Origin
Youngstown, OH
Morning in Youngstown on Monday
Local time
8:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Youngstown, OH to Columbus, OH
Drive Time
2h 39m
Distance
172.6 mi
278 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 29m
★
6 AM
2h 39m
8 AM
3h 0m
10 AM
2h 47m
12 PM
2h 45m
3 PM
2h 48m
5 PM
2h 59m
8 PM
2h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, OH
Andy Staver
Trip Overview
The drive from Youngstown, OH to Columbus, OH covers 172.6 miles and takes about 2h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Central Square, Market Street, West Woodland Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.82 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
86.3 miles from Youngstown, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 39m drive with frequent turns across 172.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Central Square is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Youngstown, OH to Columbus, OH is easy. At 2h 39m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Youngstown, OH to Columbus, OH is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Square | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Market Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Woodland Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Shore Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wickliffe Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Kenmore Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 71 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 670 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Central Square
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Youngstown, OH and Columbus, OH.
1
Start on Central Square
125 ft
·
10 sec
·
Central Square
2
Continue on Central Square
341 ft
·
14 sec
·
Central Square
3
Turn straight onto Market Street
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Market Street
4
Turn right onto West Woodland Avenue
230 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Woodland Avenue
5
Take the ramp slight right
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
6
Merge slight left onto South Shore Expressway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Shore Expressway
7
Continue on Wickliffe Expressway
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Wickliffe Expressway
8
Merge slight right
4.6 mi
·
5 min
9
Continue straight
39 mi
·
44 min
10
Keep slight right to continue on Kenmore Expressway
20 mi
·
24 min
·
Kenmore Expressway
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 71 South: Columbus
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 71 South: Columbus
12
Merge slight left
99 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 670 East, I 670 West: Airport, Dayton
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 670 East, I 670 West: Airport, Dayton
14
Keep slight right to continue on I 670 West: Dayton
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 670 West: Dayton
15
Merge slight left onto Northeast Freeway
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Northeast Freeway
16
Keep slight left to continue on Northeast Freeway
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
Northeast Freeway
17
Turn straight onto North Third Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North Third Street
18
Turn right onto East State Street
105 ft
·
4 sec
·
East State Street
19
Turn right
89 ft
·
7 sec
20
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 86.3 miles from Youngstown, OH, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
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 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.3 miles or 1h 19m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbus, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Youngstown, 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 Youngstown, OH
This is one driving day of about 172.6 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Youngstown, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.3 mi from Youngstown, OH · 1h 19m 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 86.3 miles from Youngstown, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Columbus, 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
$25.82 one way
$51.63 round trip
$3.80/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.24 | $28.83 | $57.65 |
| premium | $4.79 | $32.55 | $65.10 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $38.35 | $76.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.8 | 0 | $18.12 | $8.28 |
| Efficient EV | 43.2 | 0 | $15.10 | $6.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69 | 0 | $24.16 | $11.05 |
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
Columbus, OH
Morning in Columbus on Monday
Local time
8:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
54°F
Mansfield, OH
86 mi in
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
20 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
2h 39m 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 Youngstown, OH to Columbus, OH covers 172.6 miles and takes about 2h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Central Square, Market Street, West Woodland Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.3 miles from Youngstown, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.82 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Youngstown, OH to Columbus, OH is easy. At 2h 39m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Youngstown, OH to Columbus, OH is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Youngstown, OH to Columbus, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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