New Matamoras to Columbus is 151.8 miles and takes about 3 hours via I-77 and I-70, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region of Ohio, offering a straightforward trip between two points. With 80% of the route on highways, expect a fairly quick transit. This is a good option for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
75.9 miles from New Matamoras, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
78.5 mi
1h 26m
I 77
43.3 mi
46m
Park Avenue
24.8 mi
36m
Pike Street
2.7 mi
4m
East State Street
0.4 mi
1m
South Grant Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
East Mound Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Broadway Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 78.5 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Matamoras, OH and Columbus, OH.
1
Start on Main Street
83 ft·11 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto SR 260
0.2 mi·28 sec·Broadway Street
3
Turn right onto SR 7
25 mi·36 min·Park Avenue
4
Continue on SR 7
2.7 mi·4 min·Pike Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 77 North: Cleveland
6
Merge onto I 77
43 mi·46 min·I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 44BToward I 70 West: Columbus
8
Merge onto I 70
79 mi·1 hr 26 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 101BToward DowntownUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on East Mound Street
0.3 mi·56 sec·East Mound Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto South Grant Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·South Grant Avenue
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto East State Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East State Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right
88 ft·6 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given this is a 3-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize your time at your destination. You'll want to budget around $24 for fuel, so ensure your tank is full before departing New Matamoras. While there's only one recommended stop, the relatively short distance means you can be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you get closer to Columbus, as congestion can increase during peak hours.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.9 miles from New Matamoras, OH, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.5 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 33 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.9 miles or 1h 34m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbus, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Matamoras, 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 New Matamoras, OH
This is one driving day of about 151.8 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from New Matamoras, 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 I 70 for about 78.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 151.1 — 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|SR 260 / Broadway Street
Turn left onto SR 260 / Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
5
28.1 mi into trip|~42m in|I 77
Merge onto I 77
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
71.4 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Columbus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 44B
Toward I 70 West: Columbus
7
150.5 mi into trip|~2h 56m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 101B
Toward Downtown
6
151.1 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|South Grant Avenue
Turn right onto South Grant Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.56 one way
$47.12 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$26.15
$52.29
premium
$4.91
$29.34
$58.68
diesel
$5.61
$33.52
$67.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.5
0
$15.94
$7.29
Efficient EV
38
0
$13.28
$6.07
EV Truck/SUV
60.7
0
$21.25
$9.72
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
New Matamoras, OH
Morning
in New Matamoras on Tuesday
Local time
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbus, OH
Morning
in Columbus on Tuesday
Local time
6:22 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
22 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
3h 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 mostly highway, with 80% of the 151.8 miles on faster roads like I-77 and I-70. You'll experience a longest stretch of 78.5 miles on I-70 before encountering surface roads. Expect a fairly continuous flow of traffic, typical of major interstates, with exits and merges to navigate as you approach Columbus.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.5 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 77. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 260 / Broadway Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 151.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 (SR 260 / Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.1 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Columbus is the capital of the American state of Ohio and is located centrally within the state as the core of the Greater Columbus area. Sited in an area where the Rust Belt, Bible Belt, Appalachia, and the Farm Belt meet, Columbus is a fusion of many different parts of America. It is the home of the Ohio State University. The combination of Ohio Government and the Ohio State University has fueled amazing growth both financially and physically in Columbus. It has created a business and research environment that has provided substantial employment opportunities to the diverse ethnic and local graduates of the Ohio State University, and other academic institutions in Columbus. The Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC), is projected to be one of the top 50 supercomputers in the world and among the top 10 supercomputing academic centers.
Top landmarks
•Ohio Stadium — stadium in Columbus, Ohio, USA
•Columbus Museum of Art — Museum in Columbus, Ohio, United States
•Wexner Center for the Arts — center at Ohio State University
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 151.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.5 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 (SR 260 / Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.1 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Columbus, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
