Origin
Springfield, OH
Late night in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Springfield, OH to Columbus, 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
55m
Distance
45.7 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Springfield, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Columbus, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 45.6-mile journey from Springfield, OH, to Columbus, OH, is easily manageable in about 48 minutes, making it perfect for a single-day trip. You'll navigate primarily via East Columbia Street and then hop onto I-70 East and I-670 East. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $7, this drive is quite budget-friendly. The route is characterized as 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting a less highway-centric experience and more interaction with local roads. Given its brevity and region (both within the Midwest and Ohio), no overnight stops are necessary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 33.7 mi | 36m |
| US 40 | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| I 670 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| North Third Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| East Columbia Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Limestone Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East State Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 33.7 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, OH and Columbus, OH.
1
Start on South Limestone Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Limestone Street
2
Turn right onto US 40; SR 4; SR 41
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Columbia Street
3
Turn slight left onto US 40; SR 41
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
US 40; SR 41
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 70 East: Columbus
5
Merge onto I 70
34 mi
·
36 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 670
Toward I 670 East: Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 4A–B
Toward US 23: Third Street, Fourth Street
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 4A
Toward US 23 South: Third Street
9
Turn straight onto US 23
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Third Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto East State Street
106 ft
·
3 sec
·
East State Street
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right
88 ft
·
6 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.8 miles from Springfield, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 7.1 and 45.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
7.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
40.8 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
I 670
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670 toward I 670 East: Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 670 East: Airport
8
44.4 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward US 23: Third Street, Fourth Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4A–B
Toward US 23: Third Street, Fourth Street
7
44.6 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 23 South: Third Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 4A
Toward US 23 South: Third Street
6
45.6 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
East State Street
Turn right onto East State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.09 one way
$14.18 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $7.87 | $15.74 |
| premium | $4.91 | $8.83 | $17.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.09 | $20.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Columbus, OH
Late night in Columbus on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Lisbon, OH
23 mi in
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
20 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
55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 45.6-mile segment. While the main roads include interstate sections like I-70 East and I-670 East, the overall profile indicates a significant portion will involve navigating local streets and making frequent turns, rather than long stretches of uninterrupted highway driving. The highway share is 0%, meaning you won't be cruising on interstates for extended periods. This characteristic suggests a drive with a more varied pace, where you'll be more engaged with the immediate surroundings as you transition through different areas.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.7 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and US 40. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.1 miles in near I 70.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 45.7 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: at 7.1 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.8 miles (I 670): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Columbus, OH
Full guide →Founded 1812
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
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 55m. Total distance: 45.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.7 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.1 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.8 miles (I 670): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbus, OH before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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