Origin
Cincinnati, OH
Late night in Cincinnati on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cincinnati, OH to Lebanon, OH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
31.2 mi
50 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cincinnati, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Lebanon, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to get from Cincinnati to Lebanon, Ohio, this 31.2-mile journey is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 42 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a quick day trip rather than an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Northeast Expressway, SR 48, and East McMillan Street as you head north. Budgeting just $5 for fuel makes this an incredibly economical excursion within the Midwest. Whether you are heading out for business or leisure, the short transit time provides plenty of flexibility for your schedule. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that connects these two Ohio hubs efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Expressway | 24.8 mi | 30m |
| SR 48 | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| East McMillan Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West McMillan Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South High Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Silver Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Ohio Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Northeast Expressway
— 24.8 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cincinnati, OH and Lebanon, OH.
1
Start on Ohio Avenue
99 ft
·
6 sec
·
Ohio Avenue
2
Turn right onto West McMillan Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West McMillan Avenue
3
Continue on East McMillan Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
East McMillan Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 71
25 mi
·
30 min
·
Northeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 28
Toward SR 48: Lebanon, South Lebanon
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
Toward SR 48 North: Lebanon, Golden Lamb, Lebanon Raceway, Warren County Fairgrounds
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on SR 48
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
SR 48
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit onto SR 48
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
SR 48
Toward SR 48, SR 123 South
10
Turn left onto SR 48; SR 123
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
11
Turn right onto South High Street
0.1 mi
·
40 sec
·
South High Street
12
Turn left onto East Silver Street
199 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Silver Street
13
Arrive at destination
East Silver Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 30.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 71 / Northeast Expressway
Merge onto I 71 / Northeast Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
26.1 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward SR 48: Lebanon, South Lebanon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 28
Toward SR 48: Lebanon, South Lebanon
9
26.4 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 48 North: Lebanon, Golden Lamb, Lebanon Raceway, Warren County Fairgrounds
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 48 North: Lebanon, Golden Lamb, Leban...
5
30.1 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
SR 48
Take the exit onto SR 48 toward SR 48, SR 123 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 48, SR 123 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.84 one way
$9.68 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $5.37 | $10.75 |
| premium | $4.91 | $6.03 | $12.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.89 | $13.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.73 | $1.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.37 | $2.00 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Lebanon, OH
Late night in Lebanon on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
16 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
42m 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 highway-focused experience, as 91% of this trip is spent on high-speed roads. The drive is defined by a significant 24.8-mile stretch along the Northeast Expressway, which accounts for the bulk of your time behind the wheel. While the highway portions offer a consistent, fast-paced rhythm, you will transition onto local roads like SR 48 and East McMillan Street to reach your final destination. This shift from major thoroughfares to smaller routes keeps the drive engaging as you move away from the city center. Overall, the road feels functional and direct, prioritizing speed and navigation over winding scenic detours.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.8 mi on Northeast Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Northeast Expressway and SR 48. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 31.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (I 71 / Northeast Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
873 ft
586 ft
Total Climb
446 ft
Total Descent
542 ft
Highest Point
873 ft
~17.8 mi in
Elevation Range
287 ft
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.
Between Cincinnati, OH and Lebanon, OH, road signs point toward Golden Lamb, Lebanon Raceway and Warren County Fairgrounds.
Golden Lamb
26.4 mi in
|
~34m
Lebanon Raceway
26.4 mi in
|
~34m
Warren County Fairgrounds
26.4 mi in
|
~34m
About the Cities
Starting in Cincinnati, OH
Full guide →Founded 1788
Cincinnati is Ohio's third largest city and the largest metro region, and lies on the north bank of the Ohio River in Southwest Ohio in the United States of America. Cincinnati is distinct amongst Midwestern cities. Its culture is a mixture of the Northeast, Old South, Midwest, and Appalachia blended with a strong German-Catholic heritage. It was one of the United States' early boomtowns, and the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood is the largest National Historic District in the country. Today, it's part of a fast-growing metro area, and home to a remarkable blend of industry and architecture. Downtown Cincinnati is surrounded by picturesque foothills that add a beautiful backdrop to the Queen City and its legendary skyline – celebrated in the opening credits of television show WKRP in Cincinnati.
Top landmarks
- • Carew Tower — skyscraper in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- • Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains — cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati in downtown Cincinnati...
- • Cincinnati Observatory — other organization in Cincinnati, United States
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 42m. Total distance: 31.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.8 miles on Northeast Expressway. 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 Lebanon, 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (I 71 / Northeast Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument and Dayton Aviation Heritage 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 Lebanon, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Lebanon, OH
More trips to Lebanon, OH
Explore more options from Cincinnati, OH or browse trips ending in Lebanon, OH.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse OH road trips.