The drive from Hicksville, OH to Cincinnati, OH covers 177.2 miles and takes about 3h 51m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Harrison Street, Decatur Road, South Barron Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.1 miles on South Harrison Street.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.50 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.6 miles from Hicksville, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Cincinnati is Ohio's third largest city and the largest metro region, and lies on the north bank of the Ohio River in Southwest Ohio in the United States of America.
Cincinnati is distinct amongst Midwestern cities. Its culture is a mixture of the Northeast, Old South, Midwest, and Appalachia blended with a strong German-Catholic heritage. It was one of the United States' early boomtowns, and the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood is the largest National Historic District in the country. Today, it's part of a fast-growing metro area, and home to a remarkable blend of industry and architecture. Downtown Cincinnati is surrounded by picturesque foothills that add a beautiful backdrop to the Queen City and its legendary skyline – celebrated in the opening credits of television show WKRP in Cincinnati.
Top landmarks
•Carew Tower — skyscraper in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
•Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains — cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati in downtown Cincinnati...
•Cincinnati Observatory — other organization in Cincinnati, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 177.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 51m drive with frequent turns across 177.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Harrison Street is the longest continuous segment at about 43.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.7 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 177.2 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: at 29.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.3 miles (US 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
29.7 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward US 27, US 33 South: Fort Wayne, Decatur
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 11
Toward US 27, US 33 South: Fort Wayne, Decatur
8
118.3 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|US 35
Keep slight right at fork onto US 35 toward US 35 East: Eaton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1
Toward US 35 East: Eaton
7
168.5 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Take the ramp toward SR 126 East: Ronald Reagan Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward SR 126 East: Ronald Reagan Highway
7
169.8 mi into trip|~3h 35m in
Take the exit toward Winton Road South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 24A
Toward Winton Road South
6
176.9 mi into trip|~3h 50m in|West McMillan Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto West McMillan Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Hicksville, OH to Cincinnati, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Decatur along the way.
Decatur
29.7 mi in|~39m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Harrison Street
43.1 mi
49m
Decatur Road
26.3 mi
30m
South Barron Street
17.4 mi
25m
SR 37
14.4 mi
21m
Ronald Reagan Expressway
12.2 mi
13m
US 35
10.2 mi
11m
Hamilton Eaton Road
6.8 mi
8m
I 70
6.3 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
South Harrison Street
— 43.1 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hicksville, OH and Cincinnati, OH.
1
Start on South Main Street
130 ft·8 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn left onto SR 2; SR 49
2.6 mi·3 min·West High Street
3
Continue on SR 37
14 mi·21 min·SR 37
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·49 sec
5
Merge onto I 469; US 24; US 30
12 mi·13 min·Ronald Reagan Expressway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 11Toward US 27, US 33 South: Fort Wayne, Decatur
7
Turn left onto US 27
26 mi·30 min·Decatur Road
8
Continue on US 27
43 mi·49 min·South Harrison Street
9
Continue on US 27
6.0 mi·6 min·South 200 E
10
Continue on US 27
0.7 mi·51 sec·Chester Blvd
11
Continue on US 27
5.3 mi·6 min·Chester Boulevard
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
13
Merge onto I 70; US 35
6.3 mi·8 min·I 70; US 35
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 35
10 mi·11 min·US 35
Exit 1Toward US 35 East: EatonUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto US 127; SR 732
17 mi·25 min·South Barron Street
16
Enter roundabout onto US 127; SR 73
89 ft·1 sec·Hamilton Eaton Road
17
Continue on US 127; SR 73
6.7 mi·8 min·Hamilton Eaton Road
18
Continue on US 127
1.2 mi·1 min·North Riverside Drive
19
Continue on US 127
1.7 mi·1 min·North 3rd Street
20
Turn slight left onto US 127
1.1 mi·2 min·North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on US 127
0.5 mi·43 sec·Central Avenue
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 127
5.3 mi·8 min·Pleasant Avenue
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on US 127
6.0 mi·9 min·Hamilton Avenue
Use the straight lane.
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward SR 126 East: Ronald Reagan HighwayUse the left lane.
25
Merge onto SR 126
1.1 mi·1 min·Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 24AToward Winton Road SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn slight right onto Winton Road
3.7 mi·7 min·Winton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Turn left onto I 75 Alt
0.2 mi·29 sec·Spring Grove Avenue
29
Turn right onto Clifton Avenue
1.1 mi·2 min·Clifton Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Continue on Clifton Avenue
1.5 mi·3 min·Clifton Avenue
31
At end of road, turn left onto West McMillan Avenue
0.3 mi·56 sec·West McMillan Avenue
Use the left lane.
32
Turn right onto Ohio Avenue
99 ft·3 sec·Ohio Avenue
33
Arrive at destination
Ohio Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 88.6 miles from Hicksville, OH, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.1 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 39 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.6 miles or 1h 47m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cincinnati, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hicksville, 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 Hicksville, OH
This is one driving day of about 177.2 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Hicksville, 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 South Harrison Street for about 43.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 88.6 mi from Hicksville, OH
· 1h 47m 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.
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...
29 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 128.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.50 one way
$55.00 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$30.52
$61.04
premium
$4.91
$34.25
$68.49
diesel
$5.61
$39.12
$78.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.2
0
$18.61
$8.51
Efficient EV
44.3
0
$15.50
$7.09
EV Truck/SUV
70.9
0
$24.81
$11.34
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
Hicksville, OH
Late night
in Hicksville on Saturday
Local time
4:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cincinnati, OH
Late night
in Cincinnati on Saturday
Local time
4:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
9 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
3h 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 Hicksville, OH to Cincinnati, OH covers 177.2 miles and takes about 3h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Harrison Street, Decatur Road, South Barron Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.6 miles from Hicksville, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.50 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 177.2 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: at 29.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.3 miles (US 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Hicksville, OH to Cincinnati, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Decatur along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
