Akron to Elmwood Place is 226.8 miles and takes about 4h 18m via I 71, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Ohio. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward drive. It’s a practical option if you need to cover this distance efficiently, with minimal fuss and a clear path ahead. Plan for a quick trip, likely completed within a single day.
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
113.4 miles from Akron, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
194.6 mi
3h 33m
Kenmore Expressway
19.8 mi
24m
Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway
5.4 mi
7m
Innerbelt
1.8 mi
2m
I 76
1 mi
1m
Vine Street
0.9 mi
2m
Mill Creek Expressway
0.7 mi
<1m
West Bowery Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 194.6 mi, about 3h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Elmwood Place, 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
0.7 mi·53 sec·Mill Creek Expressway
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 9Toward SR 4, SR 561: Paddock Road, Seymour AvenueUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn slight right
196 ft·4 sec
Toward SR 4: Paddock Road North, Hamilton County FairgroundsUse the right lane.
16
Turn slight right onto SR 4
466 ft·12 sec·Paddock Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto East North Bend Road
270 ft·14 sec·East North Bend Road
18
Turn left onto Vine Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Vine Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Maple Street
60 ft·2 sec·Maple Street
20
Arrive at destination
Maple Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 18m estimated drive time and 226.8 miles, leaving Akron in the morning is your best bet for a single-day trip. The $35 fuel cost suggests a budget-friendly excursion. With only one recommended stop and 95% of the route on highways, you can be quite flexible with your timing and when you choose to pull over. Pay attention as you approach Elmwood Place, as the route shifts from its long highway segment to surface streets, which might require more attention to local traffic.
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 113.4 miles from Akron, OH, or about 2h 9m 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 50 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.4 miles or 2h 9m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elmwood Place, 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 226.8 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 225.6 — 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
7
224.5 mi into trip|~4h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South: Cincinnati
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 27
Toward I 75 South: Cincinnati
8
225.6 mi into trip|~4h 15m in
Take the exit toward SR 4, SR 561: Paddock Road, Seymour Avenue
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 9
Toward SR 4, SR 561: Paddock Road, Seymour Aven...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.20 one way
$70.40 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$39.06
$78.13
premium
$4.91
$43.83
$87.67
diesel
$5.61
$50.07
$100.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
16 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Columbus, OH - East Campus View Boulevard - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68
0
$23.81
$10.89
Efficient EV
56.7
0
$19.85
$9.07
EV Truck/SUV
90.7
1
$31.75
$14.52
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Akron, OH
Morning
in Akron on Sunday
Local time
6:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elmwood Place, OH
Morning
in Elmwood Place on Sunday
Local time
6:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Dublin, OH
113 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 18m 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.
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 179.9
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...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 187.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 95% of the 226.8 miles on freeways. You'll encounter a long stretch of 194.6 miles on I 71, indicating extended periods of consistent cruising. Expect numerous exits and potential for merging traffic as you navigate through different highway systems like the Kenmore Expressway and Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway. The final portion will transition from highway to surface roads.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
8/10
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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 226.8 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 226.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). 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 Elmwood Place, 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 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Elmwood Place, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
