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Trip from Ironton, OH to Kettering, OH

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 58m

Distance

147.3 mi

237 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 47m ★
6 AM
2h 58m
8 AM
3h 21m
10 AM
3h 6m
12 PM
3h 4m
3 PM
3h 7m
5 PM
3h 20m
8 PM
2h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Ironton, OH, OH

Ironton, OH

Wikimedia Commons

city in Montgomery and Greene counties, Ohio, United States

Kettering, OH

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 147.3-mile drive from Ironton, OH to Kettering, OH will take you about 2 hours and 58 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey primarily on US 35, US 23, and US 52, making it an excellent candidate for a single-day trip. With a projected fuel cost of around $23, it's an economical option for exploring within Ohio. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout. You'll find it easy to manage, with just one recommended stop along the way.

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

73.6 miles from Ironton, OH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 35 67.5 mi 1h 14m
US 23 33.5 mi 45m
US 52 19.7 mi 21m
Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway 16.4 mi 17m
East Stroop Road 3.8 mi 7m
Indian Ripple Road 3.4 mi 6m
North Alpha Bellbrook Road 1.2 mi 2m
Park Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 35 — 67.5 mi, about 1h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ironton, OH and Kettering, OH.

1

Start on Center Street

183 ft · 10 sec · Center Street
2

Turn right onto South 6th Street

371 ft · 21 sec · South 6th Street
3

Turn left onto SR 93

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Park Avenue
4

Enter roundabout onto SR 93

66 ft · 1 sec · State Route 93
5

Continue on SR 93

0.1 mi · 9 sec · State Route 93
6

Enter roundabout

23 ft · 0 sec
7

Continue

0.2 mi · 28 sec
8

Merge onto US 52

20 mi · 21 min · US 52
9

Take the exit onto SR 823

16 mi · 17 min · Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway
Toward SR 823 North: Chillicothe
10

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 49 sec
Exit 16 Toward US 23 North: Chillicothe
11

Merge onto US 23

34 mi · 45 min · US 23
12

Keep slight left at fork onto US 35

68 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US 35
Toward US 35 West: Dayton
13

Take the exit

523 ft · 19 sec
14

Turn left onto T-48

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Factory Road
15

Turn right onto Shakertown Road

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Shakertown Road
16

Turn left onto North Alpha Bellbrook Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Alpha Bellbrook Road
17

Turn right onto C-36

3.4 mi · 6 min · Indian Ripple Road
Use the straight lane.
18

Turn left onto East Stroop Road

3.8 mi · 7 min · East Stroop Road
Use the left lane.
19

Arrive at destination

West Stroop Road

Trip Plan

Given the short 2-hour 58-minute duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive in Kettering by midday. The longest stretch without a significant break is 67.5 miles, so consider a brief stop around that mark for fuel or a stretch. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, you have a lot of flexibility in your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before heading into the longer 67.5-mile segment on US 35.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.6 miles from Ironton, OH, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.5 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 32 miles or 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 73.6 miles or 1h 29m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kettering, OH than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Ironton, 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 Ironton, OH

This is one driving day of about 147.3 miles and 2h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Ironton, 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 US 35 for about 67.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Ohio, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waverly, OH

74 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

Lucasville, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waverly, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.6 miles from Ironton, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.5 miles.

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 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 143.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | South 6th Street

Turn right onto South 6th Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | SR 93 / Park Avenue

Turn left onto SR 93 / Park Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | SR 93 / State Route 93

Enter roundabout onto SR 93 / State Route 93

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

6
36.8 mi into trip | ~40m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 23 North: Chillicothe

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 16 Toward US 23 North: Chillicothe
6
143.4 mi into trip | ~2h 50m in | East Stroop Road

Turn left onto East Stroop Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.86 one way

$45.72 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.38 $25.37 $50.74
premium $4.91 $28.47 $56.94
diesel $5.61 $32.52 $65.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44.2 0 $15.47 $7.07
Efficient EV 36.8 0 $12.89 $5.89
EV Truck/SUV 58.9 0 $20.62 $9.43

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 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 Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Ironton, OH

Morning in Ironton on Tuesday

Local time

6:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kettering, OH

Morning in Kettering on Tuesday

Local time

6:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Chance Rain Showers

SW 15 mph 36% chance Live forecast

51°F

Waverly, OH

74 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

25 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

2h 58m on the road

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument

Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument

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...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour Free near mile 127
View on nps.gov
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Nearly 2000 years ago, Native Americans built dozens of monumental mounds and earthen enclosures in southern Ohio. These earthwork complexes were ceremonial landscapes used for feasts, funerals, ritua...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 76.2
View on nps.gov
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

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...

7 mi from route ~17 min detour Free near mile 142.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect an 82% highway share on this route, meaning much of your time will be spent on faster-paced roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 67.5 miles on US 35. While largely highway-focused, the mix of US routes suggests you'll experience a blend of efficient travel and potentially some more local road characteristics as you progress. This drive is designed for getting from point A to point B efficiently, with the majority of the journey on well-traveled highways.

82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.5 mi on US 35.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 35 and US 23. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 6th Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 147.3 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start (South 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 93 / Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (SR 93 / State Route 93): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 147.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 67.5 miles on US 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 93 / Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (SR 93 / State Route 93): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Yes — Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kettering, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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