Origin
Covington, KY
Evening in Covington on Thursday
Local time
6:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Covington, KY to Buckner, KY
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
78 mi
126 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Covington, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Buckner, KY
Vietnam Hidden Light
Trip Overview
The drive from Covington, KY to Buckner, KY covers 78 miles and takes about 1h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 71, East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, KY 393 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75.2 miles on I 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.19 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 78 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 29m highway drive covering 78 miles, with most of the trip on I 71 and East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch is about 75.2 miles on I 71.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 75.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near KY 1120 / East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 29m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (KY 1120 / East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles (I 71; I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
KY 1120 / East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Turn right onto KY 1120 / East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 71 South, I 75 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 71; I 75
Merge onto I 71; I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
18.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 71
Take the exit onto I 71 toward I 71 South: Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 173
Toward I 71 South: Louisville
7
76.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward KY 393: Buckner
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward KY 393: Buckner
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 75.2 mi | 1h 22m |
| East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| KY 393 | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| KY 146 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Scott Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West 12th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Old Cedar Point Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 7th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 75.2 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Covington, KY and Buckner, KY.
1
Start on East 7th Street
12 ft
·
4 sec
·
East 7th Street
2
Turn right onto KY 17
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Scott Boulevard
3
Turn right onto KY 1120
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on KY 1120
203 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 12th Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 71 South, I 75 South
6
Merge onto I 71; I 75
17 mi
·
20 min
·
I 71; I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto I 71
58 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
I 71
Exit 173
Toward I 71 South: Louisville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 18
Toward KY 393: Buckner
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto KY 393
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
KY 393
10
At end of road, turn left onto KY 146; KY 393
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
KY 146; KY 393
11
Turn right onto Old Cedar Point Road
76 ft
·
3 sec
·
Old Cedar Point Road
12
Arrive at destination
Old Cedar Point Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39 mi from Covington, KY · 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39 miles from Covington, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.2 miles.
Arriving in Buckner, KY
The final approach into Buckner, KY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.19 one way
$24.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.39 | $26.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.01 | $30.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.22 | $34.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.19 | $3.74 |
| Efficient EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.82 | $3.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.92 | $4.99 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Buckner, KY
Evening in Buckner on Thursday
Local time
6:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Warsaw, KY
39 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
35 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 29m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Covington, KY to Buckner, KY covers 78 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 71, East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, KY 393. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39 miles from Covington, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.19 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 29m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (KY 1120 / East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles (I 71; I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Covington, KY to Buckner, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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