Take a smooth ride across the Midwest as we follow Interstate 70 eastward from the Indiana heartland in Richmond to the vibrant outskirts of Dayton, Ohio. This 33-mile stretch provides a quick but engaging look at America’s highway system as it connects small-town charm to metropolitan sprawl, all while hugging the gentle contours of Ohio’s western edge.
Our journey begins on the eastern edge of Richmond, Indiana, just after we’ve passed the entrance ramp from U.S. Highway 40, the classic National Road that predates the interstate system by more than a century. Within moments, we pass under the welcoming blue arch marking the Ohio state line, a bright and iconic entryway heralding our arrival into the Buckeye State. This landmark is more than just a sign; it symbolizes the regional pride Ohioans have in their state and its highways.
Crossing into Preble County, the landscape stays largely pastoral at first, with open farmland spreading out in every direction. The first interchange we approach is a partial exit for U.S. Route 35, a significant corridor that offers a direct route to Eaton and eventually Dayton. Notably, the video misses the sign here—a small reminder that sometimes the camera rolls just a second too late! We quickly follow up with a full interchange at U.S. Highway 127, providing northbound travelers a path to Greenville and Celina and southbound connections towards Hamilton, a more urban outpost near Cincinnati.
Continuing along, the highway slices through the calm and quiet countryside, gently rolling over small ridges and shallow valleys typical of western Ohio. We pass Lewisburg at the junction with Ohio State Route 503, a small town that embodies the slower pace of rural life, before pressing eastward toward the expanding Dayton metropolitan area.
As we approach Brookville, the surroundings begin to subtly shift. The distance between exits shortens, the density of development increases, and the traffic flow quickens. Brookville marks the start of suburban sprawl, and here we encounter Ohio State Route 49 heading north towards Greenville—a historic small town known for its connection to the Treaty of Greenville—and south toward Trotwood and the heart of suburban Dayton. This area represents the blending of farmland with emerging suburbia, a microcosm of Ohio’s broader transition from rural to metropolitan landscapes.
Our ride continues along the northern arc of Dayton’s outer belt. While Interstate 70 never enters the City of Dayton proper, its role in the region is pivotal. The closest brush with Dayton comes near the Dayton International Airport at exit 32, where runways lie just over a mile to the north. This interchange serves as a critical hub for both travelers catching flights and freight moving in and out of the region, especially given Dayton’s historical importance as a logistics and aviation center.
As we approach the final leg of this journey, the traffic thickens, reflecting the convergence of several key routes. We conclude our drive at the sprawling interchange with Interstate 75, often called “The Crossroads of America.” This interchange connects us south to Dayton’s urban core, home of the Wright brothers and the birthplace of aviation, and north to the industrial and agricultural hubs of western Ohio. The route ends without fanfare but leaves us poised at the doorstep of one of the Midwest’s most historically significant cities, where innovation and transportation have long intersected.
This brief but dynamic ride on Interstate 70 showcases the ease of modern interstate travel while offering glimpses into the heritage and landscapes of western Ohio—a stretch where farmlands, small towns, and suburban arteries converge in the flow of America’s heartland.
🗺️ Route Map
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