Origin
Fairfield Beach, OH
Afternoon in Fairfield Beach on Friday
Local time
12:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield Beach, OH to Columbus, OH
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
36.6 mi
59 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield Beach, OH
David Kanigan
Columbus, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fairfield Beach to Columbus is 36.6 miles and takes about 51 minutes via I 70, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest and is entirely within Ohio, making it a straightforward journey. It’s a highway-focused drive, perfect for a quick relocation or a day trip. You won't encounter significant changes in scenery, but it's a reliable route for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Plan for a smooth and uncomplicated drive.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 36.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a primarily highway-focused drive, with about 67% of the route utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 24.6 miles on I 70, offering a consistent pace. This section is characterized by its highway nature, meaning you'll experience higher speeds and less varied scenery. The transition onto Blacklick-Eastern Road Northeast and Lancaster-Newark Road Northeast will likely involve a slight shift in pace but remains largely on well-maintained roads suitable for steady travel. Overall, it’s a drive that prioritizes directness over scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 24.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Blacklick-Eastern Road Northeast. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 36.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 10.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 10.6 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
10.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Columbus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 70 West: Columbus
5
10.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
35.2 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 101B
Toward Downtown
6
35.8 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
South Grant Avenue
Turn right onto South Grant Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
36.2 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
East State Street
Turn left onto East State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 24.6 mi | 27m |
| Blacklick-Eastern Road Northeast | 4 mi | 7m |
| Lancaster-Newark Road Northeast | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Shell Beach Road Northeast | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Lancaster Road Southwest | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Refugee Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Fairfield Beach Road Northeast | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East State Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 24.6 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield Beach, OH and Columbus, OH.
1
Start on Laurel Road Northeast
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Laurel Road Northeast
2
Continue on Laural Road
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Laural Road
3
Continue on Laurel Road Northeast
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Laurel Road Northeast
4
Turn right onto CR 3
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Fairfield Beach Road Northeast
5
Turn left onto CR 84
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Shell Beach Road Northeast
6
Turn right onto SR 204
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Blacklick-Eastern Road Northeast
7
Continue on SR 204
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Lancaster Street
8
Turn left onto SR 204
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Refugee Street
9
Continue on SR 204
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Blacklick-Eastern Road Northeast
10
Turn right onto SR 37
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Lancaster-Newark Road Northeast
11
Continue on SR 37
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Lancaster Road Southwest
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 70 West: Columbus
13
Merge onto I 70
25 mi
·
27 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 101B
Toward Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on East Mound Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
East Mound Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto South Grant Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Grant Avenue
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto East State Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East State Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right
88 ft
·
6 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.3 mi from Fairfield Beach, OH · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.3 miles from Fairfield Beach, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Columbus, OH
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Columbus, OH if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.68 one way
$11.36 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $6.30 | $12.61 |
| premium | $4.91 | $7.07 | $14.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.08 | $16.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.20 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Columbus, OH
Afternoon in Columbus on Friday
Local time
12:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Etna, OH
18 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
6 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
51m 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 Fairfield Beach, OH to Columbus, OH covers 36.6 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, Blacklick-Eastern Road Northeast, Lancaster-Newark Road Northeast. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.3 miles from Fairfield Beach, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.68 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 36.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 10.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 10.6 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fairfield Beach, OH to Columbus, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
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.
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