Origin
Covington, KY
Morning in Covington on Friday
Local time
10:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Covington, KY to Carrollton, KY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
55.5 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Covington, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Carrollton, KY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Covington, KY to Carrollton, KY covers 55.5 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 71, KY 227, Highland Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.4 miles on I 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 55.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 6m highway drive covering 55.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 71 and KY 227. The longest continuous stretch is about 49.4 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 11 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 49.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and KY 227. 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 6m drive. You will face about 8 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 8 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
6
50.9 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward KY 227: Carrollton, Worthville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 44
Toward KY 227: Carrollton, Worthville
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Covington, KY to Carrollton, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Worthville along the way.
Worthville
50.9 mi in
|
~59m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 49.4 mi | 55m |
| KY 227 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Highland Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Scott Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West 12th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 7th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 49.4 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Covington, KY and Carrollton, 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
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 71
Exit 173
Toward I 71 South: Louisville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 44
Toward KY 227: Carrollton, Worthville
9
Turn right onto KY 227
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
KY 227
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 42; KY 36
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Highland Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
US 42; KY 36
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.8 mi from Covington, KY · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.8 miles from Covington, KY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carrollton, KY
The final approach into Carrollton, 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
$8.68 one way
$17.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.53 | $19.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.68 | $21.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.25 | $24.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.83 | $2.66 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.86 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.77 | $3.55 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Carrollton, KY
Morning in Carrollton on Friday
Local time
10:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Warsaw, KY
28 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
14 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 6m 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 Carrollton, KY covers 55.5 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 71, KY 227, Highland Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.8 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 $8.68 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 6m drive. You will face about 8 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.
On the drive from Covington, KY to Carrollton, KY, road signs begin pointing toward Worthville along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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