The drive from Akron, OH to Covedale, OH covers 236.9 miles and takes about 4h 35m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 71, Kenmore Expressway, Mill Creek Expressway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 194.6 miles on I 71.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
118.4 miles from Akron, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
194.6 mi
3h 33m
Kenmore Expressway
19.8 mi
24m
Mill Creek Expressway
5.5 mi
7m
Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway
5.4 mi
7m
Montana Avenue
2.3 mi
5m
Innerbelt
1.8 mi
2m
Boudinot Avenue
1.4 mi
3m
Northwest Expressway
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 194.6 mi, about 3h 33m
Traffic on I-71
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 158 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,106 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,829
Quietest
2 AM
~233 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Covedale, 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
102 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
93 mi·1 hr 42 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 14Toward SR 126: Ronald Reagan HighwayUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto SR 126
5.4 mi·7 min·Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·55 sec
Exit 27Toward I 75 South: CincinnatiUse the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 75
5.5 mi·7 min·Mill Creek Expressway
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 4Toward I 74 West, US 52 West, US 27 North: IndianapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward I 74 West, US 52 West: IndianapolisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 74; US 27; US 52
1.0 mi·1 min·Northwest Expressway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Exit 17Toward Montana AvenueUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto Montana Avenue
2.3 mi·5 min·Montana Avenue
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn left onto Boudinot Avenue
1.4 mi·3 min·Boudinot Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto SR 264
0.3 mi·1 min·Glenway Avenue
Use the left / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto Sidney Road
0.2 mi·38 sec·Sidney Road
22
Turn left onto Covedale Avenue
0.1 mi·26 sec·Covedale Avenue
23
Turn left onto Western Hills Avenue
131 ft·5 sec·Western Hills Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Western Hills Avenue
Trip Plan
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 118.4 miles from Akron, OH, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.6 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 52 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.4 miles or 2h 15m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Covedale, 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 236.9 miles and 4h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 194.6 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 3.3 and 231 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
7
219 mi into trip|~4h 5m in
Take the exit toward SR 126: Ronald Reagan Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 14
Toward SR 126: Ronald Reagan Highway
8
230.5 mi into trip|~4h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 74 West, US 52 West, US 27 North: Indianapolis
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 4
Toward I 74 West, US 52 West, US 27 North: Indi...
8
231 mi into trip|~4h 22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 74 West, US 52 West: Indianapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 74 West, US 52 West: Indianapolis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.38 one way
$72.77 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$41.04
$82.08
premium
$4.98
$46.47
$92.93
diesel
$5.60
$52.22
$104.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.1
0
$24.87
$11.37
Efficient EV
59.2
0
$20.73
$9.48
EV Truck/SUV
94.8
1
$33.17
$15.16
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Sep 4, 2026
Origin
Akron, OH
Night
in Akron on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Covedale, OH
Night
in Covedale on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 35m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
236.9 mi in 4h 35m, mostly highway — 194.6 mi of that is on I 71.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 194.6 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Kenmore Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near I 76 / Kenmore Expressway.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 236.9 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 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; at 219 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Top landmarks
•Goodyear Airdock — located in Akron, Ohio
•Akron Public Library — Carnegie library in Akron, Ohio
•CitiCenter Building — historic building in Akron, Ohio, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 35m. Total distance: 236.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 194.6 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Covedale, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 219 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Covedale, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
