Dayton, OH to Windham, OH is 227.8 miles and takes about 4h 21m via I 71 and I 70, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest road trip stays within Ohio, making it a straightforward point-to-point drive. With 95% of the route on highways, you can expect a consistent cruising experience for most of the way. It's a practical option if you need to get from the Dayton area to Northeast Ohio efficiently.
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
113.9 miles from Dayton, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
110.9 mi
2h
I 70
49.2 mi
53m
Ohio Turnpike
20.2 mi
21m
SR 4
16.2 mi
20m
I 271
9.9 mi
10m
SR 88
5 mi
8m
Richfield Hudson Road
4.5 mi
7m
I 670
4.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 110.9 mi, about 2h
Traffic on I-71
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
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 Windham, 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
9.9 mi·10 min·I 271
13
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 10Toward I 77 North: ClevelandUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 77; SR 21
1.5 mi·1 min·I 77; SR 21
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 145Toward SR 21: Brecksville RoadUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto SR 21
0.6 mi·1 min·Brecksville Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 80: Ohio Turnpike
18
Continue on this road
397 ft·9 sec·this road
19
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·13 sec·this road
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 80 East: YoungstownUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 80
20 mi·21 min·Ohio Turnpike
22
Take the exit
0.8 mi·2 min
Exit 193Toward SR 44Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn right onto SR 44
0.6 mi·1 min·Painesville Ravenna Road
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn left onto SR 303
4.5 mi·7 min·Richfield Hudson Road
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on SR 88; SR 303
5.0 mi·8 min·SR 88; SR 303
26
Arrive at destination
SR 303
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 21-minute drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet for maximizing daylight. You'll cover 227.8 miles and can easily complete it in one day. Given the 95% highway profile, plan for most of your travel time to be spent cruising on interstates like I 71 and I 70. The fuel cost is estimated at $36, so ensure your tank is full before you depart Dayton. The longest stretch between exits is over 110 miles on I 71, so be sure to take care of any necessary stops beforehand.
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 113.9 miles from Dayton, OH, or about 2h 8m 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 50 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.9 miles or 2h 8m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Windham, 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 227.8 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 196.5 — 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
196.5 mi into trip|~3h 39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East: Youngstown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 East: Youngstown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.43 one way
$78.85 round trip
$4.40/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.85
$43.46
$86.92
premium
$5.43
$48.66
$97.33
diesel
$5.35
$47.98
$95.96
Estimated Tolls: $1.01
Ohio Turnpike
(20.2 mi)$1.01
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.3
0
$23.92
$10.93
Efficient EV
57
0
$19.93
$9.11
EV Truck/SUV
91.1
1
$31.89
$14.58
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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 May 31, 2026
Origin
Dayton, OH
Afternoon
in Dayton on Wednesday
Local time
4:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Windham, OH
Afternoon
in Windham on Wednesday
Local time
4:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% 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
5 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 21m 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...
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 196.3
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 15.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to be on highways for 95% of this 227.8-mile trip. You'll encounter a long stretch of 110.9 miles on I 71 without needing to exit. The main roads consist of I 71, I 70, and the Ohio Turnpike. Once you leave the primary interstate corridors, you'll transition to surface roads for the remaining 5% of the drive.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 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?
10/10
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 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 21 significant decision points across 227.8 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,383 ft740 ft
Total Climb
1,066 ft
Total Descent
834 ft
Highest Point
1,383 ft
~130.1 mi in
Elevation Range
644 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 Dayton, OH to Windham, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Cleveland along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 21m. Total distance: 227.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 21m 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 110.9 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.01 in tolls one way, starting with Ohio Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 38 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Windham, 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. There are 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 — Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Windham, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
