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Trip from Riverside, OH to Columbus, OH

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 20m

Distance

67.8 mi

109 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 14m ★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Ohio, United States

Riverside, OH

Wikimedia Commons

capital city of Ohio, United States of America

Columbus, OH

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Riverside, OH to Columbus, OH covers 67.8 miles and takes about 1h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 70, SR 4, I 670 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.2 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.52 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 67.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 20m highway drive covering 67.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and SR 4. The longest continuous stretch is about 49.2 miles on I 70.

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.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 49.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and SR 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.9 miles in near SR 4.

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 67.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 7.9 miles (SR 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.9 miles (I 670): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
7.9 mi into trip | ~11m in | SR 4

Take the exit onto SR 4 toward US 70 East, SR 4 North: Columbus

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. Toward US 70 East, SR 4 North: Columbus
6
13.7 mi into trip | ~18m in | I 70

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
62.9 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in | I 670

Keep slight left at fork onto I 670 toward I 670 East: Airport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 670 East: Airport
8
66.5 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Take the exit toward US 23: Third Street, Fourth 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 4A–B Toward US 23: Third Street, Fourth Street
7
66.7 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 23 South: Third Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 4A Toward US 23 South: Third Street

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 70 49.2 mi 53m
SR 4 12.2 mi 15m
I 670 3.6 mi 4m
North Third Street 0.9 mi 2m
Harshman Road 0.6 mi 1m
Springfield Pike 0.2 mi <1m
Old Harshman Road 0.2 mi <1m
Northcliff Drive <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 70 — 49.2 mi, about 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Riverside, OH and Columbus, OH.

1

Start on this road

185 ft · 16 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Broughton Place

156 ft · 16 sec · Broughton Place
3

Turn left onto Northcliff Drive

345 ft · 16 sec · Northcliff Drive
4

Turn left onto Old Harshman Road

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Old Harshman Road
5

Turn slight right onto Springfield Pike

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Springfield Pike
6

Turn left

0.2 mi · 45 sec
7

Turn straight onto Harshman Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Harshman Road
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward SR 4 North
9

Merge onto SR 4

6.4 mi · 8 min · SR 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit onto SR 4

5.8 mi · 7 min · SR 4
Toward US 70 East, SR 4 North: Columbus Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

49 mi · 53 min · I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 670

3.6 mi · 4 min · I 670
Toward I 670 East: Airport Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Exit 4A–B Toward US 23: Third Street, Fourth Street Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Exit 4A Toward US 23 South: Third Street
15

Turn straight onto US 23

0.9 mi · 2 min · North Third Street
Use the straight lane.
16

Turn right onto East State Street

106 ft · 3 sec · East State Street
Use the right lane.
17

Turn right

88 ft · 6 sec
18

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 33.9 mi from Riverside, OH · 40m into the drive

process by which individual sounds are joined together or composed into whole units or compositions

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Harmony, OH

34 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

Fairborn, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Harmony, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33.9 miles from Riverside, 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

$10.52 one way

$21.04 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 24 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.38 $11.68 $23.36
premium $4.91 $13.10 $26.21
diesel $5.61 $14.97 $29.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20.3 0 $7.12 $3.25
Efficient EV 17 0 $5.93 $2.71
EV Truck/SUV 27.1 0 $9.49 $4.34

Gas CO2

24 kg

EV CO2

8 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.

Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026

Origin

Riverside, OH

Evening in Riverside on Thursday

Local time

6:57 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Columbus, OH

Evening in Columbus on Thursday

Local time

6:57 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Harmony, OH

34 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

15 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 20m 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 Riverside, OH to Columbus, OH covers 67.8 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, SR 4, I 670. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.9 miles from Riverside, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.52 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 67.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 7.9 miles (SR 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.9 miles (I 670): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Riverside, OH to Columbus, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Columbus, OH to Riverside, OH

Plan the drive back the other way.

68.1 mi 1h 20m

Explore more options from Riverside, OH or browse trips ending in Columbus, OH.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse OH road trips.

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