Spanning 114.3 miles, the journey from Portsmouth to Springfield is a straightforward trek through the heart of the Midwest. You should anticipate a drive time of approximately 2 hours and 7 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budget about $17 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Because the route relies entirely on local roads like 2nd Street, Chillicothe Street, and Scioto Trail rather than interstates, you get a direct look at the local landscape. It is a practical, manageable trip that moves you efficiently between these two Ohio cities without the need for complex planning.
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
57.1 miles from Portsmouth, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 35
49 mi
52m
Scioto Trail
44.2 mi
1h 2m
SR 72
19 mi
33m
2nd Street
0.9 mi
1m
South Limestone Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Chillicothe Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 35
— 49 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth, OH and Springfield, 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 left at fork onto US 35
49 mi·52 min·US 35
Toward US 35 West: Dayton
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward SR 72: Cedarville, Jamestown
8
Turn right onto SR 72
19 mi·33 min·SR 72
9
Continue on South Limestone Street
0.4 mi·48 sec·South Limestone Street
10
Arrive at destination
South Limestone Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have significant flexibility with your departure time to avoid local traffic bottlenecks. Plan for the full 2 hours and 7 minutes of travel time, as local roads often move slower than major highways. With a fuel budget of $17, it is wise to fill up before leaving Portsmouth to ensure you have a stress-free journey. Because you are navigating turn-heavy local roads, prioritize steady pacing and stay alert for frequent intersections along Chillicothe Street and Scioto Trail. Taking this trip in one go is very achievable, so feel free to keep your pace consistent and enjoy the direct route to Springfield.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 57.1 miles from Portsmouth, OH, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49 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 25 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.1 miles or 1h 17m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Springfield, 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 114.2 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Portsmouth, 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 US 35 for about 49 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 94.4 — 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
5
45.4 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|US 35
Keep slight left at fork onto US 35 toward US 35 West: Dayton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 35 West: Dayton
5
94.4 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward SR 72: Cedarville, Jamestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 72: Cedarville, Jamestown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.72 one way
$35.45 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$19.67
$39.34
premium
$4.91
$22.07
$44.14
diesel
$5.61
$25.21
$50.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.3
0
$11.99
$5.48
Efficient EV
28.6
0
$9.99
$4.57
EV Truck/SUV
45.7
0
$15.99
$7.31
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Late night
in Portsmouth on Sunday
Local time
4:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, OH
Late night
in Springfield on Sunday
Local time
4:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 51.2
Caution: Hopeton Earthworks Closed for Construction Until May 2026
Throughout his life, Charles Young overcame countless obstacles in his ascent to prominence. In spite of overt racism and stifling inequality, Young rose through the military ranks to become one of th...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 102.4
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established to honor the lives and achievements of poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar and aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Through p...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 106.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Since this route features zero highway miles, you will navigate local streets and trails for the duration of your 114.3-mile trip. The road personality is defined by its technical nature, requiring your full attention as you transition between 2nd Street, Chillicothe Street, and Scioto Trail. Unlike the monotonous pace of an interstate, this path offers a constant change in scenery and rhythm. You will find that the lack of highway stretches makes for a more hands-on driving experience as you wind through the Midwestern terrain.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49 mi on US 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Portsmouth, OH to Springfield, OH is easy. At 2h 32m with 60% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Portsmouth, OH to Springfield, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Jamestown along the way.
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.
The longest stretch is about 49 miles on US 35. 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, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument and Dayton Aviation Heritage 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 Springfield, OH before heading back.
