Origin
Fairfax, OH
Late night in Fairfax on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfax, OH to Dayton, OH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
53.5 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfax, OH
Joaquin Carfagna
Dayton, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fairfax, OH to Dayton, OH is 53.5 miles and takes about 1h 9m via Mill Creek Expressway, Northeast Expressway, and Circle Freeway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip entirely within Ohio, making it a convenient choice for a quick journey between two Midwest cities. Given its short duration and high highway share, it's ideal for a same-day excursion or an easy addition to a longer trip. You'll primarily be on major expressways, so expect consistent speeds and minimal traffic delays. This route is about efficient travel, getting you from point A to point B with ease.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mill Creek Expressway | 36.1 mi | 41m |
| Northeast Expressway | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| Circle Freeway | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Whetsel Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Red Bank Expressway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Madison Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West 1st Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Watterson Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Mill Creek Expressway
— 36.1 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax, OH and Dayton, OH.
1
Start on Germania Street
25 ft
·
5 sec
·
Germania Street
2
Turn left onto Elder Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Elder Street
3
Turn left onto Watterson Road
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Watterson Road
4
Continue on Watterson Road
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Watterson Road
5
Continue on Watterson Street
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Watterson Street
6
At end of road, turn left onto Bramble Avenue
506 ft
·
17 sec
·
Bramble Avenue
7
Turn right onto Whetsel Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Whetsel Avenue
8
Turn left onto Madison Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto Medpace Way
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Medpace Way
Use the right lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
11
Merge onto Red Bank Expressway
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
Red Bank Expressway
Use the right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 71
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Northeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 17
Toward I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 275 West
16
Merge onto I 275
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Circle Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 43B
Toward I 75 North: Dayton
Use the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 75
36 mi
·
41 min
·
Mill Creek Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 53
Toward Second Street, Salem Avenue, 1st Street
Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn right onto West 1st Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
West 1st Street
21
Turn right onto SR 48
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Ludlow Street
22
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
514 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 3rd Street
23
Turn right onto South Main Street
221 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.8 miles from Fairfax, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 52.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Bramble Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Bramble Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
2.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 71 North: Columbus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
7
9.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 275
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17
Toward I 275
7
15.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward I 75 North: Dayton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 43B
Toward I 75 North: Dayton
8
52.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward Second Street, Salem Avenue, 1st Street
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 53
Toward Second Street, Salem Avenue, 1st Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.30 one way
$16.61 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $9.22 | $18.43 |
| premium | $4.91 | $10.34 | $20.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.81 | $23.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.62 | $2.57 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.68 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.49 | $3.42 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Dayton, OH
Late night in Dayton on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 9m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly a highway-focused experience, with 90% of the route utilizing major expressways like the Mill Creek Expressway, Northeast Expressway, and Circle Freeway. You'll encounter a consistent, high-speed environment for most of the 53.5 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 36.1 miles on the Mill Creek Expressway, meaning you can settle in and maintain a steady pace. Expect smooth sailing and minimal need to navigate local streets, making it a predictable and efficient journey. The character remains consistently highway-like from start to finish.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.1 mi on Mill Creek Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Mill Creek Expressway and Northeast Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Bramble Avenue.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.5 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Bramble Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 53.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.1 miles on Mill Creek Expressway. 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 Dayton, OH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Bramble Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dayton, OH before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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