This 251.8-mile drive from Dayton to Thompson, Ohio, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day, taking about 4 hours and 44 minutes. With 97% of the route on major highways like I-70 and I-71, it’s designed for efficient travel. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest trip is around $39. You'll find this to be a practical option if you're looking for a direct route across Ohio without extensive detours. The route is set up for minimal stops, making it ideal for getting to your destination quickly.
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
125.9 miles from Dayton, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
110.9 mi
2h
I 70
49.2 mi
53m
I 271
25.4 mi
28m
I 90
23.7 mi
26m
SR 4
16.2 mi
20m
Outerbelt East Freeway
15 mi
18m
South Madison Road
4.8 mi
7m
I 670
4.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 110.9 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dayton, OH and Thompson, 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
111 mi·2 hr·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 271
25 mi·28 min·I 271
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271
2.4 mi·3 min·Outerbelt East Freeway
Toward I 271 North: Erie Pennsylvania
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 271
13 mi·15 min·Outerbelt East Freeway
Toward I 271 North Local, US 422 West: All ExitsUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Continue on I 271
24 mi·26 min·I 90
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 212Toward SR 528: Madison, Thompson
17
Turn right onto SR 528
182 ft·4 sec·River Street
18
Continue on SR 528
4.8 mi·7 min·South Madison Road
19
Turn right onto SR 528
96 ft·4 sec·Thompson Road
20
Arrive at destination
SR 528
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 44-minute drive, starting early in the morning is advisable to avoid any potential traffic, especially as you navigate through or around larger towns. With only one recommended stop and 97% of the route on highways, you can plan for a relatively uninterrupted journey. The longest stretch without a major break is over 110 miles on I-71, so be sure to fuel up before embarking on that segment. Given the $39 fuel cost, it's a manageable expense for a single-day trip. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during that extended highway portion.
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 125.9 miles from Dayton, OH, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.9 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 55 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.9 miles or 2h 21m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thompson, 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 251.8 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 110.9 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 0.8 and 210.4 — 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
7
66.5 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|I 670
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670 toward I 670 East: Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 670 East: Airport
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
210.4 mi into trip|~3h 53m in|I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway toward I 271 North Local, US 422 West: All Exits
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 271 North Local, US 422 West: All Exit...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.08 one way
$78.16 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$43.37
$86.74
premium
$4.91
$48.66
$97.33
diesel
$5.61
$55.59
$111.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.5
0
$26.44
$12.09
Efficient EV
63
0
$22.03
$10.07
EV Truck/SUV
100.7
1
$35.25
$16.12
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Dayton, OH
Late night
in Dayton on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 14 mph98% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Thompson, OH
Late night
in Thompson on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Mansfield, OH
126 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
11 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 44m 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 199.7
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
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 8.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a largely highway-focused experience on this route, with 97% of the drive utilizing major interstates. The personality of the drive is predominantly that of efficient, high-speed travel. You'll encounter one significant stretch of 110.9 miles primarily on I-71, indicating long, uninterrupted segments of driving. While the majority is interstate, the overall profile suggests a consistent pace suitable for covering ground quickly. This isn't a route defined by winding country roads, but rather by the directness of its interstate connections.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 110.9 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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.
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 15 significant decision points across 251.8 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.
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 Dayton, OH to Thompson, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Cleveland along the way.
Cleveland
70.8 mi in|~1h 20m|via North Innerbelt
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 44m. Total distance: 251.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 110.9 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 Thompson, 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 66.5 miles (I 670): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 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 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Thompson, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
