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Trip from Columbus, OH to Lima, OH

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 56m

Distance

91.8 mi

148 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 48m ★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 1m
3 PM
2h 4m
5 PM
2h 13m
8 PM
1h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

capital city of Ohio, United States of America

Columbus, OH

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lima, OH, OH

Lima, OH

Cup of Couple

Trip Overview

The drive from Columbus, OH to Lima, OH covers 91.8 miles and takes about 1h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 33, SR 117, Bellefontaine Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.3 miles on US 33. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.25 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

45.9 miles from Columbus, OH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 91.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 56m highway drive covering 91.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 33 and SR 117. The longest continuous stretch is about 46.3 miles on US 33.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 33 is the longest continuous segment at about 46.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 33 and SR 117. 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 South High Street.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.8 miles you will encounter 16 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 (Civic Center Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These 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 | Civic Center Drive

At end of road, turn left onto Civic Center Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
7.1 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward I 270

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 93 Toward I 270
7
7.4 mi into trip | ~11m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 270 North: Cleveland

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 270 North: Cleveland
8
16.1 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the exit toward US 33 West, SR 161 West: Marysville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Exit 17B Toward US 33 West, SR 161 West: Marysville

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 33 46.3 mi 50m
SR 117 16.6 mi 24m
Bellefontaine Road 9.9 mi 14m
Jack Nicklaus Freeway 8 mi 9m
West Freeway 5.6 mi 6m
Bellefontaine Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
South Innerbelt 0.6 mi <1m
East Elm Street 0.6 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 33 — 46.3 mi, about 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, OH and Lima, 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

494 ft · 20 sec · South High Street
Use the left lane.
4

Turn right onto West Town Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · West Town Street
5

At end of road, turn left onto Civic Center Drive

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Civic Center Drive
Use the straight lane.
6

Continue on South 2nd Street

0.1 mi · 30 sec · South 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I-70 West
8

Merge onto I 70

0.6 mi · 49 sec · South Innerbelt
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9

Continue on I 70

5.6 mi · 6 min · West Freeway
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Exit 93 Toward I 270 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 270 North: Cleveland Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto I 270

8.0 mi · 9 min · Jack Nicklaus Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 17B Toward US 33 West, SR 161 West: Marysville Use the right lane.
14

Merge onto US 33; SR 161

46 mi · 50 min · US 33; SR 161
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
16

Continue on SR 117

17 mi · 24 min · SR 117
17

Continue on SR 117

9.9 mi · 14 min · Bellefontaine Road
18

Turn straight onto SR 117; SR 309

0.4 mi · 58 sec · Harding Highway
19

Turn straight onto SR 117; SR 309

0.8 mi · 1 min · Bellefontaine Avenue
20

Enter roundabout onto SR 117; SR 309

186 ft · 3 sec · East Elm Street
21

Continue on SR 117; SR 309

0.6 mi · 52 sec · East Elm Street
22

Turn right onto SR 65

0.4 mi · 38 sec · South Central Avenue
23

Turn left onto SR 65; SR 81

0.2 mi · 14 sec · East North Street
24

Arrive at destination

SR 65; SR 81

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 45.9 miles from Columbus, OH, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.3 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 20 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 45.9 miles or 54m 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 Lima, 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 91.8 miles and 1h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Columbus, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 33 for about 46.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 45.9 mi from Columbus, OH · 54m into the drive

Downtown Bellefontaine, OH, OH

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bellefontaine, OH

46 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

Dublin, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

North Lewisburg, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 45.9 miles from Columbus, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lima, OH

The final approach into Lima, 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

$14.25 one way

$28.49 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.38 $15.81 $31.62
premium $4.91 $17.74 $35.48
diesel $5.61 $20.27 $40.54

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: 32.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.5 0 $9.64 $4.41
Efficient EV 23 0 $8.03 $3.67
EV Truck/SUV 36.7 0 $12.85 $5.88

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 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 15, 2026

Origin

Columbus, OH

Night in Columbus on Thursday

Local time

9:56 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lima, OH

Night in Lima on Thursday

Local time

9:56 PM

EDT

Current temp

48°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

18 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 56m 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 Lima, OH covers 91.8 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 33, SR 117, Bellefontaine Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.9 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 $14.25 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 91.8 miles you will encounter 16 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 (Civic Center Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Columbus, OH to Lima, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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