Akron to Center, OH is 82.5 miles and takes about 1h 35m via Akron Expressway and I-77, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive will take you across the Midwest within a single state, Ohio. Given its relatively short distance and quick travel time, this route is ideal for a same-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it a straightforward journey from one point to another. Plan for a simple, efficient drive that gets you where you need to go with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.3 miles from Akron, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Akron Expressway
44.9 mi
51m
I 77
33.2 mi
35m
Cadiz Road
2.5 mi
2m
East Mill Street
0.5 mi
1m
Goodkirk Street
0.4 mi
1m
South Forge Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East Market Street
0.1 mi
<1m
South Main Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Akron Expressway
— 44.9 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Center, 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
33 mi·35 min·I 77
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 47Toward US 22: Cambridge, CadizUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto US 22
2.5 mi·2 min·Cadiz Road
13
Turn right onto Cooks Run Road
143 ft·6 sec·Cooks Run Road
14
Arrive at destination
Cooks Run Road
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 1.5 hours, this route offers considerable flexibility for when you depart. Aim to leave Akron in the morning to enjoy the full day at your destination in Center, OH. Since the longest stretch without a significant change in road is 44.9 miles, you won't need many stops for rest or fuel, though it's always wise to top off your tank before heading out. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $13, and plan your departure time to avoid peak traffic around Akron.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.3 miles from Akron, OH, or about 49m 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.3 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Center, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Akron, OH
This is one driving day of about 82.5 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Akron, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 79.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
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.
8
79.6 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward US 22: Cambridge, Cadiz
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 47
Toward US 22: Cambridge, Cadiz
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.80 one way
$25.61 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$14.21
$28.42
premium
$4.91
$15.94
$31.89
diesel
$5.61
$18.21
$36.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.8
0
$8.66
$3.96
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.22
$3.30
EV Truck/SUV
33
0
$11.55
$5.28
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 15, 2026
Origin
Akron, OH
Afternoon
in Akron on Sunday
Local time
1:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Center, OH
Afternoon
in Center on Sunday
Local time
1:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
33°F
Canton, OH
41 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
9 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 35m 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 trip is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the journey utilizing major roads like the Akron Expressway and I-77. You can expect long stretches of consistent speed, including a notable 44.9-mile segment on the Akron Expressway where you'll likely experience smooth sailing. The overall character is one of efficient travel, prioritizing directness over winding backroads. As you progress, the road remains largely consistent, maintaining its highway feel throughout the 82.5-mile distance.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Akron Expressway and I 77. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 35m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Mill Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (Goodkirk Street): 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.
The longest stretch is about 44.9 miles on Akron Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Mill Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (Goodkirk Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Center, OH before heading back.
