Origin
Kenwood, OH
Late night in Kenwood on Sunday
Local time
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kenwood, 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
Distance
48.7 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kenwood, OH
Atman Bouba
Dayton, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 48.7-mile drive from Kenwood to Dayton, Ohio, is easily manageable in about 1 hour, making it an ideal day trip. The route primarily utilizes the Mill Creek Expressway, Circle Freeway, and Northeast Expressway, with 90% of the journey on highways. You can expect a fuel cost of around $8 for this short excursion. Given its brevity and focus on efficient travel, this drive is perfect for a quick transfer between two points within the Midwest region, offering a no-fuss experience for those looking to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mill Creek Expressway | 36.1 mi | 41m |
| Circle Freeway | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Northeast Expressway | 3 mi | 3m |
| Montgomery Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Sturbridge Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Ludlow Street | 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 Kenwood, OH and Dayton, OH.
1
Start on Sturbridge Drive
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
Sturbridge Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 22; SR 3
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Montgomery Road
3
Enter roundabout onto Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway
261 ft
·
4 sec
·
Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway
4
Continue on Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway
5
Take the ramp
478 ft
·
20 sec
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
7
Merge onto I 71
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Northeast Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 17
Toward I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 275 West
10
Merge onto I 275
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Circle Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 43B
Toward I 75 North: Dayton
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 75
36 mi
·
41 min
·
Mill Creek Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 53
Toward Second Street, Salem Avenue, 1st Street
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto West 1st Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
West 1st Street
15
Turn right onto SR 48
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Ludlow Street
16
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
514 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 3rd Street
17
Turn right onto South Main Street
221 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.4 miles from Kenwood, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 47.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 22; SR 3 / Montgomery Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 22; SR 3 / Montgomery Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 71 North: Columbus
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
7
5 mi into trip
|
~7m 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
11.1 mi into trip
|
~15m 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
47.7 mi into trip
|
~58m 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
$7.56 one way
$15.12 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $8.39 | $16.78 |
| premium | $4.91 | $9.41 | $18.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.75 | $21.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.11 | $2.34 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.82 | $3.12 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
4:00 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, as 90% of the 48.7 miles are on expressways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Mill Creek Expressway, including a continuous stretch of 36.1 miles. This profile suggests a route designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration, characterized by higher speeds and limited local road interaction. The drive's personality is that of a functional corridor, connecting two Ohio cities with minimal detours.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Mill Creek Expressway and Circle Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 22; SR 3 / Montgomery Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.7 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: at 0.2 miles (US 22; SR 3 / Montgomery Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5 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. Total distance: 48.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 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 0.2 miles (US 22; SR 3 / Montgomery Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — 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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Dayton, OH
More from Kenwood, OH
More trips to Dayton, OH
Explore more options from Kenwood, OH or browse trips ending in Dayton, OH.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse OH road trips.