Origin
Lakewood, OH
Late night in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 37m
Distance
227.3 mi
366 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, OH
Wikimedia Commons
West Portsmouth, OH
Daniel Miller
Lakewood, OH to West Portsmouth, OH is 227.3 miles and takes about 4h 37m via I 71, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Ohio, traversing the Midwest region from start to finish. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on well-maintained highways, making it a good option for a single-day excursion. You won't encounter dramatic scenery changes, but rather a consistent pace that allows you to cover ground efficiently. Consider this route if you need to get from point A to point B without many detours.
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
113.7 miles from Lakewood, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 138.2 mi | 2h 31m |
| Portsmouth - Columbus Road | 36.5 mi | 47m |
| US 23 | 32.3 mi | 44m |
| SR 104 | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| South High Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Warren Road | 2.2 mi | 5m |
| SR 348 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Jack Nicklaus Freeway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, OH and West Portsmouth, OH.
Start on Franklin Boulevard
Turn left onto Warren Road
Continue on West 150th Street
Turn right onto West 154th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 270
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 23
Continue on US 23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
Turn right onto SR 348
Turn left onto SR 104
Turn right onto C-440
Turn right onto 6th Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 37m estimated drive time, leaving Lakewood in the morning should allow you to reach West Portsmouth with plenty of daylight to spare. The $35 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting, and you'll want to ensure you have a full tank before heading out, especially given the longest stretch of 138.2 miles. While the drive is manageable in one day, plan for one stop to stretch your legs or grab a quick bite. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition from I 71 to US 23 in the latter half of the journey.
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.
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 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.7 miles or 2h 9m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Portsmouth, OH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, OH
This is one driving day of about 227.3 miles and 4h 37m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 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.
A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 113.7 miles from Lakewood, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 138.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 144.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 270: Stringtown Road, Grove City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 East: Stringtown Road, Grove City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 23 North, US 23 South: High Street, Circleville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$35.28 one way
$70.55 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $39.15 | $78.30 |
| premium | $4.91 | $43.93 | $87.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.18 | $100.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.2 | 0 | $23.87 | $10.91 |
| Efficient EV | 56.8 | 0 | $19.89 | $9.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.9 | 1 | $31.82 | $14.55 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in West Portsmouth on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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This route is heavily focused on highway driving, with 80% of your journey on high-speed roads, primarily I 71. Expect a consistent pace for a significant portion of your trip, including a longest stretch of 138.2 miles on I 71 without needing to exit. While the main roads are efficient, the latter part of your drive incorporates the Portsmouth - Columbus Road and US 23, which may offer a slightly different feel as you approach your destination. Overall, it's a practical, highway-centric experience designed for steady progress.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Portsmouth - Columbus Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 227.3 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 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 141.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lakewood, OH and West Portsmouth, OH, road signs point toward Grove City and Circleville.
Grove City
Circleville
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 37m. Total distance: 227.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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