If you are planning a trip from Springfield to Dent, Ohio, expect a straightforward journey covering 81.1 miles. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 38 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion that does not require an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via SR 4, the Circle Freeway, and East North Street to reach your destination within the same Midwest region. Budget approximately $12 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Because this is a quick, efficient trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around your own personal preferences.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.6 miles from Springfield, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
SR 4
59.6 mi
1h 9m
Circle Freeway
14.3 mi
16m
East North Street
1.8 mi
2m
Northwest Expressway
1.2 mi
1m
Harrison Avenue
1 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.8 mi
1m
Park Road
0.3 mi
<1m
South Limestone Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
SR 4
— 59.6 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, OH and Dent, OH.
1
Start on South Limestone Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·South Limestone Street
2
Turn left onto US 40; SR 4; SR 41
1.8 mi·2 min·East North Street
3
Continue on US 40; SR 4
0.3 mi·25 sec·Park Road
4
Continue on US 40; SR 4
0.8 mi·1 min·West Main Street
5
Continue on US 40; SR 4
0.2 mi·12 sec·West National Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 4
11 mi·11 min·SR 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto SR 4
0.3 mi·42 sec·SR 4
Exit 41Toward SR 4, SR 235: Dayton, New CarlisleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 4
48 mi·57 min·SR 4
Toward SR 4, SR 235 South: DaytonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 16BToward I 275: IndianapolisUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 275
14 mi·16 min·Circle Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
Exit 28Toward I 74 East, US 52 East: CincinnatiUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 74; US 52
1.2 mi·1 min·Northwest Expressway
Toward I 75 East, US 52 East: Cincinnati
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 11Toward Rybolt Road, Harrison AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Old Rybolt Road
399 ft·9 sec·Old Rybolt Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto Harrison Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·Harrison Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
Harrison Avenue
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is under two hours, you do not need to worry about scheduling formal rest stops unless you choose to make them. Aim to depart outside of peak traffic hours to ensure you maintain the estimated 1 hour and 38-minute duration. Since the trip is short and fuel costs are low at roughly $12, you can easily complete the entire distance without needing to refuel mid-trip. Use the flexibility of this short commute to your advantage by planning your departure time based on when you want to arrive in Dent, rather than worrying about road fatigue or extensive travel logistics.
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 40.6 miles from Springfield, OH, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.6 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 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.6 miles or 48m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dent, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Springfield, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Springfield, OH
This is one driving day of about 81.1 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Springfield, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on SR 4 for about 59.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.3 and 79.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
14.3 mi into trip|~16m 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
14.6 mi into trip|~17m 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
8
62.9 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 275: Indianapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 16B
Toward I 275: Indianapolis
8
78.2 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward I 74 East, US 52 East: Cincinnati
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 28
Toward I 74 East, US 52 East: Cincinnati
8
79.8 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward Rybolt Road, Harrison 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.
Exit 11
Toward Rybolt Road, Harrison Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.59 one way
$25.17 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$13.97
$27.94
premium
$4.91
$15.67
$31.35
diesel
$5.61
$17.91
$35.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 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
24.3
0
$8.52
$3.89
Efficient EV
20.3
0
$7.10
$3.24
EV Truck/SUV
32.4
0
$11.35
$5.19
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Springfield, OH
Late night
in Springfield on Sunday
Local time
3:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dent, OH
Late night
in Dent on Sunday
Local time
3:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°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
1 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
1h 38m 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...
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 11.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 93% of your travel time spent on faster roads. You should prepare for a consistent pace as you transition between the main thoroughfares. A significant portion of your time behind the wheel will be spent on a single 59.6-mile stretch along SR 4, which serves as the backbone of this journey. Because the route relies so heavily on high-speed infrastructure, you can expect a functional, utility-minded driving experience rather than a winding backroads adventure.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.6 mi on SR 4.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on SR 4 and Circle Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.3 miles in near SR 4.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 14.3 miles (SR 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles (SR 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Springfield, OH to Dent, OH, road signs begin pointing toward New Carlisle along the way.
New Carlisle
14.3 mi in|~16m|via SR 4
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 81.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m 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 59.6 miles on SR 4. 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 Dent, 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 14.3 miles (SR 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles (SR 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dent, OH before heading back.
