Origin
Columbus, OH
Late night in Columbus on Friday
Local time
1:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbus, OH to Riverside, OH
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
68.1 mi
110 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbus, OH to Riverside, OH covers 68.1 miles and takes about 1h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Freeway, SR 4, Harshman Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.6 miles on West Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.57 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 68.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 20m highway drive covering 68.1 miles, with most of the trip on West Freeway and SR 4. The longest continuous stretch is about 57.6 miles on West Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 57.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West Freeway and SR 4. 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 68.1 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 59.2 miles (SR 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese 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.
8
59.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
SR 4
Take the exit onto SR 4 toward SR 4, SR 235: Dayton, New Carlisle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 41
Toward SR 4, SR 235: Dayton, New Carlisle
8
59.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
SR 4
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 4 toward SR 4, SR 235 South: Dayton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 4, SR 235 South: Dayton
6
66.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward Harshman Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Harshman Road
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 Riverside, OH, road signs begin pointing toward New Carlisle along the way.
New Carlisle
59.2 mi in
|
~1h 6m
|
via SR 4
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Freeway | 57.6 mi | 1h 2m |
| SR 4 | 7.2 mi | 9m |
| Harshman Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Innerbelt | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Old Harshman Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Town Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Civic Center Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 2nd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Freeway
— 57.6 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, OH and Riverside, 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
58 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto SR 4
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
SR 4
Exit 41
Toward SR 4, SR 235: Dayton, New Carlisle
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 4
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
SR 4
Toward SR 4, SR 235 South: Dayton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward Harshman Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Harshman Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Harshman Road
14
Turn straight
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
15
Keep slight left at fork
220 ft
·
11 sec
16
Turn left onto Springfield Pike
504 ft
·
10 sec
·
Springfield Pike
17
Turn slight left onto Old Harshman Road
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Old Harshman Road
18
Turn right onto Northcliff Drive
345 ft
·
11 sec
·
Northcliff Drive
19
Turn right onto Broughton Place
156 ft
·
17 sec
·
Broughton Place
20
Turn left
185 ft
·
13 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.1 mi from Columbus, OH · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.1 miles from Columbus, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Riverside, OH
The final approach into Riverside, 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
$10.57 one way
$21.14 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $11.73 | $23.46 |
| premium | $4.91 | $13.16 | $26.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.04 | $30.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.15 | $3.27 |
| Efficient EV | 17 | 0 | $5.96 | $2.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.2 | 0 | $9.53 | $4.36 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Riverside, OH
Late night in Riverside on Friday
Local time
1:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Harmony, OH
34 mi in
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
15 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 20m 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 Riverside, OH covers 68.1 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Freeway, SR 4, Harshman 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 34.1 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 $10.57 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 68.1 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 59.2 miles (SR 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Columbus, OH to Riverside, OH, road signs begin pointing toward New Carlisle along the way.
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