Trip from South Salem, OH to Carey, OH

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 6m

Distance

135.2 mi

218 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

2h 55m ★

6 AM

3h 7m

8 AM

3h 30m

10 AM

3h 15m

12 PM

3h 13m

3 PM

3h 16m

5 PM

3h 29m

8 PM

3h 0m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Carey, OH

TBD Tuyên

Trip Overview

The drive from South Salem, OH to Carey, OH covers 135.2 miles and takes about 3h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Columbus Pike, SR 753, South Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 48.2 miles on Columbus Pike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.98 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

67.6 miles from South Salem, OH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from South Salem, OH to Carey, OH covers 135.2 miles and takes about 3h 6m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Columbus Pike is the longest continuous segment at about 48.2 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 early in the drive near Stewart Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 135.2 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: near the start (Stewart Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (SR 138): Navigation decision point; at 43.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Stewart Street

Turn left onto Stewart Street

Navigation decision point

4.5 mi into trip | ~8m in | SR 138

Turn right onto SR 138

Navigation decision point

43.7 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Take the ramp toward I 71 North: Columbus

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 71 North: Columbus

44.2 mi into trip | ~1h 10m 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.

78.1 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in | US 23 / Columbus Pike

At end of road, turn left onto US 23 / Columbus Pike

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Columbus Pike	48.2 mi	58m
SR 753	13.8 mi	23m
South Freeway	11.7 mi	13m
State Route 3	11.3 mi	16m
Olentangy Freeway	11 mi	13m
Olentangy River Road	9.7 mi	16m
West Columbus Street	9 mi	12m
US 23	8.9 mi	11m

Longest stretch: Columbus Pike — 48.2 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Salem, OH and Carey, OH.

Start on this road

173 ft · 17 sec · this road

Turn left onto Stewart Street

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Stewart Street

Continue on Lyndon Salem Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · Lyndon Salem Road

Continue on SR 28

3.3 mi · 4 min · State Route 28

Turn right onto SR 138

0.6 mi · 58 sec · SR 138

Keep slight left at fork onto CR 57

1.5 mi · 3 min · Wolfe Road

Turn straight onto SR 753

14 mi · 23 min · SR 753

At end of road, turn right onto US 62; SR 3

11 mi · 16 min · State Route 3

Continue on US 62; SR 3

1.5 mi · 2 min · Columbus-Washington C H Road

Continue on US 62; SR 3

9.0 mi · 12 min · West Columbus Street

Continue on US 62; SR 3

1.7 mi · 2 min · Harrisburg Pike

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 71 North: Columbus Use the right lane.

Merge onto I 71

12 mi · 13 min · South Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on SR 315

1.4 mi · 1 min · West Innerbelt

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on SR 315

11 mi · 13 min · Olentangy Freeway

Use the straight lane.

Continue on SR 315

3.9 mi · 6 min · Olentangy River Road

Enter roundabout onto SR 315

133 ft · 2 sec · Olentangy River Road

Continue on SR 315

2.9 mi · 4 min · Olentangy River Road

Use the straight lane.

Turn slight right

391 ft · 7 sec

Turn slight right onto SR 315

2.9 mi · 4 min · Olentangy River Road

At end of road, turn left onto US 23

48 mi · 58 min · Columbus Pike

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 23

7.4 mi · 8 min · US 23

Take the exit onto US 23

0.3 mi · 42 sec · US 23

Turn right onto US 23; SR 103

1.2 mi · 2 min · US 23; SR 103

Turn right onto SR 103; SR 199

70 ft · 1 sec · East Findlay Street

Arrive at destination

SR 103; SR 199

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 67.6 miles from South Salem, OH, or about 1h 39m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.2 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 30 miles or 50m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 67.6 miles or 1h 39m 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 36m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carey, OH than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving South Salem, 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 South Salem, OH

This is one driving day of about 135.2 miles and 3h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from South Salem, 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 Columbus Pike for about 48.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 67.6 mi from South Salem, OH · 1h 39m into the drive

capital city of Ohio, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Columbus, OH

68 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

Mount Sterling, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dublin, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67.6 miles from South Salem, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Carey, OH

The final approach into Carey, 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 Carey, 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

$20.98 one way

$41.97 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.38	$23.29	$46.57
premium	$4.91	$26.13	$52.26
diesel	$5.61	$29.85	$59.70

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	40.6	$14.20	$6.49
Efficient EV	33.8	$11.83	$5.41
EV Truck/SUV	54.1	$18.93	$8.65

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 kg (66% 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 13, 2026

Origin

South Salem, OH

Late night in South Salem on Thursday

Local time

1:21 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

SW 10 to 14 mph 36% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 13 at 6:08PM EDT until April 13 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

Destination

Carey, OH

Late night in Carey on Thursday

Local time

1:21 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 10 to 15 mph 41% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 13 at 6:08PM EDT until April 13 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana

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

2 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 6m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from South Salem, OH to Carey, OH covers 135.2 miles and takes about 3h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Columbus Pike, SR 753, South Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 67.6 miles from South Salem, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.98 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.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Stewart Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (SR 138): Navigation decision point; at 43.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

The route from South Salem, OH to Carey, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Carey, OH

Akron, OH 170 mi · 3h 27m

Explore more options from South Salem, OH or browse trips ending in Carey, OH.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse OH road trips.

Explore maps for South Salem, OH or Carey, OH on MapSof.net.