If you are planning to head from Columbus to Union City, you are looking at a straightforward 111.8-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 12 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay to reach your destination comfortably. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, with highway travel accounting for 87% of the total distance. Budgeting approximately $17 for fuel should cover your needs for this Midwest transit. Because the route remains entirely within Ohio, the transition between these two points is consistent and easy to navigate. Overall, this is a highly efficient drive that favors speed and simplicity over complex detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.9 miles from Columbus, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Freeway
74.7 mi
1h 22m
SR 49
22.6 mi
26m
Union Street
11.3 mi
16m
South Innerbelt
0.6 mi
<1m
South Broadway
0.6 mi
<1m
Washington Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Pine Street
0.3 mi
<1m
West Town Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
West Freeway
— 74.7 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, OH and Union City, 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
75 mi·1 hr 22 min·West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto SR 49
0.3 mi·43 sec·SR 49
Exit 24Toward SR 49 North: Phillipsburg, GreenvilleUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 49
22 mi·26 min·SR 49
Toward SR 49 North: Phillipsburg, GreenvilleUse the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto SR 49; SR 121
0.3 mi·33 sec·Pine Street
13
Turn left onto SR 49; SR 121
0.4 mi·35 sec·Washington Avenue
14
Continue on SR 49; SR 118; SR 502; SR 571
0.3 mi·23 sec·South Broadway
15
Enter roundabout onto South Broadway
165 ft·3 sec·South Broadway
16
Continue on South Broadway
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Broadway
17
Turn left onto SR 49; SR 571
0.1 mi·13 sec·North Main Street
18
Turn right onto SR 49; SR 571
0.1 mi·11 sec·Wayne Street
19
Turn left onto SR 49; SR 571
11 mi·16 min·Union Street
20
Turn right onto South State Line Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·South State Line Street
21
Turn right onto SR 47
232 ft·4 sec·East Elm Street
22
Arrive at destination
SR 47
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time to avoid peak traffic. While there are no scheduled stops in the data, the 2-hour and 12-minute duration is manageable, though you should plan your own breaks if you prefer a more relaxed pace. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Columbus; even with a modest $17 fuel estimate, filling up early ensures you won't have to worry about finding a station on the final stretch of Union Street. Prioritize steady driving during that long 74.7-mile segment on the West Freeway to maintain your momentum. Because the route is so direct, using the highway-heavy path is your best strategy for keeping the trip under your time target.
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 55.9 miles from Columbus, OH, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.7 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 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.9 miles or 1h 3m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union City, 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 111.8 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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 74.7 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 76.5 — 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.
8
76.2 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|SR 49
Take the exit onto SR 49 toward SR 49 North: Phillipsburg, Greenville
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 24
Toward SR 49 North: Phillipsburg, Greenville
8
76.5 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|SR 49
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 49 toward SR 49 North: Phillipsburg, Greenville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward SR 49 North: Phillipsburg, Greenville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.35 one way
$34.70 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$19.26
$38.51
premium
$4.91
$21.61
$43.21
diesel
$5.61
$24.68
$49.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.5
0
$11.74
$5.37
Efficient EV
28
0
$9.78
$4.47
EV Truck/SUV
44.7
0
$15.65
$7.16
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 12, 2026
Origin
Columbus, OH
Late night
in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Union City, OH
Late night
in Union City on Sunday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny
S 9 to 22 mph5% chanceLive forecast
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
14 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
2h 12m 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...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 61.7
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 trip defined by its highway-focused profile, as you spend nearly the entire duration on high-speed roads. Your journey begins with a significant 74.7-mile stretch along the West Freeway, which serves as the backbone of your travel. As you transition onto SR 49 and eventually Union Street, the driving environment shifts from major highway transit to the local roads that lead you into Union City. With no mandatory stops planned into the route, the drive feels like a steady, uninterrupted push toward the west. The character of the road is pragmatic, offering a consistent driving experience that prioritizes reaching your destination quickly.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.7 mi on West Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West Freeway and SR 49. You will hit about 18 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 Effort6/10
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 111.8 miles you will encounter 18 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,212 ft741 ft
Total Climb
740 ft
Total Descent
404 ft
Highest Point
1,212 ft
~32.6 mi in
Elevation Range
470 ft
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 Union City, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Greenville 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 111.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.7 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 Union City, 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. 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 0.2 miles (West Town Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Civic Center Drive): 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 Union City, OH before heading back.
