Origin
Columbus, OH
Evening in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
8:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbus, OH to Athens, OH
Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
73.7 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, OH
Andy Staver
Athens, OH
Maksim Romashkin
Trip Overview
If you are looking to head south from Columbus to Athens, you are in for a manageable 73.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete it as a straightforward day trip without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the one-way trek. You will be navigating through the Midwest, moving from the state capital into the college-town atmosphere of Athens. Since there are no required stops on this route, it is a convenient, direct option for travelers who prefer to reach their destination quickly.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
36.9 miles from Columbus, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is best characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul. With only 13% of the journey spent on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local roads like Old Logan Road, which features the route's longest uninterrupted stretch of 28.9 miles. You will also utilize the Lancaster Bypass and the Southeast Expressway to navigate your way through the region. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, expect a more technical driving experience than you would find on a major interstate. Stay alert, as the changing road types will require your full attention throughout the 1 hour and 35-minute duration.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Old Logan Road is the longest continuous segment at about 28.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South High Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (South High Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (US 62; SR 3 / East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (US 23; US 33 / South Third Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South High Street
Turn left onto South High Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 62; SR 3 / East Main Street
Turn left onto US 62; SR 3 / East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
0.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 23; US 33 / South Third Street
Turn right onto US 23; US 33 / South Third Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward US 33 East: Lancaster
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 105A
Toward US 33 East: Lancaster
8
70.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward SR 550 East: Amesville, Columbus Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 194
Toward SR 550 East: Amesville, Columbus Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Old Logan Road | 28.9 mi | 32m |
| Lancaster Bypass | 13.8 mi | 14m |
| Southeast Expressway | 8.8 mi | 11m |
| Columbus-Lancaster Road Northwest | 7.6 mi | 9m |
| Logan-Lancaster Road | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| East Livingston Avenue | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Logan-Lancaster Road Southeast | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Columbus Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Old Logan Road
— 28.9 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, OH and Athens, OH.
1
Start on this road
77 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto East State Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East State Street
3
Turn left onto South High Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South High Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto US 62; SR 3
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
East Main Street
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto US 23; US 33
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
South Third Street
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto US 23; US 33
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
East Livingston Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto Alum Creek Drive
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Alum Creek Drive
Use the right lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 70 East
9
Merge onto I 70
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 105A
Toward US 33 East: Lancaster
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on US 33
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
College Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 33
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Southeast Expressway
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 33
7.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Columbus-Lancaster Road Northwest
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 33
14 mi
·
14 min
·
Lancaster Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 33
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Logan-Lancaster Road
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Continue on US 33
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Logan-Lancaster Road Southeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on US 33
29 mi
·
32 min
·
Old Logan Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 194
Toward SR 550 East: Amesville, Columbus Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Columbus Road
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Columbus Road
20
Continue on North Lancaster Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Lancaster Street
21
Continue on South Lancaster Street
394 ft
·
17 sec
·
South Lancaster Street
22
Turn left onto West State Street
483 ft
·
19 sec
·
West State Street
23
Turn right onto North Congress Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Congress Street
24
Turn left onto West Washington Street
372 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Washington Street
25
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 73.7-mile drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning to leave mid-morning can help you avoid local congestion. You do not need to worry about complex stop planning since the trip is short enough to drive in one go, but keeping your fuel budget of $11 in mind is a smart move for your travel expenses. Because the route is turn-heavy, ensure your vehicle is ready for frequent steering adjustments rather than long, straight cruises. Pay close attention to the transitions between the Lancaster Bypass and the Southeast Expressway to keep your navigation smooth. Embracing the lack of mandatory stops allows you to enjoy the direct nature of this Midwest transit.
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 36.9 miles from Columbus, OH, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.9 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 73.7 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.9 miles or 49m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Athens, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Columbus, 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 Columbus, OH
This is one driving day of about 73.7 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Columbus, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Old Logan Road for about 28.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.9 mi from Columbus, OH · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 73.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.9 miles from Columbus, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Athens, OH
The final approach into Athens, 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 Athens, 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
$11.02 one way
$22.05 round trip
$3.80/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.24 | $12.31 | $24.62 |
| premium | $4.79 | $13.90 | $27.80 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $16.37 | $32.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
| Efficient EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.32 | $4.72 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Athens, OH
Evening in Athens on Sunday
Local time
8:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live 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
19 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
1h 35m 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 Columbus, OH to Athens, OH covers 73.7 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Old Logan Road, Lancaster Bypass, Southeast Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.9 miles from Columbus, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.02 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 73.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (South High Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (US 62; SR 3 / East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (US 23; US 33 / South Third Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Columbus, OH to Athens, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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