How far is Cincinnati, OH from Lexington, OH?
The driving distance from Cincinnati, OH to Lexington, OH is about 168.2 miles (270.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 20m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 148.3 miles (238.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 40m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 03h 20m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Village in United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Cincinnati and Lexington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cincinnati and Lexington.
-
1
Start on Ohio Avenue
30 m · 6 sec · Ohio Avenue
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2
Turn right onto West McMillan Avenue
876 ft · 27 sec · West McMillan Avenue
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3
Continue on East McMillan Street
1.3 km · 2 min · East McMillan Street
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4
Take the ramp left
1755 ft · 43 sec
-
5
Merge slight left onto Northeast Expressway
28.8 mi · 35 min · Northeast Expressway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward SR 123: Morrow, Lebanon
1484 ft · 39 sec
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7
Turn right
157 m · 12 sec
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8
Turn left
4.3 mi · 9 min
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9
Turn left onto Middleboro Road
1.9 mi · 5 min · Middleboro Road
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10
At the end of the road, turn left onto Wilmington Road
103 m · 10 sec · Wilmington Road
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11
Take the ramp right toward I 71 North: Columbus
1495 ft · 36 sec
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12
Merge slight left
68.9 mi · 1 hr 15 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeling
2063 ft · 46 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto South Innerbelt
1.3 mi · 2 min · South Innerbelt
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15
Keep slight right to continue on I 71 North: Cleveland
1.6 km · 1 min
-
16
Keep slight left
56.2 mi · 1 hr 2 min
-
17
Take the exit slight right toward SR 97: Lexington, Bellville
1945 ft · 53 sec
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18
Turn left onto State Route 97
2.2 mi · 3 min · State Route 97
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19
Turn left onto Castor Road
1 km · 2 min · Castor Road
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20
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Main Street
884 ft · 23 sec · East Main Street
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21
Turn right
2 m · 1 sec
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Cincinnati and Lexington.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 71 North
Merge slight left
68.9 mi · 01h 15m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving Cincinnati and Sunny near Lexington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Cincinnati to Lexington?
The road trip is about 168.2 miles (270.7 km) and usually takes 03h 20m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Antioch is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.1 miles from Cincinnati and 84.1 miles from Lexington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 148.3 miles (238.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:20 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.01 one way or $44.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cincinnati and Sunny near Lexington.
Stop Ideas Near Antioch
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
London City Hall
Grove City Administration Office
Madison Township Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Antioch.
Columbus, OH
South Portsmouth–South Shore station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Cincinnati and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 148.25 mi (238.58 km).
#1 Cincinnati
The third most populous city in Ohio and the center of the Cincinnati metropolitan area.
| Population | 304,548 |
| Coordinates | 39.1271100, -84.5143900 |
| Altitude | 191 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lexington
Village in Richland County, Ohio, United States
| Population | 5,328 |
| Coordinates | 40.6786700, -82.5823900 |
| Altitude | 371 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lexington (-82.58239, 40.67867)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 271 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 36m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 12m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 21m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 48m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 24m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 05m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.71 | $22.01 | $44.02 |
| Mid-grade | $4.24 | $25.20 | $50.39 |
| Premium | $4.79 | $28.45 | $56.91 |
| Diesel | $4.30 | $25.57 | $51.13 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Ohio · Apr 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.