Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
45.6 mi
73 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, OH
Wikimedia Commons
McLean, OH
Jovan Vasiljević
The drive from Columbus, OH to McLean, OH covers 45.6 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 71, State Route 3, Harrisburg Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.3 miles on I 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.08 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 45.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 1h 9m highway drive covering 45.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 71 and State Route 3. The longest continuous stretch is about 12.3 miles on I 71.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and State Route 3. You will hit about 13 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.
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 45.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.2 miles (West Town Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Civic Center Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto South High Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto West Town Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto Civic Center Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 71
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 62, SR 3: Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| State Route 3 | 11.3 mi | 16m |
| Harrisburg Pike | 10 mi | 14m |
| SR 753 | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Old United States Highway 35 Southeast | 3.5 mi | 8m |
| Columbus-Washington C H Road | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Cisco Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, OH and McLean, OH.
Start on this road
Turn right onto East State Street
Turn left onto South High Street
Turn right onto West Town Street
At end of road, turn left onto Civic Center Drive
Continue on South 2nd Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 71
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 62; SR 3
Keep slight right at fork onto US 62; SR 3
Turn straight onto US 62; SR 3
Continue on US 62; SR 3
Turn left onto SR 753
Turn left onto Old United States Highway 35 Southeast
Turn left onto Co 146
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.8 mi from Columbus, OH · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.8 miles from Columbus, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into McLean, 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.
Regular Gas
$7.08 one way
$14.15 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $7.85 | $15.71 |
| premium | $4.91 | $8.81 | $17.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.07 | $20.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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 $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Columbus on Friday
Local time
9:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in McLean on Friday
Local time
9:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
36°F
Mount Sterling, OH
23 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry@if($hasFuel), EIA for fuel prices@endif@if($hasWeather), NOAA Climate Normals for seasonal conditions@endif@if($hasElevation), USGS 3DEP for elevation@endif@if($hasEv), NREL for EV charging@endif@if($hasParks), and NPS for national parks@endif. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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