
71 mi · 1 hr 17 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North, I 71 North: Cincinnati
18 mi · 22 min
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19
Take the exit slight right toward 12th Street, Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Pike Street, Covington
1673 ft · 41 sec
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20
Continue on Simon Kenton Way
153 m · 19 sec · Simon Kenton Way
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21
Turn right onto West Pike Street
3055 ft · 2 min · West Pike Street
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22
Continue on West 7th Street
1102 ft · 35 sec · West 7th Street
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23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East 7th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Princeton and Covington.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Western Kentucky Parkway
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
98.9 mi · 01h 46m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Princeton and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Covington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Princeton to Covington?
The road trip is about 267.9 miles (431.2 km) and usually takes 04h 05m 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?
Lebanon Junction is a useful midpoint, sitting about 133.1 miles from Princeton and 134.8 miles from Covington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 228.5 miles (367.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.4 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:50 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.64 one way or $71.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 84 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Princeton and Covington, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Princeton and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Covington.
Stop Ideas Near Lebanon Junction
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lebanon Junction.
Louisville, Kentucky
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Princeton and Covington. Straight-line distance: 228.57 mi (367.84 km).
#1 Princeton
City in Caldwell County, Kentucky, United States
| Population | 6,063 |
| Coordinates | 37.1092200, -87.8819600 |
| Altitude | 147 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Covington
The county seat of Kenton County, Kentucky.
| Population | 40,314 |
| Coordinates | 39.0836700, -84.5085500 |
| Altitude | 155 |
| Country | United States |
End: East 7th Street (-84.50851, 39.083683)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 431 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 55m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 41m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 21m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 27m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 49m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 20m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $35.64 | $71.27 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $40.19 | $80.38 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $43.98 | $87.96 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $50.12 | $100.25 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.