Clark to Columbus is 88.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 53 minutes via SR 16 and SR 161, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily keeps you on state routes, offering a more direct experience through the Midwest region of Ohio. With a high percentage of highway driving, it's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day, especially if you're looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. The route is a good option if you want to maximize your time at your destination rather than spending it on the road.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.2 miles from Clark, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 88.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 83% of the journey on faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 47.8 miles on SR 16 without needing to divert, allowing for a consistent pace. While predominantly highway, the route utilizes state routes like SR 16, SR 83, and SR 161, which can offer a slightly different feel than a full interstate experience. Expect a relatively smooth and uninterrupted journey for the majority of the trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
SR 16 is the longest continuous segment at about 47.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on SR 16 and SR 83. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 72.7 miles in.
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 88.4 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 72.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.9 miles (US 62 / Johnstown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.8 miles (US 62 / Granville Street): 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.
8
72.7 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 62: New Albany, Johnstown
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 46
Toward US 62: New Albany, Johnstown
6
72.9 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|US 62 / Johnstown Road
Turn left onto US 62 / Johnstown Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
79.8 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|US 62 / Granville Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 62 / Granville Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
87.1 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|Northeast Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto Northeast Freeway toward US 23 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 23 South
6
88.3 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|East State Street
Turn right onto East State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right 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 Clark, OH to Columbus, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Johnstown along the way.
Johnstown
72.7 mi in|~1h 28m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
SR 16
47.8 mi
55m
SR 83
14 mi
20m
SR 161
10.5 mi
11m
Granville Street
7.3 mi
9m
East Johnstown Road
2.8 mi
6m
Johnstown Road
2.8 mi
3m
East Main Street
0.7 mi
<1m
North Third Street
0.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
SR 16
— 47.8 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clark, OH and Columbus, OH.
1
Start on County Road 19A
63 ft·4 sec·County Road 19A
2
Turn right onto SR 83
14 mi·20 min·SR 83
3
Turn right onto US 36; SR 83
0.4 mi·33 sec·US 36; SR 83
4
Continue on SR 16; SR 83
48 mi·55 min·SR 16; SR 83
5
Continue on SR 161
11 mi·11 min·SR 161
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 46Toward US 62: New Albany, JohnstownUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto US 62
0.4 mi·39 sec·Johnstown Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 62
0.7 mi·51 sec·East Main Street
9
Enter roundabout onto Johnstown Road
103 ft·1 sec·Johnstown Road
10
Continue on Johnstown Road
1.2 mi·1 min·Johnstown Road
11
Enter roundabout onto US 62
116 ft·1 sec·Johnstown Road
12
Continue on US 62
1.1 mi·1 min·Johnstown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Enter roundabout onto US 62
136 ft·1 sec·East Johnstown Road
14
Continue on US 62
2.8 mi·6 min·East Johnstown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 62
0.6 mi·1 min·Mill Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto US 62
7.3 mi·9 min·Granville Street
Use the right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto Northeast Freeway
0.6 mi·53 sec·Northeast Freeway
Toward US 23 South
18
Turn straight onto US 23
0.7 mi·2 min·North Third Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto East State Street
106 ft·3 sec·East State Street
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right
88 ft·6 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under two hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to worry about extensive stops for rest or fuel, as the longest stretch is under 50 miles. However, it's always wise to check your fuel gauge before departing Clark, OH, as the $14 fuel cost is an estimate and can fluctuate. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid potential rush hour traffic in or around Columbus, OH.
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 44.2 miles from Clark, OH, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.8 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.2 miles or 56m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbus, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clark, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clark, OH
This is one driving day of about 88.4 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Clark, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on SR 16 for about 47.8 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.72 one way
$27.44 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$15.23
$30.45
premium
$4.91
$17.08
$34.17
diesel
$5.61
$19.52
$39.04
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: 30.9 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
26.5
0
$9.28
$4.24
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.74
$3.54
EV Truck/SUV
35.4
0
$12.38
$5.66
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 15, 2026
Origin
Clark, OH
Morning
in Clark on Saturday
Local time
9:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbus, OH
Morning
in Columbus on Saturday
Local time
9:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Newark, OH
44 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
4 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 53m 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 Clark, OH to Columbus, OH covers 88.4 miles and takes about 1h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are SR 16, SR 83, SR 161. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.2 miles from Clark, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.72 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 88.4 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 72.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.9 miles (US 62 / Johnstown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.8 miles (US 62 / Granville Street): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Clark, OH to Columbus, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Johnstown along the way.
