If you are planning to head north from Portsmouth to Columbus, you are looking at an 89-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 7 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach the state capital without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via US 23 and the Scioto Trail, eventually transitioning into South High Street as you enter the city. With an estimated fuel cost of only $13, this is an affordable excursion through the heart of the Midwest. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, the trip is straightforward enough to complete comfortably in one go.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.5 miles from Portsmouth, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Scioto Trail
44.2 mi
1h 2m
US 23
34.5 mi
44m
South High Street
9 mi
17m
2nd Street
0.9 mi
1m
Chillicothe Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East State Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Scioto Trail
— 44.2 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth, OH and Columbus, OH.
1
Start on this road
73 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right
74 ft·10 sec
3
Turn left onto US 23; SR 73; SR 104
0.9 mi·1 min·2nd Street
4
Merge onto US 23
0.3 mi·27 sec·Chillicothe Street
5
Continue on US 23
44 mi·1 hr 2 min·Scioto Trail
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
34 mi·44 min·US 23
Toward US 23 North: ColumbusUse the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 23
9.0 mi·17 min·South High Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto East State Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·East State Street
9
Continue on East State Street
106 ft·3 sec·East State Street
10
Turn right
88 ft·6 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid potential traffic congestion. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled along the 89-mile path, you can easily manage the trip in one sitting without needing extensive rest breaks. Keep in mind that your fuel budget is modest at $13, but it is always wise to ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Portsmouth to avoid unnecessary stops. Focus on maintaining a steady speed during your 44.2-mile stretch on the Scioto Trail to keep your travel time close to the two-hour mark. Embracing the direct nature of this route allows you to maximize your time once you arrive in Columbus.
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 44.5 miles from Portsmouth, OH, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.2 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 20 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.5 miles or 1h 3m 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 44m
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 Portsmouth, 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 Portsmouth, OH
This is one driving day of about 89 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Portsmouth, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Scioto Trail for about 44.2 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 88.8 — 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
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 23; SR 73; SR 104 / 2nd Street
Turn left onto US 23; SR 73; SR 104 / 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|US 23 / Chillicothe Street
Merge onto US 23 / Chillicothe Street
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
45.4 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|US 23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23 toward US 23 North: Columbus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 23 North: Columbus
4
88.8 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|East State Street
Turn right onto East State Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.81 one way
$27.63 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$15.33
$30.66
premium
$4.91
$17.20
$34.40
diesel
$5.61
$19.65
$39.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.7
0
$9.34
$4.27
Efficient EV
22.3
0
$7.79
$3.56
EV Truck/SUV
35.6
0
$12.46
$5.70
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Portsmouth, OH
Morning
in Portsmouth on Sunday
Local time
10:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbus, OH
Morning
in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
10:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
14 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 7m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 46
Caution: Hopeton Earthworks Closed for Construction Until May 2026
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances steady highway travel with local road navigation. The route consists of approximately 39% highway driving, meaning you will spend a good portion of your time on more localized stretches. Your longest uninterrupted segment spans 44.2 miles along the Scioto Trail, providing a consistent pace before the road dynamics begin to shift. As you transition from the southern reaches toward the capital, the environment changes from open stretches to the more structured flow of South High Street. You should be prepared for this variation in speed and road type as you progress toward your destination.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.2 mi on Scioto Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 early in the drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 7m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 23; SR 73; SR 104 / 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 23 / Chillicothe Street): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Portsmouth is a city in Southwest Ohio, it is the county seat of Scioto County. Portsmouth is full of history so take time to visit the antique shops, cafes and pubs in the Bonneyfiddle District. One of the main attractions in Portsmouth is the 2,200-foot floodwall mural painted by famed artist Robert Dafford. It is truly amazing and unique.
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.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.2 miles on Scioto Trail. 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: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 23; SR 73; SR 104 / 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 23 / Chillicothe Street): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes — Hopewell Culture 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 Columbus, OH before heading back.
