How far is Columbus, OH from Waterford, OH?

The driving distance from Columbus, OH to Waterford, OH is about 98.2 miles (158 km), with a travel time of about 02h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 77.8 miles (125.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 23m 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
98.2 mi
02h 11m
Flight
77.77 mi
125.16 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
77.77 mi
Kilometers
125.16 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
98.2 mi
Kilometers
158.03 km
Drive Time
02h 11m

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 02h 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waterford
Sun, Apr 19, 1:36 AM EDT
Return by in Columbus
Sun, Apr 19, 3:47 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbus
2026-04-18T23:24
Arrive Waterford
Sun, Apr 19, 1:36 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:12 AM to 12:12 PM EDT

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

Leave by
2:06 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
Hopewell
OH

Human settlement in Ohio, United States of America

From Columbus
49 mi
01h 05m
To Waterford
49.2 mi
01h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 16 mph S
Destination
83°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1476 ft · 1 min · South High Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    755 ft · 30 sec · East Main Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto South Third Street

    1350 ft · 56 sec · South Third Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto East Livingston Avenue

    2.7 mi · 6 min · East Livingston Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Alum Creek Drive

    1356 ft · 33 sec · Alum Creek Drive

  8. 8

    Take the ramp left toward I 70 East

    1134 ft · 28 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto East Freeway

    51 mi · 56 min · East Freeway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 60 South, SR 146 East: Seventh Street

    706 ft · 20 sec

  11. 11

    Turn slight left onto Elberon Avenue

    692 ft · 16 sec · Elberon Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Underwood Street

    1556 ft · 30 sec · Underwood Street

  13. 13

    Continue on 9th Street

    1333 ft · 25 sec · 9th Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Wayne Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Wayne Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on South River Road

    6.2 mi · 9 min · South River Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  17. 17

    Continue on South River Road

    16.6 mi · 24 min · South River Road

  18. 18

    Continue on West Riverside Drive

    2696 ft · 46 sec · West Riverside Drive

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Riverside Drive

    29 m · 2 sec · West Riverside Drive

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto West Riverside Drive

    1780 ft · 32 sec · West Riverside Drive

  21. 21

    Continue on West Main Street

    1124 ft · 21 sec · West Main Street

  22. 22

    Continue on East Main Street

    2781 ft · 49 sec · East Main Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Marietta Road

    14.8 mi · 22 min · Marietta Road

  24. 24

    Continue on 5th Street

    760 ft · 19 sec · 5th Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Ferry Street

    1838 ft · 43 sec · Ferry Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Sunset Lane

    65 m · 12 sec · Sunset Lane

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Main Street

    55 m · 12 sec · Main Street

  28. 28

    Turn left

    73 m · 17 sec

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
29 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
29.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East Freeway
51 mi · 52%
South River Road
22.8 mi · 23%
Marietta Road
14.8 mi · 15%
East Livingston Avenue
2.74 mi · 3%
Wayne Avenue
1.36 mi · 1%
Main Street
1.23 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

East Freeway

Merge slight left onto East Freeway

51 mi · 00h 56m

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
02h 11m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.4 mi
77.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hopewell
01h 05m from Columbus
Leave By
2:06 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Columbus and Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms near Waterford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 98.2 miles (158 km) and usually takes 02h 11m 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?

Hopewell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 49 miles from Columbus and 49.2 miles from Waterford.

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

The direct path is about 77.8 miles (125.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.4 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 2:06 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.86 one way or $25.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Columbus and Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms near Waterford.

Stop Ideas Near Hopewell

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Hopewell, 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 Hopewell.

BUS

Columbus, OH

70 mi away
111 East Town Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbus and Waterford. Straight-line distance: 77.77 mi (125.16 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
Waterford

#2 Waterford

Township in Washington County, Ohio

Population3,642
Coordinates39.5423000, -81.6398500
Altitude198
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbus (-82.99879, 39.96118)
End: Waterford (-81.63985, 39.5423)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 158 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.47 gal
13.12 L · about $12.86
Round trip
$25.71
6.94 gal · 26.24 L
Estimated CO2
30.8 kg one way
Round trip: 61.7 kg / 136 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.71 $12.86 $25.71
Mid-grade $4.24 $14.72 $29.44
Premium $4.79 $16.62 $33.24
Diesel $4.30 $14.93 $29.87

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbus and Waterford. The current time is 23:24:27.

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.