Columbus to Wadsworth is 111.9 miles and takes about 2 hours 8 minutes via I 71 and I 76, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest and the state of Ohio, making it a straightforward trip. Most of the drive is on major highways, so you can expect a relatively fast travel time. It's a practical choice for a quick connection between these two Ohio cities, suitable for a single-day excursion.
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 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
99.5 mi
1h 47m
I 76
6.6 mi
7m
College Street
1.4 mi
2m
Wadsworth Road
0.6 mi
<1m
East Long Street
0.6 mi
1m
Cleveland Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
South High Street
0.3 mi
1m
East State Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 99.5 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, OH and Wadsworth, OH.
1
Start on this road
77 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East State Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East State Street
3
Turn right onto South High Street
0.3 mi·1 min·South High Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto US 33
0.6 mi·1 min·East Long Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto SR 3
0.4 mi·1 min·Cleveland Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
197 ft·4 sec
Toward I 71, I 670 EastUse the right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 71 North, I 670 EastUse the slight left lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 71
100 mi·1 hr 47 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 209A-BToward I 76, US 224: Lodi, AkronUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 209AToward I 76, US 224 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 76; US 224
6.6 mi·7 min·I 76; US 224
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 7Toward SR 57: Rittman, MedinaUse the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto SR 57
0.6 mi·47 sec·Wadsworth Road
Use the left lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto College Street
1.4 mi·2 min·College Street
17
Arrive at destination
College Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour drive, leaving anytime in the morning or early afternoon should allow you to complete the trip well before dark. Since it's a short route, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, though you might want to stretch your legs once or twice. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading out, as the estimated cost is around $17. The long stretch on I 71 means you can cover a lot of ground efficiently before needing to navigate any local roads.
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 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.5 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.9 miles or 1h 4m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wadsworth, 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 111.9 miles and 2h 8m.
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 I 71 for about 99.5 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 109.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.4 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 71, I 670 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 71, I 670 East
8
1.4 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 71 North, I 670 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 71 North, I 670 East
8
101.6 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
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 209A-B
Toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
9
101.9 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209A
Toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
8
109.4 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward SR 57: Rittman, Medina
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 7
Toward SR 57: Rittman, Medina
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.37 one way
$34.73 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$19.27
$38.55
premium
$4.91
$21.63
$43.25
diesel
$5.61
$24.71
$49.41
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: 39.2 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
33.6
0
$11.75
$5.37
Efficient EV
28
0
$9.79
$4.48
EV Truck/SUV
44.8
0
$15.67
$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 20, 2026
Origin
Columbus, OH
Morning
in Columbus on Tuesday
Local time
11:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
N 5 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 20 at 4:36AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 20 at 4:36AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Destination
Wadsworth, OH
Morning
in Wadsworth on Tuesday
Local time
11:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny
NW 5 to 13 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 20 at 4:36AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 20 at 4:36AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
64°F
Mansfield, OH
56 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
9 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
2h 8m 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.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discov...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 111.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 95% of the 111.9 miles on interstates. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 71, with a stretch of 99.5 miles on that road alone. After the interstate sections, you'll transition to surface streets like College Street for the final approach into Wadsworth. Expect a steady pace with frequent exits on the highway portions.
95% 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: 99.5 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and I 76. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 111.9 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 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101.6 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 Wadsworth, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Akron 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 2h 8m. Total distance: 111.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.5 miles on I 71. 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 Wadsworth, 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 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National 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 Wadsworth, OH before heading back.
