Origin
Chillicothe, OH
Morning in Chillicothe on Sunday
Local time
7:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chillicothe, 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
1h 6m
Distance
46.4 mi
75 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chillicothe, OH
Angel Rkaoz
Columbus, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Stretching just 49 miles across the heart of Ohio, this trip between Chillicothe and Columbus is a quick commute that typically takes about 58 minutes. You will primarily follow US 23 North, transitioning into South High Street and East State Street as you arrive in the city. Because the duration is under an hour, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight arrangements. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, the trip is exceptionally affordable for a solo driver or a small group. Whether you are heading north for business or a change of scenery, the journey offers a straightforward connection within the Midwest.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 23 | 35.2 mi | 45m |
| South High Street | 9 mi | 17m |
| West Main Street | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| East State Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 23
— 35.2 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chillicothe, OH and Columbus, OH.
1
Start on US 50; SR 104
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward US 23 North, US 35 West: Columbus
3
Merge onto US 23; US 35
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 23; US 35
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
34 mi
·
44 min
·
US 23
Toward US 23 North: Columbus
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 23
9.0 mi
·
17 min
·
South High Street
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto East State Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
East State Street
7
Continue on East State Street
106 ft
·
3 sec
·
East State Street
8
Turn right
88 ft
·
6 sec
9
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.2 miles from Chillicothe, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 46.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 23 North, US 35 West: Columbus
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 23 North, US 35 West: Columbus
3
2.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 23; US 35
Merge onto US 23; US 35
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
2.8 mi into trip
|
~4m 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
4
46.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
East State Street
Turn right onto East State Street
Navigation decision point
3
46.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
East State Street
Continue onto East State Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.20 one way
$14.40 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $7.99 | $15.98 |
| premium | $4.91 | $8.97 | $17.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.24 | $20.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.50 | $2.97 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Morning in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
7:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
15 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
1h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a route that prioritizes local roads over high-speed bypasses. You won't encounter long, uninterrupted stretches of highway; in fact, the longest stretch on US 23 North is 0 miles, keeping you active behind the wheel throughout the entire 58-minute duration. As you progress toward Columbus, the road’s personality remains consistent, favoring a steady, localized pace that feels more like a regional connector than a long-distance haul. Navigating these turns requires a focused driving style, as you transition smoothly from the suburban feel of Chillicothe into the urban density of Columbus.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.2 mi on US 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 and South High Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Chillicothe, OH to Columbus, OH is easy. At 1h 6m with 76% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (US 23; US 35): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 2.8 miles (US 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 1h 6m. Total distance: 46.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.2 miles on US 23. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (US 23; US 35): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 2.8 miles (US 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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