Varsity Club Restaurant & Bar
Around the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+16142996269
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 56m
Distance
209.3 mi
337 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dayton, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Newburgh Heights, OH
Choco Kitty
Dayton, OH to Newburgh Heights, OH is 209.3 miles and takes about 3h 56m via I 71 and I 70, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, entirely within Ohio, making it a straightforward domestic drive. Given its mostly highway profile and reasonable duration, it's a good option for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, so expect a consistent driving experience. Plan for efficient travel with minimal detours off the main path.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
104.7 miles from Dayton, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 110.9 mi | 2h |
| I 70 | 49.2 mi | 53m |
| SR 4 | 16.2 mi | 20m |
| I 77 | 15.1 mi | 18m |
| I 271 | 9.9 mi | 10m |
| I 670 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| South Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Harvard Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 42 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,959 veh/hr typical · worst 2,601
Quietest
2 AM
~181 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Dayton, OH and Newburgh Heights, OH.
Start on South Main Street
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto SR 4
Take the exit onto SR 4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670
Keep slight right at fork onto North Innerbelt
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 271
Take the exit
Merge onto I 77; SR 21
Take the exit
Turn left onto Harvard Avenue
Turn right onto East 42nd Street
Turn left onto Alpha Avenue
Turn right onto East 41st Street
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 3h 56m drive, consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the peak rush hour in both Dayton and the Cleveland area. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $40, you have flexibility. The longest stretch without an exit is over 110 miles on I 71, so ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment. Since this is a single-day trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on weather or personal preference.
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.
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 46 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.7 miles or 1h 58m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newburgh Heights, OH than in the middle of the route.
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 209.3 miles and 3h 56m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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.
A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 104.7 miles from Dayton, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop · early in the drive
Columbus, Ohio
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+16142996269
Savvy Sliders
Columbus, Ohio
El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant
Columbus, Ohio
Best coffee break · early in the drive
Columbus, Ohio
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+16142637777
Portia's Cafe
Columbus, Ohio
Sabor Miami Cafe and Gallery
Cleveland, Ohio
Around the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+16142996269
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+16148201111
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+16142610900
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: 6 am–2 pm
+12167414466
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Springfield, Ohio
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+19373234646
Early in the drive, short detour
Hilliard, Ohio
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+16148766888
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 9 am–2 pm
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: 7 am–3 pm
+12166615967
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+16142637777
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 8 am–9 pm
+16149283252
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+14407140202
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 9 am–8:30 pm
+16148690080
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+16148263020
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: 8:30 am–3:30 pm
+12163314089
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
Near the end, short detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: 10 am–9:30 pm
+12162811881
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Dayton, Ohio
Hours: 9 am–4 pm
+19372932841
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Dayton, Ohio
Hours: 8 am–6 pm
+19372283221
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: Closed
+17187096643
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+12162738000
Visit websiteNear the end, ~9 min detour
Cleveland, Ohio
+18556757464
Visit websiteNear the end, ~10 min detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the end, ~11 min detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+12166353200
Visit websiteNear the end, ~10 min detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: Closed
+12164311060
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 208.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 4 North: Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670 toward I 670 East: Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward Harvard Avenue, Newburgh Heights
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$36.22 one way
$72.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.85 | $39.93 | $79.86 |
| premium | $5.43 | $44.71 | $89.42 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $44.08 | $88.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.8 | 0 | $21.98 | $10.05 |
| Efficient EV | 52.3 | 0 | $18.31 | $8.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.7 | 1 | $29.30 | $13.40 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Dayton on Wednesday
Local time
4:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Newburgh Heights on Wednesday
Local time
4:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
84°F
Ashley, OH
105 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
National Monument
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.
This drive is predominantly highway, with 98% of the 209.3 miles on interstates like I 71 and I 70. You'll experience a 110.9-mile stretch on I 71 without needing to exit. Surface roads only come into play for the final few miles as you approach Newburgh Heights. Expect a high concentration of exits and entrances on the interstate sections.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and I 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
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 18 significant decision points across 209.3 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 66.5 miles (I 670): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
882 ft
Total Descent
928 ft
Highest Point
1,318 ft
~119.6 mi in
Elevation Range
624 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Dayton, OH to Newburgh Heights, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Cleveland along the way.
Cleveland
Founded 1796
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 209.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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