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Trip from Carey, OH to South Salem, OH

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 8m

Distance

135.9 mi

219 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 56m ★
6 AM
3h 8m
8 AM
3h 31m
10 AM
3h 16m
12 PM
3h 14m
3 PM
3h 17m
5 PM
3h 30m
8 PM
3h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Carey, OH, OH

Carey, OH

TBD Tuyên

Trip Overview

The drive from Carey, OH to South Salem, OH covers 135.9 miles and takes about 3h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 23, SR 753, West Innerbelt for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.4 miles on US 23. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.09 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

68 miles from Carey, OH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 135.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 8m highway drive covering 135.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 23 and SR 753. The longest continuous stretch is about 54.4 miles on US 23.

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 23 is the longest continuous segment at about 54.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 and SR 753. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near US 23.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 135.9 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 1.4 miles (US 23): Lane positioning matters here; at 55.9 miles (US 23 / Columbus Pike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.7 miles (SR 315 / Olentangy River Road): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 23

Take the ramp onto US 23

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
55.9 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in | US 23 / Columbus Pike

Keep slight left at fork onto US 23 / Columbus Pike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
57.7 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in | SR 315 / Olentangy River Road

Turn right onto SR 315 / Olentangy River Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
91.5 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in

Take the exit toward US 62, SR 3: Harrisburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 94 Toward US 62, SR 3: Harrisburg
5
92 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in | US 62; SR 3 / Harrisburg Pike

Turn left onto US 62; SR 3 / Harrisburg Pike

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 23 54.4 mi 1h 5m
SR 753 13.8 mi 23m
West Innerbelt 13.1 mi 15m
State Route 3 11.3 mi 16m
Olentangy Freeway 10.9 mi 13m
Harrisburg Pike 10 mi 14m
Olentangy River Road 9.6 mi 16m
State Route 28 3.3 mi 4m
Longest stretch: US 23 — 54.4 mi, about 1h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Carey, OH and South Salem, OH.

1

Start on SR 103; SR 199

70 ft · 8 sec · East Findlay Street
2

Turn left onto US 23; SR 103

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Vance Street
3

Take the ramp onto US 23

54 mi · 1 hr 5 min · US 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Keep slight left at fork onto US 23

1.9 mi · 2 min · Columbus Pike
Use the straight lane.
5

Turn right onto SR 315

2.9 mi · 4 min · Olentangy River Road
Use the right lane.
6

Turn slight right

310 ft · 6 sec
7

Turn left

326 ft · 5 sec
8

Turn slight right onto SR 315

2.8 mi · 4 min · Olentangy River Road
Use the left lane.
9

Enter roundabout onto SR 315

127 ft · 2 sec · Olentangy River Road
10

Continue on SR 315

3.9 mi · 6 min · Olentangy River Road
11

Continue on SR 315

11 mi · 13 min · Olentangy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on SR 315

13 mi · 15 min · West Innerbelt
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 94 Toward US 62, SR 3: Harrisburg
14

Turn left onto US 62; SR 3

10.0 mi · 14 min · Harrisburg Pike
Use the straight lane.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto US 62; SR 3

1.1 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
16

Turn straight onto US 62; SR 3

1.3 mi · 1 min · Columbus-Washington C H Road
17

Continue on US 62; SR 3

11 mi · 16 min · State Route 3
18

Turn left onto SR 753

14 mi · 23 min · SR 753
19

Turn slight left onto Twp 159

1.5 mi · 3 min · Wolfe Road
20

Turn straight onto SR 138

0.6 mi · 1 min · SR 138
21

Turn left onto SR 28; SR 41

3.3 mi · 4 min · State Route 28
22

Turn slight right onto Lyndon Salem Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · Lyndon Salem Road
23

Continue on Stewart Street

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Stewart Street
24

Turn right

173 ft · 12 sec
25

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68 miles from Carey, OH, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 30 miles or 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 68 miles or 1h 28m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 26m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Salem, OH than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Carey, 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 Carey, OH

This is one driving day of about 135.9 miles and 3h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Carey, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 23 for about 54.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 68 mi from Carey, OH · 1h 28m into the drive

city in Ohio, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dublin, OH

68 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

Marion, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dublin, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68 miles from Carey, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in South Salem, OH

The final approach into South Salem, OH usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around South Salem, OH.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.09 one way

$42.18 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.38 $23.41 $46.82
premium $4.91 $26.27 $52.53
diesel $5.61 $30.01 $60.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.8 0 $14.27 $6.52
Efficient EV 34 0 $11.89 $5.44
EV Truck/SUV 54.4 0 $19.03 $8.70

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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

Carey, OH

Afternoon in Carey on Thursday

Local time

1:03 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Salem, OH

Afternoon in South Salem on Thursday

Local time

1:03 PM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

73°F

Dublin, OH

68 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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 8m 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 Carey, OH to South Salem, OH covers 135.9 miles and takes about 3h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 23, SR 753, West Innerbelt. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68 miles from Carey, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.09 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 135.9 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 1.4 miles (US 23): Lane positioning matters here; at 55.9 miles (US 23 / Columbus Pike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.7 miles (SR 315 / Olentangy River Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Carey, OH to South Salem, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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