This 194.3-mile journey from Akron to Bradford, Ohio, is a manageable 4-hour drive, making it an ideal one-day trip. You'll spend about 68% of your time on highways, with the majority of that on I-71. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest route is around $30. Given the relatively short duration and straightforward path, this drive offers flexibility, allowing you to depart at your convenience. It's a practical option for a quick change of scenery without requiring an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
97.2 miles from Akron, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
78 mi
1h 23m
US 36
26.8 mi
34m
Kenmore Expressway
19.8 mi
24m
Miami Street
18.6 mi
25m
Marysville Road
14.3 mi
16m
North Main Street
11 mi
17m
Covington Avenue
9.9 mi
14m
State Route 37 East
5.8 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 78 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Bradford, OH.
1
Start on West Bowery Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·West Bowery Street
2
Turn right onto West Center Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·West Center Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto SR 59
0.1 mi·15 sec·Rand Avenue
4
Turn straight onto SR 59
1.8 mi·2 min·Innerbelt
5
Merge onto I 76; I 77
1.0 mi·1 min·I 76; I 77
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
20 mi·24 min·Kenmore Expressway
Toward I 76 West: BarbertonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.2 mi·2 min
Exit 1AToward I 71 South: ColumbusUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 71
78 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 131Toward US 36, SR 37: Sunbury, DelawareUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto US 36; SR 37
5.8 mi·7 min·State Route 37 East
11
Continue on US 36; SR 37
0.9 mi·1 min·Sunbury Road
12
Continue on US 36; SR 37; SR 521
2.4 mi·2 min·East William Street
13
Continue on US 36
14 mi·16 min·Marysville Road
14
Take the exit onto US 36
3.3 mi·4 min·US 36
15
Take the exit onto US 36; SR 4
0.1 mi·13 sec·US 36; SR 4
Toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfield
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36; SR 4
16 mi·19 min·US 36; SR 4
Toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfield
17
Turn right onto SR 29; SR 559
11 mi·17 min·North Main Street
18
Enter roundabout onto US 36; SR 29
98 ft·1 sec·Miami Street
19
Continue on US 36; SR 29
19 mi·25 min·Miami Street
20
Continue on US 36; SR 589
7.6 mi·10 min·US 36; SR 589
21
Turn left onto US 36
0.1 mi·15 sec·Spring Street
22
At end of road, turn right onto US 36
0.6 mi·56 sec·East Water Street
23
Turn left onto US 36
0.1 mi·12 sec·North College Street
24
Turn right onto US 36
9.9 mi·14 min·Covington Avenue
25
Turn right onto SR 721
1.2 mi·2 min·SR 721
26
Turn right onto East Main Street
34 ft·0 sec·East Main Street
27
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
With a total travel time of just over 4 hours, this trip is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving Akron mid-morning to avoid the peak rush hour and to have a leisurely start. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 78 miles on I-71, so plan for a fuel and rest stop before or after this segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $30, it's a budget-friendly excursion. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition from I-71 to US-36, as this is where the road character changes.
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 97.2 miles from Akron, OH, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78 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 43 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.2 miles or 1h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bradford, 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 194.3 miles and 4h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 I 71 for about 78 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 129.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 59 / Rand Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto SR 59 / Rand Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
3.3 mi into trip|~5m in|I 76 / Kenmore Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Kenmore Expressway toward I 76 West: Barberton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 West: Barberton
7
23.1 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward I 71 South: Columbus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 71 South: Columbus
8
102.3 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Take the exit toward US 36, SR 37: Sunbury, Delaware
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 131
Toward US 36, SR 37: Sunbury, Delaware
6
129.4 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|US 36; SR 4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36; SR 4 toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfi...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.15 one way
$60.31 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$33.47
$66.93
premium
$4.91
$37.55
$75.10
diesel
$5.61
$42.90
$85.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.3
0
$20.40
$9.33
Efficient EV
48.6
0
$17.00
$7.77
EV Truck/SUV
77.7
0
$27.20
$12.44
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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
8:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bradford, OH
Morning
in Bradford on Tuesday
Local time
8:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
70°F
Dublin, OH
97 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
23 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
4h 1m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established to honor the lives and achievements of poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar and aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Through p...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 174.2
Throughout his life, Charles Young overcame countless obstacles in his ascent to prominence. In spite of overt racism and stifling inequality, Young rose through the military ranks to become one of th...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 160.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive is primarily highway-focused, meaning you'll experience a good amount of time on faster roads. Expect to cover a significant portion of the 194.3 miles on I-71, including a substantial stretch of 78 miles without needing to exit. While I-71 and the Kenmore Expressway will provide a smooth, continuous pace, US-36 will likely offer a change of pace as you transition off the interstate. This mix means you'll get both efficient travel and a taste of local highways.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and US 36. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near SR 59 / Rand Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 194.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (SR 59 / Rand Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.3 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Akron, OH and Bradford, OH, road signs point toward Delaware and Springfield.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 1m. Total distance: 194.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bradford, OH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (SR 59 / Rand Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.3 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Bradford, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
