Origin
Leesburg, OH
Late night in Leesburg on Saturday
Local time
3:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Leesburg, OH to Columbus, OH
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
55.4 mi
89 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leesburg, OH
Tom Fisk
Columbus, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 55.4-mile drive from Leesburg, OH to Columbus, OH is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 21 minutes. The route primarily utilizes Advent Street and State Route 3, with a portion on the South Freeway, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of around $9, this journey through the Midwest is budget-friendly. You'll find this trip offers a convenient transition between smaller towns and the larger urban center of Columbus, making it a practical choice for many travelers. Given its short duration, no overnight stays are necessary.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 55.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The character of this drive is a blend of local roads and highway travel, with 43% of the journey on faster roads. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 14.9 miles on Advent Street, which might feel like a more typical road trip segment. As you progress, expect the scenery to transition from the more rural feel of Leesburg to the developing outskirts and eventually the busier environment as you approach Columbus. It's not a monotonous journey, but rather a progression through different types of Ohio roadways.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Advent Street is the longest continuous segment at about 14.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 41.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 55.4 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 41.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 42.2 miles (I 71 / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.6 miles (I 71): 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 pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
41.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the ramp toward I 71 North: Columbus
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
5
42.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
I 71 / South Freeway
Merge onto I 71 / South Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
53.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
I 71
Take the exit onto I 71 toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeling
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeli...
6
54.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
South Front Street
Turn left onto South Front Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
West State Street
Turn right onto West State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Advent Street | 14.9 mi | 22m |
| State Route 3 | 12.2 mi | 18m |
| South Freeway | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| West Columbus Street | 9 mi | 12m |
| Harrisburg Pike | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Columbus-Washington C H Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Columbus Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West Court Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Advent Street
— 14.9 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leesburg, OH and Columbus, OH.
1
Start on Lyle Street
277 ft
·
17 sec
·
Lyle Street
2
Turn left onto Macy Lane
242 ft
·
12 sec
·
Macy Lane
3
Turn right onto SR 771
270 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Fairfield Street
4
Turn left onto SR 28
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
East Main Street
5
Turn right onto US 62
15 mi
·
22 min
·
Advent Street
6
Continue on US 22; US 62; SR 3; SR 41
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Court Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 62; SR 3
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Columbus Avenue
8
Continue on US 62; SR 3
12 mi
·
18 min
·
State Route 3
9
Continue on US 62; SR 3
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Columbus-Washington C H Road
10
Continue on US 62; SR 3
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
West Columbus Street
11
Continue on US 62; SR 3
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Harrisburg Pike
12
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto I 71
11 mi
·
13 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto I 71
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 71
Toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeling
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 70; I 71
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Innerbelt
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
17
Turn left onto South Front Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Front Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto West State Street
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
West State Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on East State Street
106 ft
·
3 sec
·
East State Street
20
Turn right
88 ft
·
6 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.7 mi from Leesburg, OH · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.7 miles from Leesburg, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Columbus, OH
The final approach into Columbus, 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
$8.60 one way
$17.20 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $9.54 | $19.08 |
| premium | $4.91 | $10.71 | $21.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.23 | $24.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.82 | $2.66 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.85 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.76 | $3.55 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Columbus, OH
Late night in Columbus on Saturday
Local time
3:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Johnson, OH
28 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
14 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 21m 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 Leesburg, OH to Columbus, OH covers 55.4 miles and takes about 1h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Advent Street, State Route 3, South Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.7 miles from Leesburg, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.60 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 55.4 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 41.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 42.2 miles (I 71 / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.6 miles (I 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Leesburg, OH to Columbus, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hopewell Culture 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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