Origin
Kenwood, OH
Evening in Kenwood on Friday
Local time
7:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kenwood, OH to Dayton, OH
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
48.7 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kenwood, OH
Atman Bouba
Dayton, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 48.7-mile drive from Kenwood to Dayton, Ohio, is easily manageable in about 1 hour, making it an ideal day trip. The route primarily utilizes the Mill Creek Expressway, Circle Freeway, and Northeast Expressway, with 90% of the journey on highways. You can expect a fuel cost of around $8 for this short excursion. Given its brevity and focus on efficient travel, this drive is perfect for a quick transfer between two points within the Midwest region, offering a no-fuss experience for those looking to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 48.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, as 90% of the 48.7 miles are on expressways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Mill Creek Expressway, including a continuous stretch of 36.1 miles. This profile suggests a route designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration, characterized by higher speeds and limited local road interaction. The drive's personality is that of a functional corridor, connecting two Ohio cities with minimal detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 around 0.2 miles in near US 22; SR 3 / Montgomery Road.
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 48.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.2 miles (US 22; SR 3 / Montgomery Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 22; SR 3 / Montgomery Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 22; SR 3 / Montgomery Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 71 North: Columbus
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
7
5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 275
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17
Toward I 275
7
11.1 mi into trip
|
~15m 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
47.7 mi into trip
|
~58m 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 | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Northeast Expressway | 3 mi | 3m |
| Montgomery Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Sturbridge Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Ludlow Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Mill Creek Expressway
— 36.1 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kenwood, OH and Dayton, OH.
1
Start on Sturbridge Drive
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
Sturbridge Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 22; SR 3
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Montgomery Road
3
Enter roundabout onto Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway
261 ft
·
4 sec
·
Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway
4
Continue on Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway
5
Take the ramp
478 ft
·
20 sec
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
7
Merge onto I 71
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Northeast Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 17
Toward I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 275 West
10
Merge onto I 275
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Circle Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 43B
Toward I 75 North: Dayton
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 75
36 mi
·
41 min
·
Mill Creek Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 53
Toward Second Street, Salem Avenue, 1st Street
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto West 1st Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
West 1st Street
15
Turn right onto SR 48
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Ludlow Street
16
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
514 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 3rd Street
17
Turn right onto South Main Street
221 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.4 mi from Kenwood, OH · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.4 miles from Kenwood, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.56 one way
$15.12 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $8.39 | $16.78 |
| premium | $4.91 | $9.41 | $18.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.75 | $21.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.11 | $2.34 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.82 | $3.12 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Evening in Dayton on Friday
Local time
7:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 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 Kenwood, OH to Dayton, OH covers 48.7 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mill Creek Expressway, Circle Freeway, Northeast 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 24.4 miles from Kenwood, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.56 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 48.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.2 miles (US 22; SR 3 / Montgomery Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Kenwood, OH to Dayton, 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.
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.
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