Origin
Columbus, OH
Night in Columbus on Friday
Local time
9:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
24.3 mi
39 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
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
New California, OH
Stephen Leonardi
This short, 24.3-mile drive from Columbus to New California, Ohio, will take you about 32 minutes to complete. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, as it falls entirely within the Midwest region and the state of Ohio. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this route is very budget-friendly. The majority of the journey, 87% to be exact, is on highways, making it a straightforward and efficient commute. You won't need to worry about breaking this drive up or finding overnight accommodations; it's a quick trip that gets you to your destination with minimal fuss.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 24.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 32-minute trip. Approximately 87% of the route utilizes major roadways like the Jack Nicklaus Freeway and US 33, including a significant 8-mile stretch on the Jack Nicklaus Freeway. This means you'll experience consistent speeds and a relatively uninterrupted flow of traffic for extended periods. The character of the drive is largely defined by these faster, more direct sections, offering a modern and efficient transit experience as you move across Ohio.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jack Nicklaus Freeway and US 33. 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.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 24.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
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.
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
At end of road, turn left onto Civic Center Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 270
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward US 42: Plain City, Delaware
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Nicklaus Freeway | 8 mi | 9m |
| US 33 | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| West Freeway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| South Innerbelt | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| US 42 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Town Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Civic Center Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 2nd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, OH and New California, 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 70
Continue on I 70
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 270
Take the exit
Merge onto US 33; SR 161
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 42
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$3.77 one way
$7.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $4.19 | $8.37 |
| premium | $4.91 | $4.70 | $9.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.37 | $10.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.17 |
| Efficient EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.13 | $0.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Columbus on Friday
Local time
9:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in New California on Friday
Local time
9:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
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
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Columbus, OH or browse trips ending in New California, OH.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse OH road trips.