How far is Columbus, OH from Chillicothe, OH?

The driving distance from Columbus, OH to Chillicothe, OH is about 46.3 miles (74.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 43.4 miles (69.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
46.29 mi
01h 06m
Flight
43.4 mi
69.85 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Columbus.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
43.4 mi
Kilometers
69.85 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
46.29 mi
Kilometers
74.49 km
Drive Time
01h 06m

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 01h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chillicothe
Thu, Apr 23, 2:03 AM EDT
Return by in Columbus
Thu, Apr 23, 3:10 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbus
2026-04-23T00:57
Arrive Chillicothe
Thu, Apr 23, 2:03 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:07 AM to 11:07 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:16 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Columbus
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Circleville
OH

City in Pickaway County, Ohio, United States

From Columbus
23.2 mi
00h 33m
To Chillicothe
23.1 mi
00h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph S
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 6 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Columbus and Chillicothe.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbus and Chillicothe.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    23 m · 6 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East State Street

    556 ft · 26 sec · East State Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South High Street

    9 mi · 17 min · South High Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Portsmouth - Columbus Road

    35.2 mi · 46 min · Portsmouth - Columbus Road

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward Main Street, Chillicothe

    1162 ft · 30 sec

  6. 6

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    1.8 mi · 3 min · East Main Street

  7. 7

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Columbus and Chillicothe.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
7 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Portsmouth - Columbus Road
35.2 mi · 76%
South High Street
8.96 mi · 19%
East Main Street
1.82 mi · 4%
Main Street
0.22 mi
East State Street
0.11 mi
Longest Stretch

Portsmouth - Columbus Road

Continue on Portsmouth - Columbus Road

35.2 mi · 00h 46m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 06m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.9 mi
43.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Circleville
00h 33m from Columbus
Leave By
4:16 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Columbus and Sunny near Chillicothe.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Columbus to Chillicothe?

The road trip is about 46.3 miles (74.5 km) and usually takes 01h 06m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Circleville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 23.2 miles from Columbus and 23.1 miles from Chillicothe.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 43.4 miles (69.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:16 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.04 one way or $12.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Columbus and Sunny near Chillicothe.

Stop Ideas Near Circleville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Circleville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Circleville.

BUS

Columbus, OH

40 mi away
111 East Town Street
RAIL

South Portsmouth–South Shore station

98 mi away
Main St & US 23

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbus and Chillicothe. Straight-line distance: 43.4 mi (69.85 km).

Columbus

#1 Columbus

The fifteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Columbus metropolitan area.

Population884,356
Coordinates39.9611800, -82.9987900
Altitude235
CountryUnited States
Chillicothe

#2 Chillicothe

City in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States

Population21,647
Coordinates39.3331200, -82.9824000
Altitude192
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbus (-82.99879, 39.96118)
End: Chillicothe (-82.9824, 39.33312)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 74 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.63 gal
6.18 L · about $6.04
Round trip
$12.08
3.26 gal · 12.36 L
Estimated CO2
14.5 kg one way
Round trip: 29 kg / 64 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.71 $6.04 $12.08
Mid-grade $4.24 $6.91 $13.83
Premium $4.79 $7.81 $15.62
Diesel $4.30 $7.02 $14.03

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

There is no time difference between Columbus and Chillicothe. The current time is 00:57:03.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.