Origin
Clayton, OH
Morning in Clayton on Tuesday
Local time
8:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clayton, OH to Columbus, OH
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
77.9 mi
125 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clayton, OH
Jovan Vasiljević
Columbus, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Clayton, OH to Columbus, OH is 77.9 miles and takes about 1h 29m via I 70 and I 670, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within the Midwest, specifically Ohio, for its entirety. It’s a practical, highway-focused trip perfect for a quick transit or a short day trip. Given the relatively short distance and duration, it’s an easy route to tackle if you're looking for a simple journey between these two Ohio cities without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 70.1 mi | 1h 16m |
| I 670 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| SR 49 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| North Third Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Salem Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Brookville Salem Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Talmadge Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East State Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 70.1 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clayton, OH and Columbus, OH.
1
Start on Talmadge Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Talmadge Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto West Salem Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Salem Street
3
Continue on Brookville Salem Road
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
Brookville Salem Road
4
Turn left onto SR 49
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
SR 49
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
21 mi
·
23 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
49 mi
·
53 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 670
Toward I 670 East: Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 4A–B
Toward US 23: Third Street, Fourth Street
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 4A
Toward US 23 South: Third Street
10
Turn straight onto US 23
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Third Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto East State Street
106 ft
·
3 sec
·
East State Street
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right
88 ft
·
6 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.9 miles from Clayton, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.1 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 2.8 and 76.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
23.8 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
73 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
I 670
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670 toward I 670 East: Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 670 East: Airport
8
76.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 23: Third Street, Fourth Street
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 4A–B
Toward US 23: Third Street, Fourth Street
7
76.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 23 South: Third Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 4A
Toward US 23 South: Third Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.09 one way
$24.18 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $13.42 | $26.84 |
| premium | $4.91 | $15.06 | $30.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.20 | $34.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.18 | $3.74 |
| Efficient EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.82 | $3.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.91 | $4.99 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Morning in Columbus on Tuesday
Local time
8:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Harmony, OH
39 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
2 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 29m 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 predominantly highway-focused drive, with 97% of the journey utilizing major interstates like I 70 and I 670. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 70.1 miles on I 70, offering consistent speed and minimal distractions. This route is designed for efficient travel, meaning you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained, high-speed roads. The character remains largely consistent, prioritizing directness over scenic detours.
97% 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: 70.1 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 670. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near I 70.
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 77.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.8 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.8 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 73 miles (I 670): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Columbus, OH
Full guide →Founded 1812
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.
Top landmarks
- • Ohio Stadium — stadium in Columbus, Ohio, USA
- • Columbus Museum of Art — Museum in Columbus, Ohio, United States
- • Wexner Center for the Arts — center at Ohio State University
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 29m. Total distance: 77.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.1 miles on I 70. 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 Columbus, 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 2.8 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.8 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 73 miles (I 670): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 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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