Lee M. Rizor Memorial Highway Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from South Amherst, OH to Dayton, OH
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 48m
Distance
187.8 mi
302 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 35m
★
6 AM
3h 48m
8 AM
4h 14m
10 AM
3h 57m
12 PM
3h 55m
3 PM
3h 58m
5 PM
4h 12m
8 PM
3h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Amherst, OH
Connor Scott McManus
Dayton, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
South Amherst, OH to Dayton, OH is 187.8 miles and takes about 3h 48m via I 71, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Ohio. It's a straightforward, single-day drive primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for moving between these two locations or visiting family. The route is efficient and designed for getting from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
93.9 miles from South Amherst, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 76 mi | 1h 22m |
| West Freeway | 54.2 mi | 58m |
| Ashland-Kipton Road | 17.8 mi | 27m |
| SR 4 | 11.4 mi | 14m |
| SR 511 | 7.9 mi | 13m |
| Baumhart Road | 6 mi | 9m |
| I 670 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| US 250 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 76 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Amherst, OH and Dayton, OH.
1
Start on Leonard Street
235 ft
·
17 sec
·
Leonard Street
2
Turn sharp left onto SR 113
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on SR 113
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
Telegraph Road
4
Enter roundabout onto Baumhart Road
214 ft
·
3 sec
·
Baumhart Road
5
Continue on Baumhart Road
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Baumhart Road
6
Turn right onto US 20
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Kipton East Road
7
Keep left at fork
314 ft
·
6 sec
8
Turn straight onto SR 511
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
Ashland-Kipton Road
9
Continue on SR 511
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
South State Street
10
Continue on SR 511
8.6 mi
·
15 min
·
Ashland-Kipton Road
11
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 511
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
SR 511
12
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 511
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
SR 511
13
Turn slight left onto SR 511
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
SR 511
14
Turn left onto US 250
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US 250
15
At end of road, turn right onto US 42; US 250
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 42; US 250
16
Turn left onto US 250
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
18
Merge onto I 71
76 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 109A
Toward I 670 East, I 670 West: Airport, Dayton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 670 West: Dayton
Use the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto I 670
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Northeast Freeway
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 670
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 670
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto I 70
54 mi
·
58 min
·
West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit onto SR 4
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
SR 4
Exit 41
Toward SR 4, SR 235: Dayton, New Carlisle
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 4
11 mi
·
14 min
·
SR 4
Toward SR 4, SR 235 South: Dayton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward SR 48: Main Street, Grand Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn left onto SR 48
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
28
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour, 48-minute drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour congestion around cities. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto longer highway segments, as service areas can be spaced out. The $29 fuel budget is an estimate, so check current prices before you depart. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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 93.9 miles from South Amherst, OH, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76 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 41 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.9 miles or 2h 1m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dayton, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Amherst, 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 South Amherst, OH
This is one driving day of about 187.8 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from South Amherst, 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 71 for about 76 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
94 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 93.9 miles from South Amherst, 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 76 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Lee M. Rizor Memorial Highway Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
South Vienna Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
South Vienna Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.2 mi from route
Hot Refuel Area
1.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.7 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
2 mi from route
Vermilion Valley Service Plaza
2.1 mi from route
Middle Ridge Service Plaza
2.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 115.8 and 186.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
115.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
Take the exit toward I 670 East, I 670 West: Airport, Dayton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 109A
Toward I 670 East, I 670 West: Airport, Dayton
7
116.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 670 West: Dayton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 670 West: Dayton
8
175.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 30m in
|
SR 4
Take the exit onto SR 4 toward SR 4, SR 235: Dayton, New Carlisle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 41
Toward SR 4, SR 235: Dayton, New Carlisle
8
175.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m in
|
SR 4
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 4 toward SR 4, SR 235 South: Dayton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 4, SR 235 South: Dayton
7
186.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 45m in
Take the exit toward SR 48: Main Street, Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 48: Main Street, Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.15 one way
$58.29 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $32.35 | $64.69 |
| premium | $4.91 | $36.30 | $72.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.46 | $82.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.3 | 0 | $19.72 | $9.01 |
| Efficient EV | 47 | 0 | $16.43 | $7.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.1 | 0 | $26.29 | $12.02 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Origin
South Amherst, OH
Morning in South Amherst on Tuesday
Local time
9:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dayton, OH
Morning in Dayton on Tuesday
Local time
9:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Mansfield, OH
94 mi in
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
13 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 48m 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.
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 181.2
View on nps.gov
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 168.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 84% highway, so expect long stretches on I 71. You'll experience a longest stretch of 76 miles on I 71 before transitioning to surface roads. The West Freeway and Ashland-Kipton Road will feel more local, with a different pace and more frequent intersections as you approach your destination.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and West Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 115.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 187.8 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 115.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 175.3 miles (SR 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 South Amherst, OH to Dayton, OH, road signs begin pointing toward New Carlisle along the way.
New Carlisle
175.3 mi in
|
~3h 30m
|
via SR 4
About the Cities
Arriving in Dayton, OH
Full guide →Founded 1796
Top landmarks
- • National Museum of the United States Air Force — aerospace museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, United States
- • Wright Flyer III — third powered aircraft built by the Wright brothers
- • Dayton Art Institute — art museum and school in Dayton, Ohio
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 48m. Total distance: 187.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Dayton, OH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 115.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 175.3 miles (SR 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Dayton, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
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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