Take a drive through the northern suburbs of Dayton as we follow Interstate 70 from Englewood to Huber Heights and on to its meeting with Interstate 675. This 15-mile stretch of I-70 slices through the outer belt of the Miami Valley, linking quiet suburban neighborhoods with some of the most critical highway infrastructure in the region—including the famed “Crossroads of America” at I-75. Though heavily traveled, the route offers a surprisingly scenic and historically rich view of Dayton’s surrounding communities.
We begin our journey at Exit 29 near Englewood, just west of the Stillwater River. Almost immediately, we rise above the rolling neighborhoods and light industrial zones that define the western edge of Montgomery County. The route here is framed by trees and open spaces, punctuated by retail development and service plazas catering to regional traffic. Soon, the highway curves slightly southeast and ushers us into the heart of Dayton’s highway matrix—the interchange with Interstate 75, known widely as the “Crossroads of America.” This is where two of the nation’s busiest interstates intersect, making it one of the most vital freight and travel junctions in the Midwest. The view from the bridge over I-75 is a layered tangle of ramps and lanes that illustrate Ohio’s importance in the national road network. On either side of the highway, you’ll notice a shift in land use: older neighborhoods line the margins to the south, while to the north, you’ll spot newer subdivisions stretching into the Huber Heights area.
Continuing eastward, we enter Huber Heights, a city famously built on the idea of suburban expansion. Originally a post-war boomtown and one of the first municipalities in the country to embrace large-scale prefabricated housing, Huber Heights still carries echoes of its mid-century identity. From the highway, you’ll catch glimpses of its schools, churches, and the enduring rows of homes that made it one of the fastest-growing suburbs of its time. Just past the Ohio Route 201 interchange, retail becomes more prominent again—shopping centers, fast food chains, and gas stations line both sides of the road, a common sight along suburban interstate corridors.
East of Huber Heights, development begins to thin as we reach the interchange with Ohio Route 4 and Ohio Route 235. This complex junction connects I-70 to destinations as diverse as Fairborn and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base—just a few miles southeast. The area here is a transition zone where suburbia begins to yield to open fields, exurban estates, and tracts of wooded land. You can sense the boundary between Dayton’s reach and the countryside beyond.
Our drive concludes at Exit 44, the northern terminus of Interstate 675, a bypass route that loops around the southeastern side of Dayton toward Beavercreek and Bellbrook. It’s a fitting endpoint to this stretch of highway—a junction that underscores the region’s carefully woven transportation grid. What began as a suburban corridor ends as a springboard to destinations further afield, proving just how interconnected the Dayton area truly is.
Though heavily trafficked and clearly built for efficiency, this segment of I-70 offers more than a means to an end. It traces the edge of a city whose history is deeply rooted in aviation, innovation, and suburban ambition. Whether you’re crossing the country or commuting home, it’s a drive that blends utility with subtle glimpses of a community always in motion.
🗺️ Route Map
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