Kettering to Chillicothe is 76 miles and takes about 1 hour 32 minutes via US 35, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Ohio, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The route offers a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making it a straightforward option for a quick trip. Given its short duration, it's ideal for a day trip without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38 miles from Kettering, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 35
40.4 mi
43m
Xenia Bypass
19.7 mi
21m
Indian Ripple Road
5.9 mi
10m
West Stroop Road
3.9 mi
7m
Van Eaton Road
2 mi
2m
SR 104
1.4 mi
2m
Lower Bellbrook Road
0.8 mi
1m
Bellbrook Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 35
— 40.4 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kettering, OH and Chillicothe, OH.
1
Start on West Stroop Road
3.9 mi·7 min·West Stroop Road
2
Turn right onto Indian Ripple Road
5.9 mi·10 min·Indian Ripple Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto C-86
0.4 mi·34 sec·Upper Bellbrook Road
4
Turn right onto C-87
2.0 mi·2 min·Van Eaton Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto C-44
0.8 mi·1 min·Lower Bellbrook Road
6
Continue on Bellbrook Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Bellbrook Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
8
Merge onto US 35
20 mi·21 min·Xenia Bypass
Toward US 35: Washington Court HouseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 35
40 mi·43 min·US 35
Toward US 35 East: Washington Court House
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward SR 104: High Street
11
Turn right onto SR 104
1.4 mi·2 min·SR 104
12
Turn left onto US 50; SR 104
0.3 mi·28 sec·West Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
US 50; SR 104
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour 32 minute drive, you can easily depart any time of day. Since the total distance is only 76 miles, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as the longest stretch without exits on US 35 is over 40 miles. The estimated fuel cost of $12 is a good baseline for budgeting. Given the short drive, you have the flexibility to leave later in the day or make spontaneous stops along the way.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38 miles from Kettering, OH, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.4 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 17 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chillicothe, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kettering, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kettering, OH
This is one driving day of about 76 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Kettering, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 35 for about 40.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 74.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.9 mi into trip|~7m in|Indian Ripple Road
Turn right onto Indian Ripple Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
12.1 mi into trip|~20m in|C-44 / Lower Bellbrook Road
At end of road, turn left onto C-44 / Lower Bellbrook Road
Navigation decision point
6
14 mi into trip|~24m in|US 35 / Xenia Bypass
Merge onto US 35 / Xenia Bypass toward US 35: Washington Court House
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 35: Washington Court House
5
33.7 mi into trip|~45m in|US 35
Keep slight left at fork onto US 35 toward US 35 East: Washington Court House
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 35 East: Washington Court House
4
74.1 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward SR 104: High Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SR 104: High Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.79 one way
$23.59 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$13.09
$26.18
premium
$4.91
$14.69
$29.38
diesel
$5.61
$16.78
$33.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.8
0
$7.98
$3.65
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.65
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.64
$4.86
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 15, 2026
Origin
Kettering, OH
Late night
in Kettering on Sunday
Local time
4:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chillicothe, OH
Late night
in Chillicothe on Sunday
Local time
4:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live 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
17 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
1h 32m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 55% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of the 76 miles on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 40.4 miles on US 35. Expect to transition from highway to surface roads, likely noticeable as exit density decreases. This route offers a mixed driving experience, blending efficient highway travel with more local road cruising.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.4 mi on US 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in near Indian Ripple Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 32m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles (Indian Ripple Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles (C-44 / Lower Bellbrook Road): Navigation decision point; at 14 miles (US 35 / Xenia Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 76 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.4 miles on US 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 3.9 miles (Indian Ripple Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles (C-44 / Lower Bellbrook Road): Navigation decision point; at 14 miles (US 35 / Xenia Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chillicothe, OH before heading back.
