Origin
Washington Court House, OH
Morning in Washington Court House on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Washington Court House, OH to Columbus, OH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
39.7 mi
64 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington Court House, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Columbus, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward connection between Washington Court House and Columbus, Ohio, this 40-mile trek is a quick and efficient option. You can expect to reach your destination in about 50 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Navigating primarily via Columbus Avenue, State Route 3, and the Columbus-Washington C.H. Road, you will find the journey simple to manage. With a fuel budget of just $6, it is a very budget-friendly way to move between these two Midwestern points. Since there are no mandatory stops required, you have the freedom to drive the entire stretch in one go without needing to plan for breaks.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Route 3 | 12.2 mi | 18m |
| South Freeway | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| West Columbus Street | 9 mi | 12m |
| Harrisburg Pike | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Columbus-Washington C H Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Columbus Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Front Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| I 71 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Route 3
— 12.2 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington Court House, OH and Columbus, OH.
1
Start on US 22; US 62; SR 3; SR 41
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Court Street
2
Continue on US 62; SR 3
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Columbus Avenue
3
Continue on US 62; SR 3
12 mi
·
18 min
·
State Route 3
4
Continue on US 62; SR 3
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Columbus-Washington C H Road
5
Continue on US 62; SR 3
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
West Columbus Street
6
Continue on US 62; SR 3
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Harrisburg Pike
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 71
11 mi
·
13 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 71
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 71
Toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeling
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 70; I 71
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Innerbelt
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
12
Turn left onto South Front Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Front Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto West State Street
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
West State Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on East State Street
106 ft
·
3 sec
·
East State Street
15
Turn right
88 ft
·
6 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.8 miles from Washington Court House, 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 26 and 39.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
26 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the ramp toward I 71 North: Columbus
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
5
26.4 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 71 / South Freeway
Merge onto I 71 / South Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
37.8 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 71
Take the exit onto I 71 toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeling
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeli...
6
38.9 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
South Front Street
Turn left onto South Front Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
39.4 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
West State Street
Turn right onto West State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.16 one way
$12.32 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $6.84 | $13.68 |
| premium | $4.91 | $7.67 | $15.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.77 | $17.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Morning in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 14 to 17 mph
33% chance
Live forecast
36°F
Mount Sterling, OH
20 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
8 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
57m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that keeps you engaged throughout the 40-mile trip. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route relies entirely on local roads, meaning you will not be spending any time on high-speed highways. The path demands your full attention as you transition between Columbus Avenue, State Route 3, and the Columbus-Washington C.H. Road. Because the entire journey consists of surface roads, the character of the drive remains consistent from start to finish. You should prepare for a steady, hands-on pace rather than a relaxed cruise, as the local road infrastructure defines the entire character of your transit.
60% 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: 12.2 mi on State Route 3.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 26 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 39.7 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 26 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles (I 71 / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.8 miles (I 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
979 ft
701 ft
Total Climb
141 ft
Total Descent
346 ft
Highest Point
979 ft
~2.8 mi in
Elevation Range
278 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Columbus, OH
Full guide →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.
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 57m. Total distance: 39.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.2 miles on State Route 3. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 26 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles (I 71 / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.8 miles (I 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hopewell Culture 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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