Columbus Residents- CP Trip Route Decision

Hello, all. This is my first chance to post here in a while. School has been kicking my tail to you know where and back.

Anyway, I'm attending CoasterMania this June and I'm asking for advice on the best / quickest route from Columbus to CP.

I've only driven to CP once and it was last season. I usually bum rides off of someone else. So, I took the route I've only know of as a passenger- US 23 (High Street) out of Columbus to Route 4 into Sandusky. I particularly didn't enjoy the drive, mostly because I was paranoid of flying through a small town without noticing a lower speed limit. The drive back was almost like death... okay, not that bad, but I was struggling on the way back to Columbus.

So, I'm thinking about 2 different routes and this is where I need advice.

Route 1: I-71 N to US 250 (not sure if its N or W) into Sandusky. Drive-Time: 2 hrs, 54 minutes according to Mapquest.

Route 2: I-71N to the Ohio Turnpike W to US 250 (N or W) into Sandusky. Drive-Time: ??

My goal is to stay off of small highways as much as possible (I'm definitely an interstate driver). Although Route 2 appeals to me the most on paper because its mostly an interstate drive, I'm worried I'd be wasting time driving out toward Cleveland / Akron and then having to work back toward the center of the state. But with a higher sustained speed limit, would this be the case?

What do any of you think? Is US 250 any better of a drive than US 4? If my "traditional" route is the wiser choice, I'll suck it up, get a healthy night's rest, and mentally prepare for the drive.

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you in advance!

-----------------
OHIcOaster
"Back seat, no hands."

Your Route 1 is THE FASTEST WAY to CP from Columbus.

*** This post was edited by S00perGIR on 5/25/2002. ***

Instead of taking the Ohio Turnpike to US250, there is another route you can go that will significantly cut your drive time. My husband and I have tried every thinkable route from our home to Cedar Point and we have found this way to be the quickest.

Take I-71 to the Turnpike, head west and get off at Elyria/Lorain exit (Rt. 57, which is $0.70). Go north on Rt. 57 for approximately 1/2 a mile and merge onto Rt. 2 west (an extension of I-90). This will take you to Rye Beach Road, thus delivering you to the Cedar Point gate in about one hour from Rt. 71.

So, the drive time between your original route # 1 and this modified version of your route #2 are the same length of time. If you prefer to keep your driving to all highway, I would highly recommned using this route. US250 is full of stoplights and other nonsense that really slow down the drive time.

Hope this helps in your decision.

-----------------
-Stephanie
Moderator and Wife to the self-contained Freak Show

Good God. People who insist on driving IR-71 are the reason people think Cedar Point is significantly further away from Columbus than Kings Island (it's not; the difference is only about 20 miles).
From my house, IR-71 to OH-750 to US-23 to OH-4 is 105 miles and takes 2:15. That is the most direct way to get there. (Okay, you can chop off one mile by going up OH-98 to Bucyrus).
By comparison, IR-71 to US-250 is 76 miles (1:10), US-250 to Sandusky is another 50 miles for a total of 126 miles and a total drive time of about 2:30 assuming no delays.
IR-71 to (basically) OH-2 is about 175 miles and at 65 mph will take 2:45.
My advice? Forget the interstate, save an hour and go up on the little country roads. OH-4 doesn't even have any curves in it!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
(Disclaimer: IR-71 between Columbus and Cleveland is one of my least favorite stretches of highway in the state...)

We always go 23 to 4 to 2. We get there in 2hr 40mins

-----------------
Good Times!! Good Times!!
-Patrick

Excellent! Thank you all for the advice.

-----------------
OHIcOaster
"Back seat, no hands."