Traveling from Akron to Athens covers 159.6 miles across the heart of Ohio, typically taking about 3 hours and 26 minutes to complete. This route relies on a combination of the Akron Expressway, I-77, and I-70 to navigate the Midwest landscape. Because the trip is relatively short, you can comfortably manage it as a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $23 on fuel for the journey. It is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that connects two distinct parts of the state, making it an efficient way to travel between these regional hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.8 miles from Akron, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Akron Expressway
44.9 mi
51m
I 77
36.7 mi
39m
I 70
24.2 mi
26m
Roseville Road
13.8 mi
20m
Jefferson Street
12.6 mi
18m
South Main Street
6.2 mi
10m
Main
3.1 mi
4m
SR 13
3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Akron Expressway
— 44.9 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Athens, OH.
1
Start on West Bowery Street
72 ft·7 sec·West Bowery Street
2
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Main Street
3
Enter roundabout onto East Mill Street
13 ft·0 sec·East Mill Street
4
Continue on East Mill Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Mill Street
5
Continue on South Forge Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·South Forge Street
6
Turn right onto SR 18
0.1 mi·16 sec·East Market Street
7
Turn right onto Goodkirk Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Goodkirk Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward SR 8 South
9
Merge onto SR 8
45 mi·51 min·Akron Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77
37 mi·39 min·I 77
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 44BToward I 70 West: Columbus
12
Merge onto I 70
24 mi·26 min·I 70
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 155Toward SR 60, SR 146: Underwood Street
14
Continue on Elm Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Elm Street
15
Turn left onto North 7th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North 7th Street
16
Turn right onto US 22; SR 93
356 ft·11 sec·Marietta Street
17
Turn left onto US 22; SR 93
0.9 mi·1 min·Putnam Avenue
18
Turn slight right onto US 22; SR 93
1.9 mi·3 min·Maysville Avenue
19
Continue on US 22; SR 93
2.6 mi·4 min·Maysville Pike
20
Turn slight left
509 ft·18 sec
21
Continue on SR 93
14 mi·20 min·Roseville Road
22
Continue on SR 13
1.9 mi·2 min·SR 13
23
Turn left onto Town Hwy 312
1.5 mi·3 min·Town Hwy 312
24
Turn left onto SR 13
13 mi·18 min·Jefferson Street
25
Continue on SR 13; SR 78
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Main Street
26
Turn slight left onto SR 13; SR 78
0.7 mi·1 min·High Street
27
Continue on SR 13
1.1 mi·1 min·Lake Drive
28
Continue on SR 13
6.1 mi·9 min·South Main Street
29
Turn slight right onto SR 13
1.1 mi·2 min·SR 13
30
Turn left onto SR 13
3.1 mi·4 min·Main
31
Turn right onto SR 550
469 ft·9 sec·SR 550
32
Turn straight onto Columbus Road
2.1 mi·4 min·Columbus Road
33
Continue on North Lancaster Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·North Lancaster Street
34
Continue on South Lancaster Street
394 ft·17 sec·South Lancaster Street
35
Turn left onto West State Street
483 ft·19 sec·West State Street
36
Turn right onto North Congress Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·North Congress Street
37
Turn left onto West Washington Street
372 ft·12 sec·West Washington Street
38
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 3-hour and 26-minute trek, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. Plan for at least one stop to break up the drive, as the route is long enough to warrant a quick rest or a snack. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially if you have a less efficient vehicle, to ensure you stay within your $23 budget. Because you are primarily utilizing major interstates like I-77 and I-70, be prepared for potential congestion near urban interchanges. Checking traffic reports before you leave Akron will help you avoid unnecessary delays during peak travel hours.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.8 miles from Akron, OH, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 35 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.8 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Athens, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Akron, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Akron, OH
This is one driving day of about 159.6 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Akron, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Akron Expressway for about 44.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 108.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Mill Street
Enter roundabout onto East Mill Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|Goodkirk Street
Turn right onto Goodkirk Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in|SR 8 / Akron Expressway
Merge onto SR 8 / Akron Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
83.2 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Columbus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 44B
Toward I 70 West: Columbus
6
108.1 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward SR 60, SR 146: Underwood Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 155
Toward SR 60, SR 146: Underwood Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.77 one way
$49.54 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$27.49
$54.98
premium
$4.91
$30.85
$61.69
diesel
$5.61
$35.24
$70.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.9
0
$16.76
$7.66
Efficient EV
39.9
0
$13.96
$6.38
EV Truck/SUV
63.8
0
$22.34
$10.21
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Akron, OH
Morning
in Akron on Tuesday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Athens, OH
Morning
in Athens on Tuesday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Dresden, OH
80 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 26m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discov...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 69% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will start with the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip, covering 44.9 miles on the Akron Expressway. As you transition onto the interstate system, the character of the road shifts toward a consistent, high-speed pace. While the initial leg requires navigating the expressway, the remainder of the 159.6 miles involves steady interstate cruising. Expect a predictable experience behind the wheel that prioritizes speed and efficiency over secondary backroads.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.9 mi on Akron Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Akron Expressway and I 77. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Mill Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 159.6 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Mill Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (Goodkirk Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (SR 8 / Akron Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Akron is a city of almost 200,000 people (2019) in the Northeast Ohio region in Summit County. Akron is proud of its heritage as a center of industry, and now offers visitors a wide range of recreational and cultural attractions, food experiences, and shopping.
Athens is a city with a major university (population 26,000 -2010) and county seat of Athens County (population 68,000 2010 Southeast Ohio, best known for being home to over 29,000 Ohio University students. Athens was settled in 1797, and the university was the first to be founded in the Northwest Territory in 1803.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 159.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.9 miles on Akron Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Mill Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (Goodkirk Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (SR 8 / Akron Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Athens, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
