The drive from Cardington, OH to Kettering, OH covers 103.5 miles and takes about 2h 11m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 36, West Main Street, I 675 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.8 miles on US 36.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.06 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
51.8 miles from Cardington, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 103.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 11m highway drive covering 103.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 36 and West Main Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 31.8 miles on US 36.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 36 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 36 and West Main Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 37.3 miles in near US 36; SR 4.
Driving Effort9/10
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 21 significant decision points across 103.5 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 37.3 miles (US 36; SR 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
37.3 mi into trip|~49m in|US 36; SR 4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36; SR 4 toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfi...
8
82.4 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 675 South: Spangler Road, Cincinnati
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 44
Toward I 675 South: Spangler Road, Cincinnati
7
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 675 South: Cincinnati
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 675 South: Cincinnati
8
83.1 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 675 South: Cincinnati
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 44A
Toward I 675 South: Cincinnati
8
98.9 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward Kettering, Dorothy Lane, Indian Ripple Road
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 10
Toward Kettering, Dorothy Lane, Indian Ripple R...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cardington, OH and Kettering, OH, road signs point toward Springfield and Cincinnati.
Springfield
37.2 mi in|~48m|via US 36; SR 4
Cincinnati
82.4 mi in|~1h 42m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 36
31.8 mi
38m
West Main Street
17.9 mi
25m
I 675
15.5 mi
17m
Marysville Road
14.3 mi
16m
SR 4
7.5 mi
8m
US Route 68
4.3 mi
4m
East Stroop Road
3.8 mi
7m
State Route 334
3.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 36
— 31.8 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cardington, OH and Kettering, OH.
1
Start on this road
81 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn left
242 ft·23 sec
3
Turn left onto SR 529
152 ft·7 sec·North Marion Street
4
Turn right onto US 42
18 mi·25 min·West Main Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 36; US 42; SR 521
1.8 mi·2 min·East William Street
6
Continue on US 36
14 mi·16 min·Marysville Road
7
Take the exit onto US 36
3.3 mi·4 min·US 36
8
Take the exit onto US 36; SR 4
0.1 mi·13 sec·US 36; SR 4
Toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfield
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36; SR 4
28 mi·33 min·US 36; SR 4
Toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfield
10
Turn right onto SR 334
3.7 mi·4 min·State Route 334
11
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
12
Merge onto US 68
4.3 mi·4 min·US Route 68
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 7BToward US 40 West, SR 4 West: Dayton
14
Turn left onto Upper Valley Pike
505 ft·10 sec·Upper Valley Pike
15
Turn right onto US 40; SR 4
0.2 mi·10 sec·West Main Street
16
Continue on US 40; SR 4
0.2 mi·12 sec·West National Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 4
7.5 mi·8 min·SR 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 44Toward I 675 South: Spangler Road, CincinnatiUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 675 South: CincinnatiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 44AToward I 675 South: CincinnatiUse the right lane.
21
Continue on I 675
16 mi·17 min·I 675
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 10Toward Kettering, Dorothy Lane, Indian Ripple RoadUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn right onto Indian Ripple Road
0.4 mi·48 sec·Indian Ripple Road
24
Turn left onto East Stroop Road
3.8 mi·7 min·East Stroop Road
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
West Stroop Road
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 51.8 miles from Cardington, OH, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.8 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 23 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.8 miles or 1h 6m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kettering, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cardington, 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 Cardington, OH
This is one driving day of about 103.5 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Cardington, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 36 for about 31.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.8 mi from Cardington, OH
· 1h 6m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 89.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.06 one way
$32.13 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$17.83
$35.65
premium
$4.91
$20.00
$40.01
diesel
$5.61
$22.85
$45.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31
0
$10.87
$4.97
Efficient EV
25.9
0
$9.06
$4.14
EV Truck/SUV
41.4
0
$14.49
$6.62
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 15, 2026
Origin
Cardington, OH
Night
in Cardington on Friday
Local time
10:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kettering, OH
Night
in Kettering on Friday
Local time
10:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
London, OH
52 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
2 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
2h 11m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cardington, OH to Kettering, OH covers 103.5 miles and takes about 2h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 36, West Main Street, I 675. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.8 miles from Cardington, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.06 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 is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 103.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 37.3 miles (US 36; SR 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Cardington, OH and Kettering, OH, road signs point toward Springfield and Cincinnati.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
