Dayton to Columbus drive: Things to do, distance & time
The distance from Dayton to Columbus by car is 71 miles, with a 1h4m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Dayton to Columbus drive are Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House, the Hartman Rock Garden and Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
Planning a Dayton to Columbus road trip
A Dayton to Columbus road trip through Ohio takes you from the home of the Wright Brothers to the state capital.
Dayton, Ohio, isn’t a massive city, but it has more than played its part in history. It was here that Orville and Wilbur Wright created the first plane capable of manned, sustained flight. The original Wright Cycle Company Shop that still stands is not where the Wright Flyer was made – that was a future incarnation of the company HQ – but it was home to their bicycle business.
In Dayton, you can also visit the SunWatch Indian Village, a recreated Native American village, and the National Museum of the US Air Force.
In Columbus, a three day attractions pass covers most of the top sights. These include the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. For other Columbus experiences, try scavenger hunts, a town tour aboard the Trolley Pub and the Legoland Discovery Center.
Dayton to Columbus distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Dayton to Columbus is 71 miles. That makes for a driving time of one hour and four minutes.
The quickest route is along the I-70. The best things to do between Dayton and Columbus are Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House, the Hartman Rock Garden and Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
Dayton to Columbus road trip stops: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House
In Springfield, Ohio, the Westcott House is a classic piece of Prairie-style architecture from Frank Lloyd Wright. It was designed for seeding machine magnate Burton Westcott, but was turned into apartments after Westcott’s death. This radically changed the interior, but strenuous efforts have been made to return it to the original design.
Tours of the house are available, and are best booked in advance.
Best stops between Dayton and Columbus: Hartman Rock Garden
The strangest attraction in Springfield, Ohio, is the Hartman Rock Garden. This mini castle and garden is a labour of love created by self-taught artist Ben Hartman. Over 12 years, he created an extraordinary array of sculptures and figurines out of rock, putting them together for a very unusual artistic masterpiece.
Guided and self-guided tours are available, and there’s a no-touch policy.
Dayton to Columbus drive: Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park
There are several walking trail within the Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park. The 0.9 mile Cobshell walk takes you through the woods to a scenic lookout deck that takes in Big Darby Creek. Other trails take in wetlands, meadows and Osprey Lake.
But the main reason to visit is the bison herd, which has been reintroduced across two large paddocks.
More Dayton road trips
Dayton to Chicago | Dayton to Cleveland | Dayton to Detroit | Dayton to Indianapolis.
More Columbus road trips
Akron to Columbus | Columbus OH to Ann Arbor | Columbus OH to Atlanta | Columbus to Buffalo | Canton OH to Columbus OH | Columbus OH to Chicago | Columbus to Cincinnati | Columbus to Cleveland | Dallas to Columbus | Columbus to Detroit | Columbus to Indianapolis | Lexington to Columbus | Columbus to Louisville | Nashville to Columbus | Columbus to Philadelphia | Columbus to Pittsburgh | St Louis to Columbus | Toledo to Columbus.