The drive from Columbus, OH to Ripley, OH covers 102.7 miles and takes about 2h 30m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Leesburg Avenue, Main Street, I 71 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.1 miles on Leesburg Avenue.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.94 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
51.4 miles from Columbus, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 102.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 30m drive with frequent turns across 102.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Leesburg Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 42.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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.
Driving Effort6/10
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 102.7 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 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.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|West Town Street
Turn right onto West Town Street
Navigation decision point
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.
5
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|I 71
Merge onto I 71
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
13.1 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward US 62, SR 3: Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 94
Toward US 62, SR 3: Harrisburg
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Leesburg Avenue
42.1 mi
1h 2m
Main Street
14.7 mi
22m
I 71
12.3 mi
14m
State Route 3
12.2 mi
18m
Harrisburg Pike
10 mi
14m
US 62
5.4 mi
7m
Columbus Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Columbus-Washington C H Road
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Leesburg Avenue
— 42.1 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, OH and Ripley, 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·29 sec·South 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·14 sec
8
Merge onto I 71
12 mi·14 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 94Toward US 62, SR 3: Harrisburg
10
Turn left onto US 62; SR 3
10.0 mi·14 min·Harrisburg Pike
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 62; SR 3
1.1 mi·1 min·East Main Street
12
Turn straight onto US 62; SR 3
1.3 mi·1 min·Columbus-Washington C H Road
13
Continue on US 62; SR 3
12 mi·18 min·State Route 3
14
Continue on US 62; SR 3
0.9 mi·1 min·Columbus Avenue
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 62; SR 3
0.5 mi·41 sec·Columbus Avenue
16
Continue on US 22; US 62; SR 3
0.6 mi·1 min·East Court Street
17
Turn slight left onto US 62
42 mi·1 hr 2 min·Leesburg Avenue
18
Continue on US 62
15 mi·22 min·Main Street
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 62; US 68
5.4 mi·7 min·US 62; US 68
Toward US 62 West: Ripley
20
Turn right onto US 52
0.3 mi·49 sec·South 2nd Street
21
Turn right onto Main Street
98 ft·4 sec·Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
Main Street
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 51.4 miles from Columbus, OH, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.1 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 23 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.4 miles or 1h 13m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ripley, 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 102.7 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 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 Leesburg Avenue for about 42.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.4 mi from Columbus, OH
· 1h 13m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Nearly 2000 years ago, Native Americans built dozens of monumental mounds and earthen enclosures in southern Ohio. These earthwork complexes were ceremonial landscapes used for feasts, funerals, ritua...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 46.1
Caution: Hopeton Earthworks Closed for Construction Until May 2026
Throughout his life, Charles Young overcame countless obstacles in his ascent to prominence. In spite of overt racism and stifling inequality, Young rose through the military ranks to become one of th...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 42.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.94 one way
$31.88 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$17.69
$35.38
premium
$4.91
$19.85
$39.70
diesel
$5.61
$22.67
$45.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.8
0
$10.78
$4.93
Efficient EV
25.7
0
$8.99
$4.11
EV Truck/SUV
41.1
0
$14.38
$6.57
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 15, 2026
Origin
Columbus, OH
Afternoon
in Columbus on Saturday
Local time
12:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ripley, OH
Afternoon
in Ripley on Saturday
Local time
12:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Leesburg, OH
51 mi in
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
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
2h 30m 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 Ripley, OH covers 102.7 miles and takes about 2h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Leesburg Avenue, Main Street, I 71. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.4 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 $15.94 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 102.7 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.
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.
The route from Columbus, OH to Ripley, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
