Origin
Burlington, OH
Late night in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burlington, OH to Columbus, OH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 44m
Distance
127.3 mi
205 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 34m
★
6 AM
2h 45m
8 AM
3h 6m
10 AM
2h 52m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 5m
8 PM
2h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burlington, OH
Troy Tumbin
Columbus, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Burlington to Columbus is 127 miles and takes about 2 hours 44 minutes via US 23, US 52, and Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Ohio, transitioning from the Midwest region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it a practical choice for a single-day journey. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal complexity, ideal for those prioritizing efficiency.
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
63.6 miles from Burlington, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 23 | 68 mi | 1h 29m |
| US 52 | 32.6 mi | 35m |
| Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway | 16.4 mi | 17m |
| South High Street | 9 mi | 17m |
| County Road 120 South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East State Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Madison Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 23
— 68 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, OH and Columbus, OH.
1
Start on TR 1034
122 ft
·
6 sec
·
Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
2nd Street
3
Continue on Madison Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Madison Street
4
Turn left onto CR 120 S
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
County Road 120 South
5
Turn left onto US 52
33 mi
·
35 min
·
US 52
6
Take the exit onto SR 823
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway
Toward SR 823 North: Chillicothe
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 16
Toward US 23 North: Chillicothe
8
Merge onto US 23
34 mi
·
45 min
·
US 23
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
34 mi
·
44 min
·
US 23
Toward US 23 North: Columbus
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 23
9.0 mi
·
17 min
·
South High Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto East State Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
East State Street
12
Continue on East State Street
106 ft
·
3 sec
·
East State Street
13
Turn right
88 ft
·
6 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2-hour 44-minute duration, you have flexibility in when you depart. Leaving in the morning allows ample time for potential brief stops without feeling rushed. With a fuel cost estimated around $20, you won't need extensive planning for gas. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 68 miles on US 23, so consider a quick break just before that segment if needed. Since this is a single-day trip, enjoy the directness and make good time to Columbus.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.6 miles from Burlington, OH, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68 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 28 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.6 miles or 1h 14m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbus, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burlington, 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 Burlington, OH
This is one driving day of about 127.3 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Burlington, 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 US 23 for about 68 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 63.6 miles from Burlington, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 23 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68 miles.
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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 83.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
2nd Street
Turn right onto 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 120 S / County Road 120 South
Turn left onto CR 120 S / County Road 120 South
Navigation decision point
4
33.2 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
SR 823 / Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway
Take the exit onto SR 823 / Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway toward SR 823 North: Chillicothe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SR 823 North: Chillicothe
6
49.6 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 23 North: Chillicothe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 16
Toward US 23 North: Chillicothe
7
83.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
US 23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23 toward US 23 North: Columbus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 23 North: Columbus
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.76 one way
$39.51 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $21.93 | $43.85 |
| premium | $4.91 | $24.60 | $49.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.11 | $56.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.37 | $6.11 |
| Efficient EV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.14 | $5.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.9 | 0 | $17.82 | $8.15 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Columbus, OH
Late night in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Waverly, OH
64 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
10 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
2h 44m 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?
This route is largely a highway-focused drive, with 79% of the journey on main roads like US 23, US 52, and the Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 68 miles on US 23, offering a sustained period of consistent driving. The character of the road is predominantly geared for steady progress, rather than winding scenic byways. Expect a functional and direct path connecting your starting and ending points.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68 mi on US 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 and US 52. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 2nd Street.
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 2h 44m 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: near the start (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (CR 120 S / County Road 120 South): Navigation decision point; at 33.2 miles (SR 823 / Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Arriving in Columbus, OH
Full guide →Columbus is the capital of the American state of Ohio and is located centrally within the state as the core of the Greater Columbus area. Sited in an area where the Rust Belt, Bible Belt, Appalachia, and the Farm Belt meet, Columbus is a fusion of many different parts of America. It is the home of the Ohio State University. The combination of Ohio Government and the Ohio State University has fueled amazing growth both financially and physically in Columbus. It has created a business and research environment that has provided substantial employment opportunities to the diverse ethnic and local graduates of the Ohio State University, and other academic institutions in Columbus. The Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC), is projected to be one of the top 50 supercomputers in the world and among the top 10 supercomputing academic centers.
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 2h 44m. Total distance: 127.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68 miles on US 23. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (CR 120 S / County Road 120 South): Navigation decision point; at 33.2 miles (SR 823 / Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbus, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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