The drive from Coal Grove, OH to Dayton, OH covers 151 miles and takes about 2h 58m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 35, US 23, US 52 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.3 miles on US 35.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.43 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
75.5 miles from Coal Grove, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 151 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 58m highway drive covering 151 miles, with most of the trip on US 35 and US 23. The longest continuous stretch is about 76.3 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 16 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 76.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 35 and US 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SR 243 / Marion Pike.
Driving Effort7/10
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 151 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 0.1 miles (SR 243 / Marion Pike): Navigation decision point; at 39.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 73.5 miles (US 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 243 / Marion Pike
Turn right onto SR 243 / Marion Pike
Navigation decision point
6
39.5 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 23 North: Chillicothe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 16
Toward US 23 North: Chillicothe
7
73.5 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|US 35
Keep slight left at fork onto US 35 toward US 35 West: Dayton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 35 West: Dayton
7
149.8 mi into trip|~2h 55m in
Take the exit toward SR 48: Main Street, Jefferson Street
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 SR 48: Main Street, Jefferson Street
8
150.4 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Jefferson Street, Day Air Ballpark, Patterson boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Jefferson Street, Day Air Ballpark, Patt...
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 35
76.3 mi
1h 26m
US 23
33.5 mi
45m
US 52
22.6 mi
24m
Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway
16.4 mi
17m
South Jefferson Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Marion Pike
0.1 mi
<1m
East 4th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Carlton Davidson Lane
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 35
— 76.3 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Coal Grove, OH and Dayton, OH.
1
Start on this road
101 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn left
310 ft·23 sec
3
Turn left onto Carlton Davidson Lane
356 ft·18 sec·Carlton Davidson Lane
4
Turn right onto SR 243
0.1 mi·15 sec·Marion Pike
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward US 52 West: Portsmouth
6
Merge onto US 52
23 mi·24 min·US 52
7
Take the exit onto SR 823
16 mi·17 min·Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway
Toward SR 823 North: Chillicothe
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·49 sec
Exit 16Toward US 23 North: Chillicothe
9
Merge onto US 23
34 mi·45 min·US 23
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 35
76 mi·1 hr 26 min·US 35
Toward US 35 West: DaytonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward SR 48: Main Street, Jefferson StreetUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
321 ft·7 sec
Toward Jefferson Street, Day Air Ballpark, Patterson boulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn slight right onto South Jefferson Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·South Jefferson Street
14
Turn left onto East 4th Street
513 ft·14 sec·East 4th Street
15
Turn right onto South Main Street
303 ft·8 sec·South Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
South Main 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.5 miles from Coal Grove, OH, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.3 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 33 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.5 miles or 1h 32m 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 Dayton, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Coal Grove, 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 Coal Grove, OH
This is one driving day of about 151 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Coal Grove, 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 35 for about 76.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.5 mi from Coal Grove, OH
· 1h 32m into the drive
The midpoint is around 75.5 miles from Coal Grove, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before US 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.3 miles.
Arriving in Dayton, OH
The final approach into Dayton, 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 Dayton, OH.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 130.1
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 145.8
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 78.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.43 one way
$46.87 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$26.01
$52.02
premium
$4.91
$29.18
$58.37
diesel
$5.61
$33.34
$66.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.3
0
$15.85
$7.25
Efficient EV
37.8
0
$13.21
$6.04
EV Truck/SUV
60.4
0
$21.14
$9.66
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Coal Grove, OH
Evening
in Coal Grove on Friday
Local time
6:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dayton, OH
Evening
in Dayton on Friday
Local time
6:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 16 mph27% chanceLive forecast
55°F
Waverly, OH
76 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
34 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
2h 58m 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 Coal Grove, OH to Dayton, OH covers 151 miles and takes about 2h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 35, US 23, US 52. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.5 miles from Coal Grove, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.43 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.
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 151 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 0.1 miles (SR 243 / Marion Pike): Navigation decision point; at 39.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 73.5 miles (US 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Coal Grove, OH to Dayton, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and Hopewell Culture National Historical Park.
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.
