Origin
Northwood, OH
Morning in Northwood on Wednesday
Local time
6:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Northwood, OH to Kettering, OH
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 31m
Distance
171.1 mi
275 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 19m
★
6 AM
3h 31m
8 AM
3h 56m
10 AM
3h 40m
12 PM
3h 37m
3 PM
3h 41m
5 PM
3h 55m
8 PM
3h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northwood, OH
El Capra
Kettering, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Northwood, OH to Kettering, OH covers 171.1 miles and takes about 3h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 35, US 52, US 23 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.5 miles on US 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.55 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
85.5 miles from Northwood, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 31m highway drive covering 171.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 35 and US 52. The longest continuous stretch is about 67.5 miles on US 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 67.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 35 and US 52. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near CR 107.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 171.1 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 0.6 miles (CR 107): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (SR 7): Lane positioning matters here; at 60.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR 107
At end of road, turn right onto CR 107
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
6.4 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
SR 7
Turn right onto SR 7
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
60.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 23 North: Chillicothe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 16
Toward US 23 North: Chillicothe
5
94.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
|
US 35
Keep slight left at fork onto US 35 toward US 35 West: Dayton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 35 West: Dayton
6
167.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 23m in
|
East Stroop Road
Turn left onto East Stroop Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 35 | 67.5 mi | 1h 14m |
| US 52 | 34.6 mi | 38m |
| US 23 | 33.5 mi | 45m |
| Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway | 16.4 mi | 17m |
| CR 107 | 5.8 mi | 10m |
| East Stroop Road | 3.8 mi | 7m |
| Indian Ripple Road | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| SR 7 | 3.2 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
US 35
— 67.5 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northwood, OH and Kettering, OH.
1
Start on TR 1159
25 ft
·
6 sec
·
Ash Street
2
Turn left onto TR 1105
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Demaria Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto CR 107
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
CR 107
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on CR 107
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
CR 107
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto SR 7
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
SR 7
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 52
35 mi
·
38 min
·
US 52
7
Take the exit onto SR 823
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway
Toward SR 823 North: Chillicothe
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 16
Toward US 23 North: Chillicothe
9
Merge onto US 23
34 mi
·
45 min
·
US 23
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 35
68 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
US 35
Toward US 35 West: Dayton
11
Take the exit
523 ft
·
19 sec
12
Turn left onto T-48
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Factory Road
13
Turn right onto Shakertown Road
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Shakertown Road
14
Turn left onto North Alpha Bellbrook Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Alpha Bellbrook Road
15
Turn right onto C-36
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Indian Ripple Road
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto East Stroop Road
3.8 mi
·
7 min
·
East Stroop Road
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
West Stroop Road
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 85.5 miles from Northwood, OH, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.5 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 80 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.5 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kettering, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Northwood, 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 Northwood, OH
This is one driving day of about 171.1 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Northwood, 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 US 35 for about 67.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85.5 mi from Northwood, OH · 1h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.5 miles from Northwood, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.5 miles.
Arriving in Kettering, OH
The final approach into Kettering, 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 Kettering, 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
$26.55 one way
$53.11 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $29.47 | $58.94 |
| premium | $4.91 | $33.07 | $66.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.78 | $75.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.3 | 0 | $17.97 | $8.21 |
| Efficient EV | 42.8 | 0 | $14.97 | $6.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.4 | 0 | $23.95 | $10.95 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Kettering, OH
Morning in Kettering on Wednesday
Local time
6:32 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
19 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 31m 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 Northwood, OH to Kettering, OH covers 171.1 miles and takes about 3h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 35, US 52, US 23. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.5 miles from Northwood, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.55 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 171.1 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 0.6 miles (CR 107): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (SR 7): Lane positioning matters here; at 60.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Northwood, OH to Kettering, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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