The drive from Parma, OH to Clayton, OH covers 249.2 miles and takes about 5h 10m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 71, Portsmouth - Columbus Road, James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 118.3 miles on I 71.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
124.6 miles from Parma, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 10m. Total distance: 249.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 10m highway drive covering 249.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 71 and Portsmouth - Columbus Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 118.3 miles on I 71.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 118.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Portsmouth - Columbus Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near SR 3 / Ridge Road.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 249.2 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 0.6 miles (SR 3 / Ridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 137.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 137.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 3 / Ridge Road
Turn left onto SR 3 / Ridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
137.5 mi into trip|~2h 39m in
Take the exit toward I 270: Stringtown Road, Grove City
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 101
Toward I 270: Stringtown Road, Grove City
8
137.8 mi into trip|~2h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 East: Stringtown Road, Grove City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 East: Stringtown Road, Grove City
7
138 mi into trip|~2h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 East
8
139.8 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Take the exit toward US 23 North, US 23 South: High Street, Circleville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 52
Toward US 23 North, US 23 South: High Street, C...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Parma, OH and Clayton, OH, road signs point toward Grove City and Circleville.
Grove City
137.5 mi in|~2h 39m
Circleville
139.8 mi in|~2h 43m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
118.3 mi
2h 9m
Portsmouth - Columbus Road
36.5 mi
47m
James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
25.3 mi
29m
US 23
20.4 mi
28m
SR 41
20.1 mi
24m
Ridge Road
14.8 mi
24m
I 271
3.5 mi
4m
Clayton Pike
3.1 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 118.3 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parma, OH and Clayton, OH.
1
Start on West 54th Street
47 ft·8 sec·West 54th Street
2
Turn left onto Snow Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Snow Road
3
Turn left onto SR 3
15 mi·24 min·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 271 South: Wadsworth
5
Merge onto I 271
3.5 mi·4 min·I 271
6
Merge onto I 71
113 mi·2 hr 3 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
5.1 mi·5 min·I 71
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 101Toward I 270: Stringtown Road, Grove CityUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 270 East: Stringtown Road, Grove CityUse the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 270 EastUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 270
1.1 mi·1 min·Jack Nicklaus Freeway
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 52Toward US 23 North, US 23 South: High Street, CirclevilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward US 23 South: Circleville
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
15
Merge onto US 23
2.8 mi·4 min·South High Street
16
Continue on US 23
37 mi·47 min·Portsmouth - Columbus Road
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
20 mi·28 min·US 23
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
19
Turn right onto SR 32; SR 124
25 mi·29 min·James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
381 ft·13 sec
Use the left lane.
21
Merge onto SR 41
20 mi·24 min·SR 41
Use the left lane.
22
Turn sharp right onto C-3
1.6 mi·3 min·Clayton Pike
23
At end of road, turn right onto Clayton Pike
1.5 mi·5 min·Clayton Pike
24
Arrive at destination
Clayton Pike
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 124.6 miles from Parma, OH, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.3 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 55 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.6 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clayton, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Parma, 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 Parma, OH
This is one driving day of about 249.2 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Parma, 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 I 71 for about 118.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 124.6 mi from Parma, OH
· 2h 25m 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.
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Nearly 2000 years ago, Native Americans built dozens of monumental mounds and earthen enclosures in southern Ohio. These earthwork complexes were ceremonial landscapes used for feasts, funerals, ritua...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 180.4
Caution: Hopeton Earthworks Closed for Construction Until May 2026
Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discov...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.68 one way
$77.35 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$42.92
$85.85
premium
$4.91
$48.16
$96.32
diesel
$5.61
$55.02
$110.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.8
0
$26.17
$11.96
Efficient EV
62.3
0
$21.80
$9.97
EV Truck/SUV
99.7
1
$34.89
$15.95
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Parma, OH
Afternoon
in Parma on Friday
Local time
1:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 7 mph78% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Clayton, OH
Afternoon
in Clayton on Friday
Local time
1:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 10m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Parma, OH to Clayton, OH covers 249.2 miles and takes about 5h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 71, Portsmouth - Columbus Road, James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 124.6 miles from Parma, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.68 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 249.2 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 0.6 miles (SR 3 / Ridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 137.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 137.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Parma, OH and Clayton, OH, road signs point toward Grove City and Circleville.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and Cuyahoga Valley National 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.
