Origin
Columbus, OH
Late night in Columbus on Tuesday
Local time
5:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbus, OH to Springfield, 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
56m
Distance
45.3 mi
73 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
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Springfield, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion across the Ohio Midwest, the 45.3-mile trip from Columbus to Springfield is a straightforward commute. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 56 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of roughly $7, it is an economical choice for travelers looking to move between these two cities efficiently. You will primarily navigate via the West Freeway, East National Road, and East Main Street. Because the route stays entirely within the state of Ohio, you won't deal with regional transitions, allowing for a predictable and consistent driving experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Freeway | 36.8 mi | 40m |
| East National Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| East Main Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| South Innerbelt | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| West Town Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Civic Center Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 2nd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East State Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Freeway
— 36.8 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, OH and Springfield, 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
37 mi
·
40 min
·
West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 62
Toward US 40: Springfield
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn slight left
104 ft
·
2 sec
Toward US 40
12
Turn right onto US 40
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
East National Road
13
Continue on US 40
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
14
Turn left
220 ft
·
10 sec
15
At end of road, turn right onto East Main Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
16
Turn left onto South Fountain Avenue
462 ft
·
19 sec
·
South Fountain Avenue
17
Turn left onto East High Street
476 ft
·
22 sec
·
East High Street
18
Turn left onto South Limestone Street
364 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Limestone Street
19
Arrive at destination
South Limestone Street
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 22.7 miles from Columbus, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 38.3 — 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.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Town Street
Turn right onto West Town Street
Navigation decision point
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.
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I-70 West
Navigation decision point
Toward I-70 West
7
38.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward US 40: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 62
Toward US 40: Springfield
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.03 one way
$14.06 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $7.80 | $15.61 |
| premium | $4.91 | $8.76 | $17.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.00 | $20.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 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 | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.17 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.34 | $2.90 |
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
Springfield, OH
Late night in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
5:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°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
20 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
56m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 81% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm on the West Freeway, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 36.8 miles. The transition from the open highway into the local flow of East National Road and East Main Street marks the shift as you reach your destination. Expect a functional, no-frills experience behind the wheel that prioritizes speed over winding backroads. It is a productive stretch of pavement that gets you from point A to point B with minimal complexity.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.8 mi on West Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West Freeway and East National Road. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South High Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.2 miles (West Town Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Civic Center Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting 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 56m. Total distance: 45.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.8 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 Springfield, 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 0.2 miles (West Town Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Civic Center Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Springfield, 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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