Origin
Columbus, OH
Night in Columbus on Thursday
Local time
11:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbus, OH to Clay, OH
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
82.7 mi
133 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 44m
★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Clay, OH
Haberdoedas Photography
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbus, OH to Clay, OH covers 82.7 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Portsmouth - Columbus Road, US 35, South High Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.5 miles on Portsmouth - Columbus Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.83 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
41.3 miles from Columbus, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 82.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from Columbus, OH to Clay, OH covers 82.7 miles and takes about 1h 52m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Portsmouth - Columbus Road is the longest continuous segment at about 36.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East State Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 82.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (East State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South High Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 73.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East State Street
Turn right onto East State Street
Navigation decision point
6
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
73.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward SR 32, SR 124: Athens, 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.
Toward SR 32, SR 124: Athens, Cincinnati
5
73.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
73.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward SR 93: Jackson, Oak Hill
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 93: Jackson, Oak Hill
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Columbus, OH and Clay, OH, road signs point toward Cincinnati and Oak Hill.
Cincinnati
73.1 mi in
|
~1h 37m
Oak Hill
73.9 mi in
|
~1h 38m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth - Columbus Road | 36.5 mi | 47m |
| US 35 | 27.5 mi | 32m |
| South High Street | 9 mi | 17m |
| East Main Street | 8.5 mi | 12m |
| James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East State Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Portsmouth - Columbus Road
— 36.5 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, OH and Clay, 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
9.0 mi
·
17 min
·
South High Street
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 23
37 mi
·
47 min
·
Portsmouth - Columbus Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 35
27 mi
·
32 min
·
US 35
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward SR 32, SR 124: Athens, Cincinnati
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
8
Merge onto SR 32; SR 124
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward SR 93: Jackson, Oak Hill
10
Turn left onto SR 93
8.5 mi
·
12 min
·
East Main Street
11
Turn left
72 ft
·
3 sec
12
Arrive at destination
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 41.3 miles from Columbus, OH, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.5 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 18 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.3 miles or 59m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clay, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Columbus, OH
This is one driving day of about 82.7 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Columbus, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Portsmouth - Columbus Road for about 36.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.3 mi from Columbus, OH · 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.3 miles from Columbus, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clay, OH
The final approach into Clay, OH usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.83 one way
$25.67 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $14.24 | $28.49 |
| premium | $4.91 | $15.98 | $31.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.26 | $36.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.68 | $3.97 |
| Efficient EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.24 | $3.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.1 | 0 | $11.58 | $5.29 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Clay, OH
Night in Clay on Thursday
Local time
11:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Kingston, OH
41 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
16 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 52m 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 Clay, OH covers 82.7 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Portsmouth - Columbus Road, US 35, South High Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.3 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 $12.83 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 82.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (East State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South High Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 73.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Columbus, OH and Clay, OH, road signs point toward Cincinnati and Oak Hill.
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