The drive from Anderson, OH to Middletown, OH covers 87.7 miles and takes about 1h 54m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 35, SR 73, I 71 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34 miles on US 35.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.61 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.8 miles from Anderson, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 87.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 54m highway drive covering 87.7 miles, with most of the trip on US 35 and SR 73. The longest continuous stretch is about 34 miles on US 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 34 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 35 and SR 73. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Veterans Parkway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 87.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 1 miles (Veterans Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 38.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|Veterans Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto Veterans Parkway
Navigation decision point
6
38.4 mi into trip|~47m in
Take the exit toward SR 435: Columbus, Cincinnati
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 72
Toward SR 435: Columbus, Cincinnati
6
39.6 mi into trip|~49m in
Turn left toward I 71 South: Cincinnati
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 71 South: Cincinnati
5
59.7 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward SR 73: Waynesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 45
Toward SR 73: Waynesville
5
60 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|SR 73
Turn right onto SR 73
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
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 Anderson, OH to Middletown, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Cincinnati along the way.
Cincinnati
38.4 mi in|~47m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 35
34 mi
36m
SR 73
20.8 mi
31m
I 71
19.7 mi
21m
North Verity Parkway
4.3 mi
6m
Veterans Parkway
1.5 mi
3m
Pleasant Valley Road
1.4 mi
3m
Riley Boulevard
1.1 mi
1m
Middletown Pike
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 35
— 34 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anderson, OH and Middletown, OH.
1
Start on C-114
1.0 mi·2 min·Anderson Station Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Veterans Parkway
1.5 mi·3 min·Veterans Parkway
3
Turn left onto C-550
1.4 mi·3 min·Pleasant Valley Road
4
Take the ramp
274 ft·6 sec
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·56 sec
6
Merge onto US 35
34 mi·36 min·US 35
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 72Toward SR 435: Columbus, Cincinnati
8
Turn left onto SR 435
0.9 mi·1 min·Old United States Highway 35
9
Turn left
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 71 South: CincinnatiUse the left lane.
10
Merge onto I 71
20 mi·21 min·I 71
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 45Toward SR 73: Waynesville
12
Turn right onto SR 73
21 mi·31 min·SR 73
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto SR 73 Truck
1.1 mi·1 min·Riley Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on SR 73
1.0 mi·1 min·Middletown Pike
15
Continue on SR 73
4.3 mi·6 min·North Verity Parkway
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on SR 4; SR 73
0.3 mi·38 sec·North Canal Street
17
Turn left onto Central Avenue
0.2 mi·35 sec·Central Avenue
18
Turn left onto Clark Street
122 ft·5 sec·Clark Street
19
Arrive at destination
Clark Street
Trip Plan
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 43.8 miles from Anderson, OH, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.8 miles or 53m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Middletown, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anderson, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anderson, OH
This is one driving day of about 87.7 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Anderson, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 35 for about 34 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.8 mi from Anderson, OH
· 53m into the drive
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
$1 to $10
mile 87.7
Middletown, Ohio
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Nearly 2000 years ago, Native Americans built dozens of monumental mounds and earthen enclosures in southern Ohio. These earthwork complexes were ceremonial landscapes used for feasts, funerals, ritua...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
Caution: Hopeton Earthworks Closed for Construction Until May 2026
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
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 51.4
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 72.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.61 one way
$27.22 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$15.11
$30.21
premium
$4.91
$16.95
$33.90
diesel
$5.61
$19.36
$38.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 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
26.3
0
$9.21
$4.21
Efficient EV
21.9
0
$7.67
$3.51
EV Truck/SUV
35.1
0
$12.28
$5.61
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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 16, 2026
Origin
Anderson, OH
Night
in Anderson on Thursday
Local time
10:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Middletown, OH
Night
in Middletown on Thursday
Local time
10:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 14 mph47% chanceLive 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
27 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 54m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Anderson, OH to Middletown, OH covers 87.7 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 35, SR 73, I 71. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.8 miles from Anderson, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.61 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.7 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Veterans Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 38.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Anderson, OH to Middletown, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Cincinnati along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument and Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.
