Cardington to Beavercreek is 96.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 4 minutes via US 36 and local roads, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Ohio, making it a straightforward trip between two points in the same state. The route is a mixed drive, meaning you'll encounter both faster roads and more local thoroughfares. Given its relatively short distance and duration, it's an ideal same-day excursion for most travelers. You can expect a budget-friendly journey with minimal time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.3 miles from Cardington, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 36
31.8 mi
38m
West Main Street
17.9 mi
25m
Marysville Road
14.3 mi
16m
I 675
8.2 mi
9m
SR 4
7.5 mi
8m
North Fairfield Road
4.7 mi
9m
US Route 68
4.3 mi
4m
State Route 334
3.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 36
— 31.8 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cardington, OH and Beavercreek, OH.
1
Start on this road
81 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn left
242 ft·23 sec
3
Turn left onto SR 529
152 ft·7 sec·North Marion Street
4
Turn right onto US 42
18 mi·25 min·West Main Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 36; US 42; SR 521
1.8 mi·2 min·East William Street
6
Continue on US 36
14 mi·16 min·Marysville Road
7
Take the exit onto US 36
3.3 mi·4 min·US 36
8
Take the exit onto US 36; SR 4
0.1 mi·13 sec·US 36; SR 4
Toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfield
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36; SR 4
28 mi·33 min·US 36; SR 4
Toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfield
10
Turn right onto SR 334
3.7 mi·4 min·State Route 334
11
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
12
Merge onto US 68
4.3 mi·4 min·US Route 68
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 7BToward US 40 West, SR 4 West: Dayton
14
Turn left onto Upper Valley Pike
505 ft·10 sec·Upper Valley Pike
15
Turn right onto US 40; SR 4
0.2 mi·10 sec·West Main Street
16
Continue on US 40; SR 4
0.2 mi·12 sec·West National Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 4
7.5 mi·8 min·SR 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 44Toward I 675 South: Spangler Road, CincinnatiUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 675 South: CincinnatiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 44AToward I 675 South: CincinnatiUse the right lane.
21
Continue on I 675
8.2 mi·9 min·I 675
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 17Toward North Fairfield Road
23
Turn left onto North Fairfield Road
4.7 mi·9 min·North Fairfield Road
Use the left / right lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
North Fairfield Road
Trip Plan
Given this is a straightforward, single-day trip of just over 2 hours, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning allows you to reach Beavercreek with ample time for activities. While there are no designated stops mentioned, you'll want to be mindful of the longest stretch of 31.8 miles on US 36; plan a brief pause before or during this segment if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as the highway share is significant, and the estimated fuel cost is around $15. A good tip is to fill up before leaving Cardington to ensure you have a full tank for the entire drive.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.3 miles from Cardington, OH, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.8 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 21 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.3 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beavercreek, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cardington, 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 Cardington, OH
This is one driving day of about 96.6 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Cardington, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 36 for about 31.8 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 37.3 and 83.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
37.3 mi into trip|~49m in|US 36; SR 4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36; SR 4 toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfi...
6
74.3 mi into trip|~1h 33m 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
8
82.4 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 675 South: Spangler Road, Cincinnati
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44
Toward I 675 South: Spangler Road, Cincinnati
7
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 675 South: Cincinnati
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 675 South: Cincinnati
8
83.1 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 675 South: Cincinnati
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 44A
Toward I 675 South: Cincinnati
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.99 one way
$29.98 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$16.64
$33.28
premium
$4.91
$18.67
$37.34
diesel
$5.61
$21.33
$42.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.14
$4.64
Efficient EV
24.2
0
$8.45
$3.86
EV Truck/SUV
38.6
0
$13.52
$6.18
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Cardington, OH
Evening
in Cardington on Sunday
Local time
5:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Beavercreek, OH
Evening
in Beavercreek on Sunday
Local time
5:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 7 to 12 mph16% chanceLive forecast
71°F
Plain City, OH
48 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
5 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
2h 4m 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 journey offers a mixed driving experience, with 58% of the route utilizing highway speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 31.8 miles on US 36, providing a solid period of consistent travel. As you transition from main roads like Marysville Road onto US 36 and then into West Main Street, the character of the drive will evolve. Expect a blend of efficient highway sections and more local road segments as you approach your destination. The profile suggests a dynamic drive, not a monotonous one.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.8 mi on US 36.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 37.3 miles in near US 36; SR 4.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 96.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 37.3 miles (US 36; SR 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.4 miles: 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.
Between Cardington, OH and Beavercreek, OH, road signs point toward Springfield and Cincinnati.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 96.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.8 miles on US 36. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Beavercreek, 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. There are 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 37.3 miles (US 36; SR 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.4 miles: 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 Beavercreek, OH before heading back.
