Beavercreek, OH to Catawba Island, OH is 187.7 miles and takes about 3h 46m via I 75 and US 6, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Ohio, moving from the Midwest region to the Midwest region. With 91% of the drive on highways, expect a straightforward trip focused on covering ground efficiently. It's a single-day option, making it ideal for a quick getaway or a necessary trip without requiring an overnight stay.
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
93.8 miles from Beavercreek, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
123.2 mi
2h 12m
US 6
23.9 mi
33m
SR 53
19.5 mi
27m
Southeast Catawba Road
5.7 mi
8m
US 35
4.2 mi
5m
Bypass Highway
4.1 mi
5m
Stanley Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
East 3rd Street
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 123.2 mi, about 2h 12m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 92 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,770 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,225
Quietest
2 AM
~210 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Beavercreek, OH and Catawba Island, OH.
1
Start on North Fairfield Road
0.9 mi·2 min·North Fairfield Road
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward US 35 West: Dayton
3
Merge onto US 35
4.2 mi·5 min·US 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward Smithville RoadUse the slight right lane.
5
Turn right onto South Smithville Road
1.0 mi·2 min·South Smithville Road
6
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
1.1 mi·1 min·East 3rd Street
7
Turn right onto North Findlay Street
0.8 mi·1 min·North Findlay Street
8
Continue on Findlay Street
0.1 mi·14 sec·Findlay Street
9
Continue on Stanley Avenue
1.4 mi·2 min·Stanley Avenue
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 75 North: Toledo
11
Merge onto I 75
123 mi·2 hr 12 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward US 6: Napoleon, Fremont
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
14
Merge onto US 6
24 mi·33 min·US 6
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto US 6; SR 53
0.8 mi·1 min·Bypass Highway
16
Enter roundabout onto US 6; SR 53
103 ft·6 sec·Bypass Highway
17
Continue on US 6; SR 53
3.2 mi·4 min·Bypass Highway
18
Take the exit onto SR 53
3.0 mi·4 min·SR 53
Exit 101Toward SR 53 North: Port Clinton, Lake Erie Island
19
Enter roundabout onto SR 53
85 ft·1 sec·SR 53
20
Continue on SR 53
9.9 mi·14 min·SR 53
21
Take the ramp onto SR 53
6.2 mi·7 min·SR 53
22
Take the exit onto SR 53
0.4 mi·53 sec·SR 53
Exit 124Toward SR 53: Catawba IslandUse the slight right lane.
23
Enter roundabout
131 ft·3 sec
24
Continue
420 ft·10 sec
25
Enter roundabout
115 ft·2 sec
26
Continue
332 ft·6 sec
27
Continue on SR 53
5.7 mi·8 min·Southeast Catawba Road
28
Continue on SR 53
0.2 mi·23 sec·East Sloan Street
29
Arrive at destination
East Sloan Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3-hour, 46-minute drive, consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time at Catawba Island. The route is mostly highway, so you can cover a lot of ground quickly. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $29, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Plan your fuel stops strategically, as the longest stretch without a major change in road type is over 120 miles on I 75.
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 93.8 miles from Beavercreek, OH, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.2 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 41 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.8 miles or 1h 47m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Catawba Island, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Beavercreek, OH 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 Beavercreek, OH
This is one driving day of about 187.7 miles and 3h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Beavercreek, OH.
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 75 for about 123.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 181.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|US 35
Merge onto US 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
5.3 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward Smithville Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Smithville Road
6
162.1 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|SR 53
Take the exit onto SR 53 toward SR 53 North: Port Clinton, Lake Erie Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 101
Toward SR 53 North: Port Clinton, Lake Erie Isl...
7
181.3 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|SR 53
Take the exit onto SR 53 toward SR 53: Catawba Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 124
Toward SR 53: Catawba Island
6
181.7 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.20 one way
$60.40 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.63
$34.24
$68.49
premium
$5.17
$38.23
$76.47
diesel
$6.22
$45.93
$91.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.3
0
$19.71
$9.01
Efficient EV
46.9
0
$16.42
$7.51
EV Truck/SUV
75.1
0
$26.28
$12.01
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Beavercreek, OH
Morning
in Beavercreek on Sunday
Local time
10:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Sunny
N 7 to 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 10:06AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 8:01AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Destination
Catawba Island, OH
Morning
in Catawba Island on Sunday
Local time
10:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Sunny
N 5 to 23 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 10:06AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 8:01AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
43°F
Carey, OH
94 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
1 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 46m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established to honor the lives and achievements of poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar and aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Through p...
Throughout his life, Charles Young overcame countless obstacles in his ascent to prominence. In spite of overt racism and stifling inequality, Young rose through the military ranks to become one of th...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway, with 91% of the 187.7 miles on interstates like I 75. You'll experience a long stretch of 123.2 miles on I 75 before transitioning to US 6 and SR 53 for the final miles. Expect a dense exit environment on the interstate sections, so stay alert as you approach your destination.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 123.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 6. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 35.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 187.7 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (US 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 162.1 miles (SR 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,062 ft580 ft
Total Climb
199 ft
Total Descent
492 ft
Highest Point
1,062 ft
~53.6 mi in
Elevation Range
482 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Beavercreek, OH and Catawba Island, OH, road signs point toward Fremont and Lake Erie Island.
Beavercreek is the biggest city in Greene County Ohio, and a large suburb of Dayton. It is home to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, and to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Catawba Island is part of the Ottawa County peninsula. Catawba Island is one of 12 townships that make up Ottawa County, Ohio. It is commonly referred to as Catawba and Catawba Island, although it is no longer an island as the water separating it from the mainland has been diverted. Due to its sheltered bay and inlets, land elevation along the shore with fewer cliffs and easy access to Lake Erie, it has become one of the preferred areas for pleasure boat owners to dock and store their boats. Development was stagnant for years due to lack of sanitary sewer. Once this was improved, Catawba Island Peninsula started to bloom, with all sorts of improvements, condo's, expensive homes, marinas and businesses. It has become a preferred destination for those enjoying Lake Erie waters.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 46m. Total distance: 187.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 123.2 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 32 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Catawba Island, OH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (US 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 162.1 miles (SR 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Catawba Island, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
