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Trip from Dayton, OH to Jefferson, OH

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 46m

Distance

89 mi

143 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 39m ★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m

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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Downtown Dayton, OH, OH

Dayton, OH

Wikimedia Commons

village in Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States

Jefferson, OH

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Dayton, OH to Jefferson, OH covers 89 miles and takes about 1h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 70, SR 4, Southeast Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.2 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.81 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.

Midpoint

44.5 miles from Dayton, OH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 89 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 46m highway drive covering 89 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and SR 4. The longest continuous stretch is about 49.2 miles on I 70.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 49.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and SR 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 89 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 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 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 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward I 75 North, SR 4 North: Toledo, Springfield

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 75 North, SR 4 North: Toledo, Springfi...
8
0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in

Keep slight right at fork toward SR 4 North: Springfield

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward SR 4 North: Springfield
7
11.5 mi into trip | ~15m in | SR 4

Take the exit onto SR 4 toward US 70 East, SR 4 North: Columbus

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. Toward US 70 East, SR 4 North: Columbus
7
75.2 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in

Take the exit toward US 33 East: Lancaster

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 105A Toward US 33 East: Lancaster
8
85.3 mi into trip | ~1h 39m in

Take the exit toward Hill Road, Diley Road

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 139 Toward Hill Road, Diley Road

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 70 49.2 mi 53m
SR 4 16.2 mi 20m
Southeast Expressway 8.8 mi 11m
East Freeway 3.6 mi 4m
West Freeway 3.2 mi 4m
Winchester Road Northwest 2 mi 3m
South Innerbelt 1.9 mi 2m
Waterloo Road Northwest 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 70 — 49.2 mi, about 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dayton, OH and Jefferson, OH.

1

Start on South Main Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
2

Take the ramp

141 ft · 3 sec
Toward I 75 North, SR 4 North: Toledo, Springfield
3

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward SR 4 North: Springfield Use the straight / slight left lanes.
4

Merge onto SR 4

10 mi · 13 min · SR 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit onto SR 4

5.8 mi · 7 min · SR 4
Toward US 70 East, SR 4 North: Columbus Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

49 mi · 53 min · I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 70

3.2 mi · 4 min · West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 70

1.5 mi · 2 min · South Innerbelt
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

0.4 mi · 31 sec · South Innerbelt
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 70

3.6 mi · 4 min · East Freeway
Use the straight lane.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Exit 105A Toward US 33 East: Lancaster Use the slight right lane.
12

Continue on US 33

0.3 mi · 29 sec · College Avenue
Use the straight lane.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto US 33

8.8 mi · 11 min · Southeast Expressway
Use the straight lane.
14

Continue on US 33

0.7 mi · 48 sec · Columbus-Lancaster Road Northwest
15

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 139 Toward Hill Road, Diley Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Turn right onto CR 18

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Diley Road
Use the right lane.
17

Continue on CR 18

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Hill Road Northwest
18

Turn left onto Waterloo Road Northwest

0.9 mi · 1 min · Waterloo Road Northwest
19

Turn left onto CR 23

2.0 mi · 3 min · Winchester Road Northwest
20

Arrive at destination

CR 23

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.5 miles from Dayton, OH, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.2 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 20 miles or 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 44.5 miles or 51m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson, OH than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Dayton, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Dayton, OH

This is one driving day of about 89 miles and 1h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Dayton, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 49.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 44.5 mi from Dayton, OH · 51m into the drive

village in Jefferson Township, Madison County, Ohio, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

West Jefferson, OH

45 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

Springfield, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Harmony, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 44.5 miles from Dayton, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Jefferson, OH

The final approach into Jefferson, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established to honor the lives and achievements of poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar and aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Through p...

1 mi from route ~2 min detour Free near mile 6.1
View on nps.gov
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument

Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument

National Monument

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...

12 mi from route ~30 min detour Free near mile 15.4
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.81 one way

$27.63 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.38 $15.33 $30.66
premium $4.91 $17.20 $34.40
diesel $5.61 $19.65 $39.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26.7 0 $9.34 $4.27
Efficient EV 22.3 0 $7.79 $3.56
EV Truck/SUV 35.6 0 $12.46 $5.70

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (68% 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

Dayton, OH

Night in Dayton on Thursday

Local time

10:17 PM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Jefferson, OH

Night in Jefferson on Thursday

Local time

10:17 PM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

32°F

West Jefferson, OH

45 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

3 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 46m 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 Dayton, OH to Jefferson, OH covers 89 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, SR 4, Southeast Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.5 miles from Dayton, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.81 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 89 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 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles (SR 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Dayton, OH to Jefferson, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Jefferson, OH to Dayton, OH

Plan the drive back the other way.

90.1 mi 1h 48m

Continue From Jefferson, OH

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