Dayton, OH to Alliance, OH is 215.9 miles and takes about 4h 16m via I 71, US 30, and I 70, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Ohio, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. It's a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to get from one part of Ohio to another without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
108 miles from Dayton, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
67 mi
1h 13m
US 30
57 mi
1h 9m
I 70
49.2 mi
53m
SR 4
16.2 mi
20m
Atlantic Boulevard Northeast
13 mi
17m
I 670
4.3 mi
5m
Cherry Avenue Northeast
1.5 mi
2m
West Ely Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 67 mi, about 1h 13m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 50 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,136 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~435 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dayton, OH and Alliance, OH.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
2
Take the ramp
141 ft·3 sec
Toward I 75 North, SR 4 North: Toledo, Springfield
3
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward SR 4 North: SpringfieldUse the straight / slight left lanes.
4
Merge onto SR 4
10 mi·13 min·SR 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto SR 4
5.8 mi·7 min·SR 4
Toward US 70 East, SR 4 North: ColumbusUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
49 mi·53 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670
4.3 mi·5 min·I 670
Toward I 670 East: AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto North Innerbelt
0.2 mi·15 sec·North Innerbelt
Toward I 71: Cincinnati, ClevelandUse the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Toward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 71
67 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 176Toward US 30: Mansfield, WoosterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward US 30 East: Wooster, College of WoosterUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto US 30
57 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 30
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward SR 43 North: Cherry Avenue, Downtown
16
Keep slight left at fork
218 ft·5 sec
17
Turn right onto SR 43
0.8 mi·1 min·Cherry Avenue Southeast
18
Continue on SR 43
1.5 mi·2 min·Cherry Avenue Northeast
19
Turn right onto SR 43
0.7 mi·1 min·Market Avenue North
20
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 62 East: Alliance
21
Continue on US 62
0.8 mi·1 min·Atlantic Boulevard Northeast
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Continue on US 62
0.4 mi·41 sec·Columbus Road Northeast
23
Continue on US 62
12 mi·15 min·Atlantic Boulevard Northeast
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward Beeson Street
25
Turn right onto CR 41
0.7 mi·1 min·Beeson Street Northeast
26
Turn slight left onto CR 41
1.0 mi·2 min·West Ely Street
27
Turn right onto SR 183
0.6 mi·1 min·North Union Avenue
28
Turn right onto West Summit Street
23 ft·0 sec·West Summit Street
29
Arrive at destination
West Summit Street
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 4h 16m drive, leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Alliance, OH, by afternoon. With a total distance of 215.9 miles, you'll likely only need one planned stop. Given the highway-heavy profile, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before longer stretches like the 67 miles on I 71. The estimated fuel cost is around $33, so factor that into your budget. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time.
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 108 miles from Dayton, OH, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67 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 47 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alliance, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dayton, 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 Dayton, OH
This is one driving day of about 215.9 miles and 4h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Dayton, 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 I 71 for about 67 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 139.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 4 North: Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward SR 4 North: Springfield
7
11.5 mi into trip|~15m in|SR 4
Take the exit onto SR 4 toward US 70 East, SR 4 North: Columbus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 70 East, SR 4 North: Columbus
8
70.8 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|North Innerbelt
Keep slight right at fork onto North Innerbelt toward I 71: Cincinnati, Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 71: Cincinnati, Cleveland
8
138.7 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward US 30: Mansfield, Wooster
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 176
Toward US 30: Mansfield, Wooster
8
139.2 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 30 East: Wooster, College of Wooster
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 30 East: Wooster, College of Wooster
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.18 one way
$66.35 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$37.42
$74.83
premium
$4.99
$42.39
$84.78
diesel
$4.80
$40.77
$81.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.8
0
$22.67
$10.36
Efficient EV
54
0
$18.89
$8.64
EV Truck/SUV
86.4
1
$30.23
$13.82
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 15, 2026
Origin
Dayton, OH
Morning
in Dayton on Tuesday
Local time
7:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
96°F
Sunny
W 1 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 15 at 5:45AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 15 at 4:43AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
Destination
Alliance, OH
Morning
in Alliance on Tuesday
Local time
7:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
W 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 15 at 5:45AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 15 at 4:43AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
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
2 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
4h 16m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 14.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 90% of this trip on highways, covering 215.9 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 67 miles, primarily on I 71. After the highway segments, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the drive. Expect a fair number of exits and potential for urban merging as you navigate through populated areas.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and US 30. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 21 significant decision points across 215.9 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 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles (SR 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.8 miles (North Innerbelt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,258 ft740 ft
Total Climb
864 ft
Total Descent
444 ft
Highest Point
1,258 ft
~123.4 mi in
Elevation Range
519 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dayton, OH and Alliance, OH, road signs point toward Cleveland, Wooster, College Of Wooster and Downtown.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 16m. Total distance: 215.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67 miles on I 71. 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 Alliance, 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 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles (SR 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.8 miles (North Innerbelt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Alliance, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
