How far is Russellville, KY from Covington, KY?

The driving distance from Russellville, KY to Covington, KY is about 242.8 miles (390.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 201.8 miles (324.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 28m 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
242.78 mi
03h 44m
Flight
201.74 mi
324.67 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Russellville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
201.74 mi
Kilometers
324.67 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
242.78 mi
Kilometers
390.72 km
Drive Time
03h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Covington
Sun, Apr 19, 4:55 AM EDT
Return by in Russellville
Sun, Apr 19, 7:39 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Russellville
2026-04-19T00:11
Arrive Covington
Sun, Apr 19, 3:55 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:44 AM to 12:44 PM EDT

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

Leave by
9:32 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Russellville
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
Shepherdsville
KY

City in Bullitt County, Kentucky, United States of America

From Russellville
120.6 mi
01h 52m
To Covington
122.2 mi
01h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph NW
Destination
59°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 15 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East 4th Street

    3170 ft · 54 sec · East 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Franklin Street

    114 m · 6 sec · Franklin Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Franklin Road

    1133 ft · 19 sec · Franklin Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Franklin Street

    765 ft · 13 sec · Franklin Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Bowling Green Road

    2964 ft · 52 sec · Bowling Green Road

  6. 6

    Continue on East Jefferson Davis Highway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · East Jefferson Davis Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Bowling Green Road

    11.8 mi · 13 min · Bowling Green Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Russellville Road

    8 mi · 9 min · Russellville Road

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 165 South

    1676 ft · 41 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    4.8 mi · 5 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Louisville

    1997 ft · 59 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Louisville

    1.1 km · 54 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Interstate Highway 65

    108.4 mi · 1 hr 57 min · Interstate Highway 65

  14. 14

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

    1.1 km · 59 sec

  15. 15

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

    1.3 km · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Henry Watterson Expressway

    10 mi · 14 min · Henry Watterson Expressway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 71 North: Cincinnati

    1877 ft · 32 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    71 mi · 1 hr 17 min

  19. 19

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

    18 mi · 22 min

  20. 20

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

    1673 ft · 41 sec

  21. 21

    Continue on Simon Kenton Way

    153 m · 19 sec · Simon Kenton Way

  22. 22

    Turn right onto West Pike Street

    3055 ft · 2 min · West Pike Street

  23. 23

    Continue on West 7th Street

    1102 ft · 35 sec · West 7th Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 7th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Interstate Highway 65
108 mi · 45%
I 71 North
71.4 mi · 29%
I 75 North
18 mi · 7%
Bowling Green Road
12.4 mi · 5%
Henry Watterson Expressway
10 mi · 4%
Russellville Road
8.01 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Interstate Highway 65

Merge slight left onto Interstate Highway 65

108 mi · 01h 57m

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 44m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41 mi
201.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Shepherdsville
01h 52m from Russellville
Leave By
9:32 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Russellville and Chance Rain Showers near Covington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 242.8 miles (390.7 km) and usually takes 03h 44m 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?

Shepherdsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120.6 miles from Russellville and 122.2 miles from Covington.

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

The direct path is about 201.8 miles (324.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 41 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 9:32 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.32 one way or $64.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76.2 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Russellville and Chance Rain Showers near Covington.

Stop Ideas Near Shepherdsville

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

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

BUS

Louisville, Kentucky

30 mi away
720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Russellville and Covington. Straight-line distance: 201.74 mi (324.67 km).

Russellville

#1 Russellville

City in Kentucky, USA

Population7,167
Coordinates36.8453200, -86.8872200
Altitude181
CountryUnited States
Covington

#2 Covington

The county seat of Kenton County, Kentucky.

Population40,314
Coordinates39.0836700, -84.5085500
Altitude155
CountryUnited States
Start: East 4th Street (-86.887274, 36.84546)
End: East 7th Street (-84.50851, 39.083683)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 391 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.57 gal
32.43 L · about $32.32
Round trip
$64.63
17.14 gal · 64.86 L
Estimated CO2
76.2 kg one way
Round trip: 152.3 kg / 336 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $32.32 $64.63
Mid-grade $4.25 $36.45 $72.90
Premium $4.65 $39.88 $79.77
Diesel $5.30 $45.46 $90.91

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 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Russellville, KY and Covington, KY. The current time in Russellville is 00:11:17, although it is 01:11:17 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.