Columbus, OH to Fredericktown, OH is 172.2 miles and takes about 3h 35m via East Freeway and SR 7, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within the Midwest and Ohio, offering a straightforward drive. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on highways, making it a relatively efficient journey. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Ohio locations without extensive detours.
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
86.1 miles from Columbus, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East Freeway
72.2 mi
1h 18m
SR 7
21.8 mi
30m
Cadiz Road
21.6 mi
24m
Cadiz-Piedmont Road
16.5 mi
22m
US 22
14.7 mi
15m
Cadiz-Steubenville Road
8.6 mi
11m
SR 170
4.6 mi
8m
East Livingston Avenue
2.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
East Freeway
— 72.2 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, OH and Fredericktown, OH.
1
Start on this road
77 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East State Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East State Street
3
Turn left onto South High Street
0.3 mi·1 min·South High Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto US 62; SR 3
0.1 mi·29 sec·East Main Street
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto US 23; US 33
0.3 mi·56 sec·South Third Street
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto US 23; US 33
2.7 mi·6 min·East Livingston Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto Alum Creek Drive
0.3 mi·33 sec·Alum Creek Drive
Use the right lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 70 East
9
Merge onto I 70
72 mi·1 hr 18 min·East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 176Toward US 22, US 40: Cambridge
11
Continue on SR 723
0.3 mi·29 sec·SR 723
12
Turn right onto US 22; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·John Glenn Highway
13
Turn left onto US 22; US 40
0.3 mi·24 sec·Dewey Avenue
14
Turn slight right onto US 22; US 40; SR 209
0.6 mi·1 min·Wheeling Avenue
15
Turn slight left onto US 22
1.2 mi·1 min·Highland Avenue
16
Continue on US 22
22 mi·24 min·Cadiz Road
17
Continue on US 22; SR 800
17 mi·22 min·Cadiz-Piedmont Road
18
Continue on US 22; US 250
8.6 mi·11 min·Cadiz-Steubenville Road
19
Continue on US 22
15 mi·15 min·US 22
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
21
Turn left onto SR 7
21 mi·30 min·SR 7
22
Take the exit onto SR 7
0.3 mi·37 sec·SR 7
23
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 7
342 ft·8 sec·SR 7
24
Merge onto US 30; SR 7; SR 11
2.5 mi·3 min·River Lake Highway
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
26
Turn left onto CR 442
0.1 mi·16 sec·Dresden Avenue
27
Turn right onto SR 170
0.9 mi·1 min·SR 170
Use the right lane.
28
Continue on SR 170
153 ft·9 sec·SR 170
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Continue on SR 170
3.7 mi·6 min·SR 170
30
Arrive at destination
SR 170
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 3h 35m duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. The longest stretch without a break is over 72 miles, so plan your fuel and restroom stops accordingly, perhaps around the midway point or before entering that longer segment. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your schedule as needed on the road.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 86.1 miles from Columbus, OH, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.2 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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.1 miles or 1h 43m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fredericktown, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Columbus, 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 Columbus, OH
This is one driving day of about 172.2 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Columbus, 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 East Freeway for about 72.2 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 76.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South High Street
Turn left onto South High Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 62; SR 3 / East Main Street
Turn left onto US 62; SR 3 / East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
0.5 mi into trip|~2m in|US 23; US 33 / South Third Street
Turn right onto US 23; US 33 / South Third Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
3.8 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 70 East
6
76.2 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward US 22, US 40: Cambridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 176
Toward US 22, US 40: Cambridge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.72 one way
$53.45 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$29.66
$59.32
premium
$4.91
$33.28
$66.56
diesel
$5.61
$38.02
$76.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.7
0
$18.08
$8.27
Efficient EV
43.1
0
$15.07
$6.89
EV Truck/SUV
68.9
0
$24.11
$11.02
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Columbus, OH
Morning
in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
11:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fredericktown, OH
Morning
in Fredericktown on Sunday
Local time
11:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
70°F
West Chester, OH
86 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
17 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
3h 35m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 66% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 72.2 miles on East Freeway, which will likely feel like the main event of the drive. While the profile suggests a highway-focused experience, the inclusion of roads like Cadiz Road indicates potential for some variation, perhaps incorporating more local or state routes as you progress. Expect a rhythm dictated by highway speeds for much of the 3h 35m journey.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.2 mi on East Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East Freeway and SR 7. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South High Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 172.2 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 0.1 miles (South High Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (US 62; SR 3 / East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (US 23; US 33 / South Third Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 35m. Total distance: 172.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.2 miles on East Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Fredericktown, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South High Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (US 62; SR 3 / East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (US 23; US 33 / South Third Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Fredericktown, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
