The drive from Covington, KY to Annville, KY covers 149.5 miles and takes about 3h 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, Big Hill Road, KY 290 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 112.6 miles on I 71.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.7 miles from Covington, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 149.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 3h 6m highway drive covering 149.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 71 and Big Hill Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 112.6 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 18 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 112.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Big Hill Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near KY 17 / Scott Boulevard.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 6m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KY 17 / Scott Boulevard): Navigation decision point; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|KY 17 / Scott Boulevard
Turn right onto KY 17 / Scott Boulevard
Navigation decision point
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.
5
114 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward KY 595: Berea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 77
Toward KY 595: Berea
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
112.6 mi
2h 2m
Big Hill Road
15.6 mi
24m
KY 290
8.8 mi
16m
US 421
4.7 mi
7m
Battlefield Memorial Highway
2.4 mi
3m
Walnut Meadow Road
2 mi
3m
East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
Prospect Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 112.6 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Covington, KY and Annville, 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
113 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 71; I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 77Toward KY 595: Berea
8
Turn left onto KY 595
0.4 mi·37 sec·Walnut Meadow Road
9
Continue on KY 595
1.7 mi·2 min·Walnut Meadow Road
10
Continue on KY 595
0.5 mi·57 sec·North Main Street
11
Turn left onto KY 21
0.6 mi·51 sec·Prospect Street
12
Continue on KY 21
4.4 mi·6 min·Big Hill Road
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 421; KY 21
2.4 mi·3 min·Battlefield Memorial Highway
14
Continue on US 421
11 mi·18 min·Big Hill Road
15
Continue on US 421
4.7 mi·7 min·US 421
16
Turn right onto KY 290
8.8 mi·16 min·KY 290
17
At end of road, turn left onto KY 3630
0.4 mi·55 sec·KY 3630
18
Arrive at destination
KY 3630
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.7 miles from Covington, KY, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 33 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.7 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Annville, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Covington, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Covington, KY
This is one driving day of about 149.5 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Covington, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 71 for about 112.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74.7 mi from Covington, KY
· 1h 23m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Camp Nelson National Monument
National Monument
The US Army established Camp Nelson as a fortified supply depot in April 1863. Over the next 3 years, the site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for United States Colored Troops a...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 92.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.37 one way
$46.75 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.66
$51.32
premium
$4.89
$28.77
$57.54
diesel
$5.61
$33.01
$66.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.9
0
$15.70
$7.18
Efficient EV
37.4
0
$13.08
$5.98
EV Truck/SUV
59.8
0
$20.93
$9.57
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Covington, KY
Morning
in Covington on Friday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Annville, KY
Morning
in Annville on Friday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Richmond, KY
75 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
39 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
3h 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 Annville, KY covers 149.5 miles and takes about 3h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 71, Big Hill Road, KY 290. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.7 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 $23.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 6m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (KY 17 / Scott Boulevard): Navigation decision point; 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.
The route from Covington, KY to Annville, KY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Camp Nelson National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
