Trip from Columbus, OH to Lodi, OH

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 10m

Distance

145 mi

233 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

2h 59m ★

6 AM

3h 11m

8 AM

3h 34m

10 AM

3h 19m

12 PM

3h 17m

3 PM

3h 20m

5 PM

3h 33m

8 PM

3h 4m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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capital city of Ohio, United States of America

Columbus, OH

Wikimedia Commons

Lodi, OH

www.kaboompics.com

Trip Overview

The drive from Columbus, OH to Lodi, OH covers 145 miles and takes about 3h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East Freeway, Somerton Highway, Hilight for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 98.7 miles on East Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.50 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

72.5 miles from Columbus, OH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
East Freeway	98.7 mi	1h 47m
Somerton Highway	16.7 mi	24m
Hilight	7.9 mi	13m
Dogskin Road	6.1 mi	14m
Barnesville Hendrysburg Road	4.2 mi	6m
East Livingston Avenue	2.7 mi	6m
Dogskin Frieden Road	1.5 mi	3m
West Union Road	1.1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: East Freeway — 98.7 mi, about 1h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, OH and Lodi, OH.

Start on this road

77 ft · 5 sec · this road

Turn right onto East State Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · East State Street

Turn left onto South High Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · South High Street

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto US 62; SR 3

0.1 mi · 29 sec · East Main Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto US 23; US 33

0.3 mi · 56 sec · South Third Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto US 23; US 33

2.7 mi · 6 min · East Livingston Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Alum Creek Drive

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Alum Creek Drive

Use the right lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Toward I 70 East

Merge onto I 70

99 mi · 1 hr 47 min · East Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Exit 202 Toward SR 800: Dennison, Barnesville

Turn straight onto SR 800

4.2 mi · 6 min · Barnesville Hendrysburg Road

Continue on SR 800

1.0 mi · 1 min · Bond Avenue

Continue on SR 800

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Chestnut Street

Continue on SR 800

6.2 mi · 9 min · Somerton Highway

Continue on SR 800

1.0 mi · 1 min · Washington Street

Continue on SR 800

11 mi · 15 min · Somerton Highway

Turn right onto SR 26; SR 800

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Main Street

Continue on SR 26; SR 800

7.9 mi · 13 min · Hilight

Turn left onto CR 9

1.1 mi · 2 min · West Union Road

Turn right onto CR 11

1.5 mi · 3 min · Dogskin Frieden Road

Turn left onto CR 11

4.0 mi · 9 min · Dogskin Road

At end of road, turn left onto CR 11

2.2 mi · 5 min · Dogskin Road

At end of road, turn left onto SR 7

0.6 mi · 56 sec · State Route 7

Arrive at destination

SR 7

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 72.5 miles from Columbus, OH, or about 1h 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.7 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 32 miles or 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 72.5 miles or 1h 24m 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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lodi, 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 145 miles and 3h 10m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Columbus, 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 East Freeway for about 98.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Boston, OH

73 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

Baltimore, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cambridge, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.5 miles from Columbus, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before East Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.7 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

4th & State

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Columbus, Ohio

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+16142245461

Visit website

Haveli Bistro

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Columbus, Ohio

0.4 mi

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Columbus, Ohio

0.7 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Bottoms Up Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Columbus, Ohio

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7:30 am–3 pm

+16146622212

Visit website

Cure Coffee and Cocktails

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Columbus, Ohio

0.4 mi

Moonbird Coffee Co.

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Columbus, Ohio

2.6 mi

4th & State

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Columbus, Ohio

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+16142245461

Visit website

Haveli Bistro

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Columbus, Ohio

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+16148675008

Visit website

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour Moderately

Columbus, Ohio

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+16146213287

Visit website

The Eagle | Short North

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30

Columbus, Ohio

Hours: 4–10 pm

+16147453397

Visit website

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Columbus, Ohio

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

Visit website

Moonbird Coffee Co.

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Columbus, Ohio

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

Scioto Audubon Metro Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Columbus, Ohio

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+16142025197

Visit website

National Museum of Cambridge Glass

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 82.9

Cambridge, Ohio

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+17404324245

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 102.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South High Street

Turn left onto South High Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

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.

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.

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

102.7 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in

Take the exit toward SR 800: Dennison, Barnesville

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

Exit 202 Toward SR 800: Dennison, Barnesville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.50 one way

$45.01 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.38	$24.98	$49.95
premium	$4.91	$28.02	$56.05
diesel	$5.61	$32.01	$64.03

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

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	43.5	$15.23	$6.96
Efficient EV	36.3	$12.69	$5.80
EV Truck/SUV	58	$20.30	$9.28

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (67% 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 18, 2026

Origin

Columbus, OH

Afternoon in Columbus on Saturday

Local time

1:41 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 9 to 15 mph 92% chance Live forecast

Destination

Lodi, OH

Afternoon in Lodi on Saturday

Local time

1:41 PM

EDT

Current temp

50°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

27 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

3h 10m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a 3h 10m highway drive covering 145 miles, with most of the trip on East Freeway and Somerton Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 98.7 miles on East Freeway.

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.

East Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 98.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East Freeway and Somerton Highway. 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.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 145 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.

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 Lodi, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Barnesville along the way.

Barnesville

102.7 mi in | ~1h 57m

About the Cities

Starting in Columbus, OH

Full guide →

Columbus is the capital of the American state of Ohio and is located centrally within the state as the core of the Greater Columbus area. Sited in an area where the Rust Belt, Bible Belt, Appalachia, and the Farm Belt meet, Columbus is a fusion of many different parts of America. It is the home of the Ohio State University. The combination of Ohio Government and the Ohio State University has fueled amazing growth both financially and physically in Columbus. It has created a business and research environment that has provided substantial employment opportunities to the diverse ethnic and local graduates of the Ohio State University, and other academic institutions in Columbus. The Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC), is projected to be one of the top 50 supercomputers in the world and among the top 10 supercomputing academic centers.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 145 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Columbus, OH to Lodi, OH covers 145 miles and takes about 3h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are East Freeway, Somerton Highway, Hilight. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 72.5 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 $22.50 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

On the drive from Columbus, OH to Lodi, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Barnesville along the way.

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.

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Explore more options from Columbus, OH or browse trips ending in Lodi, OH.

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Trip from Columbus, OH to Lodi, OH

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

4th & State

Bottoms Up Coffee

4th & State

Haveli Bistro

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

The Eagle | Short North

Buckeye Food Stop

Darshan | Restaurant & Bar

King Gyros Greek Restaurant

Varsity Club Restaurant & Bar

Bottoms Up Coffee

Cure Coffee and Cocktails

Moonbird Coffee Co.

Scioto Audubon Metro Park

National Museum of Cambridge Glass

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Columbus, OH

Lodi, OH

Same local time

27 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 10m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Columbus, OH

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Columbus, OH to Lodi, OH?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How many breaks should I plan?

How hard is the drive from Columbus, OH to Lodi, OH?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Columbus, OH to Lodi, OH?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Lodi, OH

More from Columbus, OH

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