Origin
Bellefontaine, OH
Afternoon in Bellefontaine on Sunday
Local time
1:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bellefontaine, OH to Dayton, OH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
56.2 mi
90 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 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bellefontaine, OH
Jovan Vasiljević
Dayton, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Bellefontaine to Dayton, you are looking at a manageable 57.6-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. With a fuel budget of roughly $8, it remains a very cost-effective way to navigate between these two Midwest locations. You will primarily navigate via South Main Street, Route 68, and North Main Street to complete the journey. Because it is a short trip, you have the flexibility to make it a spur-of-the-moment drive without extensive logistical planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Route 68 | 26.9 mi | 35m |
| SR 4 | 22.5 mi | 26m |
| South Main Street | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| North Main Street | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| West National Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Upper Valley Pike | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Columbus Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US Route 68
— 26.9 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellefontaine, OH and Dayton, OH.
1
Start on East Columbus Avenue
19 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Columbus Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Main Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
South Main Street
3
Continue on US 68
14 mi
·
19 min
·
US Route 68
4
Continue on US 68
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
5
Enter roundabout onto US 68
93 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Main Street
6
Continue on US 68
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
7
Continue on US 68
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US Route 68
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 7B
Toward US 40 West, SR 4 West: Dayton
9
Turn left onto Upper Valley Pike
505 ft
·
10 sec
·
Upper Valley Pike
10
Turn right onto US 40; SR 4
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
West Main Street
11
Continue on US 40; SR 4
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
West National Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 4
11 mi
·
11 min
·
SR 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto SR 4
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
SR 4
Exit 41
Toward SR 4, SR 235: Dayton, New Carlisle
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 4
11 mi
·
14 min
·
SR 4
Toward SR 4, SR 235 South: Dayton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward SR 48: Main Street, Grand Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto SR 48
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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 28.1 miles from Bellefontaine, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 32 and 55.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
32 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward US 40 West, SR 4 West: Dayton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7B
Toward US 40 West, SR 4 West: Dayton
6
32.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
SR 4
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 4
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
43.7 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
SR 4
Take the exit onto SR 4 toward SR 4, SR 235: Dayton, New Carlisle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 41
Toward SR 4, SR 235: Dayton, New Carlisle
8
44 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
SR 4
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 4 toward SR 4, SR 235 South: Dayton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 4, SR 235 South: Dayton
7
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward SR 48: Main Street, Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 48: Main Street, Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.72 one way
$17.44 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $9.68 | $19.36 |
| premium | $4.91 | $10.86 | $21.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.41 | $24.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.90 | $2.70 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.92 | $2.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.87 | $3.60 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Dayton, OH
Afternoon in Dayton on Sunday
Local time
1:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Urbana, OH
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
11 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 16m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating local roads, which keeps the experience engaging if you prefer staying off the major expressways. Since there is no single long stretch of highway, you should be prepared for constant changes in direction and pace. The journey lacks any long, uninterrupted stretches, with the longest segment occurring on South Main Street. This setup requires you to stay alert and focused on the road ahead as you transition through the local infrastructure.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.9 mi on US Route 68.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Route 68 and SR 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 32 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 32 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.7 miles (SR 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.7 miles (SR 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Bellefontaine, OH to Dayton, OH, road signs begin pointing toward New Carlisle along the way.
New Carlisle
43.7 mi in
|
~58m
|
via SR 4
About the Cities
Starting in Bellefontaine, OH
Full guide →Bellefontaine, Ohio is a city in the Miami - Scioto basins, and the seat of Logan county.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 56.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.9 miles on US Route 68. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Dayton, OH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 32 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.7 miles (SR 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.7 miles (SR 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dayton, OH before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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