South Russell, OH to Columbus, OH is 147.2 miles and takes about 2h 52m via I-71, I-271, and Cannon Road, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, one-day drive primarily through the Midwest region, staying within Ohio for the entire journey. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, this route is ideal for a quick trip or an easy commute. Plan for a single stop, as the longest stretch is over 110 miles.
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
73.6 miles from South Russell, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
110.2 mi
1h 59m
I 271
24.3 mi
26m
Cannon Road
4.5 mi
8m
Solon Road
1.7 mi
4m
Outerbelt East Freeway
1.1 mi
1m
Bell Street
0.9 mi
2m
Northeast Freeway
0.8 mi
1m
North Third Street
0.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 110.2 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Russell, OH and Columbus, OH.
1
Start on Bell Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Bell Road
2
Continue on Bell Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Bell Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto CR 35
109 ft·3 sec·North Main Street
4
Turn slight right onto North Franklin Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·North Franklin Street
5
Turn right onto CR 11
0.3 mi·47 sec·Maple Street
6
Continue on CR 11
1.7 mi·4 min·Solon Road
7
Turn right onto Cannon Road
3.7 mi·6 min·Cannon Road
8
Continue on SR 175
0.8 mi·1 min·Cannon Road
9
Continue on Rockside Road
0.5 mi·58 sec·Rockside Road
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 271 South, I 480 EastUse the left lane.
11
Merge onto I 480
0.6 mi·42 sec·Outerbelt South Freeway
12
Merge onto I 271; I 480
1.1 mi·1 min·Outerbelt East Freeway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271
24 mi·26 min·I 271
Use the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 71
110 mi·1 hr 59 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 109AToward I 670 East, I 670 West: Airport, DaytonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 670 West: DaytonUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 670
0.2 mi·19 sec·Northeast Freeway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto Northeast Freeway
0.6 mi·53 sec·Northeast Freeway
Toward US 23 South
19
Turn straight onto US 23
0.7 mi·2 min·North Third Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto East State Street
106 ft·3 sec·East State Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn right
88 ft·6 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
As a one-day trip covering 147.2 miles, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive in Columbus with plenty of daylight. With a duration of under three hours, you'll likely only need one brief stop for fuel or a quick break, especially since the longest stretch is 110.2 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $23, and plan your stop accordingly before hitting the longer interstate segments. Consider leaving South Russell on a weekday to potentially avoid heavier weekend traffic on I-71.
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 73.6 miles from South Russell, OH, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.2 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 32 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.6 miles or 1h 30m 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 20m
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 South Russell, 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 Russell, OH
This is one driving day of about 147.2 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from South Russell, 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 110.2 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.6 and 147.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
8.6 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the ramp toward I 271 South, I 480 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 271 South, I 480 East
6
10.6 mi into trip|~21m in|I 271
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
145 mi into trip|~2h 47m 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
145.3 mi into trip|~2h 47m 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
6
147.1 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|East State Street
Turn right onto East State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.84 one way
$45.69 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$25.35
$50.71
premium
$4.91
$28.45
$56.90
diesel
$5.61
$32.50
$65.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.2
0
$15.46
$7.07
Efficient EV
36.8
0
$12.88
$5.89
EV Truck/SUV
58.9
0
$20.61
$9.42
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
South Russell, OH
Morning
in South Russell on Sunday
Local time
10:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbus, OH
Morning
in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
10:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
S 3 to 9 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 10:34PM EDT until April 22 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 10:34PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
68°F
Mansfield, OH
74 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
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 52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discov...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll spend the majority of your time on I-71, where the longest uninterrupted stretch spans 110.2 miles. Expect a consistent driving experience on these high-speed roads, allowing for steady progress toward Columbus. While primarily interstate, the initial and final segments might involve some local road navigation, but the overwhelming character is that of an efficient highway transit.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 110.2 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and I 271. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 15 significant decision points across 147.2 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 8.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles (I 271): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 145 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 147.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 110.2 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 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 Columbus, 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 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles (I 271): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 145 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National 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.
