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Create accountDrive Time
2h 7m
Distance
97.1 mi
156 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union City, OH
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Cincinnati, OH
Eyes2Soul Eyes2Soul
The drive from Union City, OH to Cincinnati, OH covers 97.1 miles and takes about 2h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, Dayton Road, East Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.4 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.52 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
48.5 miles from Union City, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
The drive from Union City, OH to Cincinnati, OH covers 97.1 miles and takes about 2h 7m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
697 ft
Total Descent
942 ft
Highest Point
1,108 ft
Elevation Range
514 ft
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.8 miles in near SR 49; SR 118; SR 571 / South Broadway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 97.1 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 11.8 miles (SR 49; SR 118; SR 571 / South Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (South Broadway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 37 miles (SR 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn right onto SR 49; SR 118; SR 571 / South Broadway
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto South Broadway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 49 toward SR 49 South: Clayton, Trotwood
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Mitchell Avenue, Saint Bernard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Saint Bernard, Xavier University, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Zoo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
On the drive from Union City, OH to Cincinnati, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Trotwood along the way.
Trotwood
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 46.4 mi | 55m |
| Dayton Road | 17 mi | 19m |
| East Main Street | 11.3 mi | 16m |
| SR 49 | 10 mi | 14m |
| South Dayton Greenville Pike | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| Vine Street | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Sweitzer Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North State Street | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, OH and Cincinnati, OH.
Start on SR 47
Turn left onto North State Line Street
Turn left onto SR 571
Continue on SR 49; SR 571
Turn left onto SR 49; SR 571
At end of road, turn right onto SR 49; SR 118; SR 571
Enter roundabout onto South Broadway
Continue on South Broadway
Turn right onto SR 49; SR 121
Turn right onto SR 49; SR 121
Turn left onto SR 49
Continue on SR 49
Continue on SR 49
Continue on SR 49
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 49
Continue on West 1st Street
Continue on West 1st Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 75; SR 4
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto West Mitchell Avenue
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto Vine Street
Continue on Jefferson Avenue
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto Calhoun Street
Turn left onto Ohio Avenue
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.5 miles or 1h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cincinnati, OH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Union City, 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 Union City, OH
This is one driving day of about 97.1 miles and 2h 7m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.5 mi from Union City, OH · 1h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 48.5 miles from Union City, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati, OH.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$14.52 one way
$29.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.24 | $16.22 | $32.43 |
| premium | $4.79 | $18.31 | $36.62 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $21.57 | $43.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.1 | 0 | $10.20 | $4.66 |
| Efficient EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.50 | $3.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.8 | 0 | $13.59 | $6.21 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Union City on Sunday
Local time
8:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Evening in Cincinnati on Sunday
Local time
8:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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