Origin
Columbus, OH
Late night in Columbus on Thursday
Local time
1:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbus, OH to Etna, OH
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
28m
Distance
19.4 mi
31 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Etna, OH
Timo Volz
Trip Overview
This short 19.4-mile drive from Columbus, OH to Etna, OH is easily manageable as a day trip, taking approximately 28 minutes. With a highway share of 78%, expect a primarily highway-focused experience. The estimated fuel cost is around $3, making it an economical option for a quick local excursion within the Midwest region. Since there are no recommended stops and the longest uninterrupted stretch is 14.4 miles on East Freeway, this route is best suited for travelers looking for a direct and efficient journey between these two Ohio locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
9.7 miles from Columbus, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
This route leans heavily towards highway driving, with 78% of the journey on faster roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on East Freeway, including an uninterrupted stretch of 14.4 miles. The drive progresses along East Livingston Avenue and SR 310, offering a consistent highway feel for most of the 28-minute trip. Expect efficient travel with minimal slowdowns, characteristic of a route designed for quick transit.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 14.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East Freeway and East Livingston Avenue. You will hit about 11 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 19.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 11 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.
6
3.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 70 East
6
18.4 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward SR 310: Etna, Pataskala
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 118
Toward SR 310: Etna, Pataskala
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 Columbus, OH to Etna, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Pataskala along the way.
Pataskala
18.4 mi in
|
~26m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Freeway | 14.4 mi | 16m |
| East Livingston Avenue | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| SR 310 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South High Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Alum Creek Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Third Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East State Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Freeway
— 14.4 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, OH and Etna, 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
14 mi
·
16 min
·
East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 118
Toward SR 310: Etna, Pataskala
11
Turn left onto SR 310
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
SR 310
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn right onto Pike Street Southwest
254 ft
·
11 sec
·
Pike Street Southwest
13
Arrive at destination
Pike Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Given the short 19.4-mile distance and 28-minute duration, this trip is perfect for a spontaneous outing. You can depart at any time that suits your schedule without needing to worry about breaking up a long journey. The estimated fuel cost of just $3 means you won't need to make frequent fuel stops. Pay attention to the transition from East Freeway to East Livingston Avenue and SR 310, as this is where the road character shifts slightly before reaching Etna.
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 9.7 miles from Columbus, OH, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.4 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 19 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.7 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Etna, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Columbus, OH.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Columbus, OH
This is one driving day of about 19.4 miles and 28m.
At 19.4 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on East Freeway for about 14.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.7 mi from Columbus, OH · 16m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.7 miles from Columbus, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Etna, OH
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Etna, OH if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.01 one way
$6.02 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $3.34 | $6.68 |
| premium | $4.91 | $3.75 | $7.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.28 | $8.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.04 | $0.93 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.70 | $0.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.72 | $1.24 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Etna, OH
Late night in Etna on Thursday
Local time
1:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
9 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
28m 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 Etna, OH covers 19.4 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Freeway, East Livingston Avenue, SR 310. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.7 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 $3.01 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 19.4 miles you will encounter 11 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.
On the drive from Columbus, OH to Etna, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Pataskala along the way.
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