Origin
Forest Park, OH
Late night in Forest Park on Wednesday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Forest Park, OH to Dayton, OH
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
52m
Distance
41.9 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest Park, OH
Lejla
Dayton, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Forest Park, OH to Dayton, OH covers 41.9 miles and takes about 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Mill Creek Expressway, Circle Freeway, West Kemper Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.1 miles on Mill Creek Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.50 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
21 miles from Forest Park, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 52m highway drive covering 41.9 miles, with most of the trip on Mill Creek Expressway and Circle Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 36.1 miles on Mill Creek Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Mill Creek Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 36.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Mill Creek Expressway and Circle Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Kemper Road.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 41.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Kemper Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (SR 4 / Springfield Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (I 275 / Circle Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Kemper Road
Turn right onto West Kemper Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
SR 4 / Springfield Pike
Turn left onto SR 4 / Springfield Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 275 / Circle Freeway
Merge onto I 275 / Circle Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 75 North: Dayton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 43B
Toward I 75 North: Dayton
8
40.9 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward Second Street, Salem Avenue, 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53
Toward Second Street, Salem Avenue, 1st Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mill Creek Expressway | 36.1 mi | 41m |
| Circle Freeway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| West Kemper Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Springfield Pike | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Ludlow Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Mill Creek Expressway
— 36.1 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest Park, OH and Dayton, OH.
1
Start on Kenn Road
51 ft
·
5 sec
·
Kenn Road
2
Turn right onto West Kemper Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Kemper Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto SR 4
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Springfield Pike
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 275 East: Dayton
5
Merge onto I 275
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Circle Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 43B
Toward I 75 North: Dayton
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 75
36 mi
·
41 min
·
Mill Creek Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 53
Toward Second Street, Salem Avenue, 1st Street
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto West 1st Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
West 1st Street
10
Turn right onto SR 48
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Ludlow Street
11
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
514 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 3rd Street
12
Turn right onto South Main Street
221 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
South 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 21 miles from Forest Park, OH, or about 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.1 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 41.9 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 21 miles or 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dayton, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Forest Park, 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 Forest Park, OH
This is one driving day of about 41.9 miles and 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Forest Park, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Mill Creek Expressway for about 36.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21 mi from Forest Park, OH · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21 miles from Forest Park, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dayton, OH
The final approach into Dayton, OH usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Dayton, OH.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.50 one way
$13.01 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $7.22 | $14.43 |
| premium | $4.91 | $8.10 | $16.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.25 | $18.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.67 | $1.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Dayton, OH
Late night in Dayton on Wednesday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
52m 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 Forest Park, OH to Dayton, OH covers 41.9 miles and takes about 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mill Creek Expressway, Circle Freeway, West Kemper 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 21 miles from Forest Park, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.50 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 is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 41.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Kemper Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (SR 4 / Springfield Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (I 275 / Circle Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Forest Park, OH to Dayton, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Dayton, OH
More from Forest Park, OH
More trips to Dayton, OH
Explore more options from Forest Park, OH or browse trips ending in Dayton, OH.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse OH road trips.
Explore maps for Forest Park, OH or Dayton, OH on MapSof.net.