This 76.2-mile drive from Columbus, OH to Kettering, OH is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 19 minutes. The route primarily utilizes local roads like East State Street, South High Street, and West Town Street, with no highway driving involved. Budget around $11 for fuel for this journey through the Midwest. Given its short duration and local road nature, this trip offers a straightforward and flexible travel experience. It’s a simple point-to-point drive perfect for a quick transit or a leisurely exploration of the immediate area.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.4 miles from Columbus, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Freeway
54.1 mi
59m
I 675
15.5 mi
17m
East Stroop Road
3.8 mi
7m
South Innerbelt
0.6 mi
<1m
Indian Ripple Road
0.4 mi
<1m
West Town Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Civic Center Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
South 2nd Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
West Freeway
— 54.1 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, OH and Kettering, 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
494 ft·20 sec·South High Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto West Town Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·West Town Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto Civic Center Drive
0.2 mi·27 sec·Civic Center Drive
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on South 2nd Street
0.1 mi·30 sec·South 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I-70 West
8
Merge onto I 70
0.6 mi·49 sec·South Innerbelt
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Continue on I 70
54 mi·59 min·West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 44Toward I 675 South: Spangler Road, CincinnatiUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 675 South: CincinnatiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 44AToward I 675 South: CincinnatiUse the right lane.
13
Continue on I 675
16 mi·17 min·I 675
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 10Toward Kettering, Dorothy Lane, Indian Ripple RoadUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto Indian Ripple Road
0.4 mi·48 sec·Indian Ripple Road
16
Turn left onto East Stroop Road
3.8 mi·7 min·East Stroop Road
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
West Stroop Road
Trip Plan
With a short duration of just under 1.5 hours and no highway driving, this trip offers significant flexibility. You can depart at any time that suits your schedule. Since there are no official stops recommended and the longest stretch is not applicable, consider this a drive where you can make impromptu stops as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, with an estimated cost of $11, and be aware of local traffic, especially during peak hours, as you navigate through East State Street, South High Street, and West Town Street.
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 38.4 miles from Columbus, OH, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.1 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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.4 miles or 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 1h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kettering, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Columbus, OH
This is one driving day of about 76.7 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Columbus, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on West Freeway for about 54.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 72.1 — 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|Civic Center Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Civic Center Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
55.6 mi into trip|~1h 2m 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
8
56.3 mi into trip|~1h 4m 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
8
72.1 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward Kettering, Dorothy Lane, Indian Ripple Road
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 10
Toward Kettering, Dorothy Lane, Indian Ripple R...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.90 one way
$23.81 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$13.21
$26.42
premium
$4.91
$14.82
$29.65
diesel
$5.61
$16.93
$33.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
3 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Goodale Garage - Tesla Supercharger
Columbus, OH
Tesla
10 DCFC
E Long St Parking Lot
Columbus, OH
EV Connect
2 DCFC
W Poplar Ave Parking
Columbus, OH
Non-Networked
1 DCFC
EV Connect: 1
Tesla: 1
Non-Networked: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23
0
$8.05
$3.68
Efficient EV
19.2
0
$6.71
$3.07
EV Truck/SUV
30.7
0
$10.74
$4.91
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.
Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Columbus, OH
Morning
in Columbus on Tuesday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kettering, OH
Morning
in Kettering on Tuesday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Clear
SE 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 21 at 2:52AM EDT until April 23 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 21 at 2:52AM EDT until April 24 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
71°F
Springfield, OH
38 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
11 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
1h 32m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share. The journey is characterized by frequent turns and navigation through established city and town streets rather than open highways. There's no designated longest uninterrupted stretch mentioned, suggesting a continuous engagement with local traffic patterns and road layouts. This profile means you’ll be consistently navigating through community infrastructure, keeping your attention focused on the immediate surroundings and road signs.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.1 mi on West Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West Freeway and I 675. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (South High Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (Civic Center Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 55.6 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.
On the drive from Columbus, OH to Kettering, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Cincinnati along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 76.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.1 miles on West Freeway. 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 Kettering, 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 0.1 miles (South High Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (Civic Center Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 55.6 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 Kettering, OH before heading back.
