This straightforward 128.2-mile drive from Akron, OH to Etna, OH takes about 2 hours and 35 minutes, making it a manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily be on I-71 and the Kenmore Expressway. With an estimated fuel cost of $20, this route is budget-friendly for a quick getaway within the Midwest region. The journey is mostly highway-focused, so expect efficient travel. Given its relatively short duration, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay.
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
64.1 miles from Akron, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
68.4 mi
1h 13m
Kenmore Expressway
19.8 mi
24m
Granville Street
10.6 mi
12m
State Route 61
8.9 mi
12m
Hazelton-Etna Road Southwest
7.2 mi
11m
Hazelton Etna Road
3.4 mi
5m
Innerbelt
1.8 mi
2m
Johnstown-Alexandria Road
1.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 68.4 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Etna, 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
68 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 140Toward SR 61: Sunbury, Mount GileadUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto SR 61
4.6 mi·6 min·State Route 61
11
Enter roundabout onto SR 61
271 ft·4 sec·State Route 61
12
Continue on SR 61
4.3 mi·5 min·State Route 61
13
Continue on Columbus Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Columbus Street
14
Turn left onto SR 37
0.1 mi·16 sec·Cherry Street
15
Turn right onto SR 37
413 ft·5 sec·Morning Street
16
Continue on SR 37
11 mi·12 min·Granville Street
17
Continue on SR 37
1.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
18
Continue on SR 37
1.6 mi·1 min·Johnstown-Alexandria Road
19
Turn right onto SR 310
3.4 mi·5 min·Hazelton Etna Road
20
Continue on SR 310
0.4 mi·33 sec·Hazelton-Etna Road Northwest
21
Continue on SR 310
4.8 mi·7 min·Hazelton-Etna Road Southwest
22
Turn right onto SR 16; SR 310
0.1 mi·11 sec·East Broad Street
23
Turn left onto SR 310
0.9 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on SR 310
2.4 mi·3 min·Hazelton-Etna Road Southwest
25
Turn left onto Pike Street Southwest
254 ft·11 sec·Pike Street Southwest
26
Arrive at destination
Pike Street Southwest
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 35-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic, especially if you're leaving Akron on a weekday. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $20, you have flexibility in pacing. The longest stretch on I-71 is nearly 70 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment. Keep an eye out for transitions between the major interstates and other road sections like Granville Street, as these can sometimes present unexpected slowdowns.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.1 miles from Akron, OH, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.4 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 28 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.1 miles or 1h 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 2h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Etna, 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 128.2 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 68.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 64.1 miles from Akron, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 92.8 — 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
5
24.4 mi into trip|~32m in|I 71
Merge onto I 71
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
92.8 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Take the exit toward SR 61: Sunbury, Mount Gilead
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 140
Toward SR 61: Sunbury, Mount Gilead
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.90 one way
$39.79 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$22.08
$44.16
premium
$4.91
$24.78
$49.55
diesel
$5.61
$28.30
$56.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.5
0
$13.46
$6.15
Efficient EV
32.1
0
$11.22
$5.13
EV Truck/SUV
51.3
0
$17.95
$8.20
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Akron, OH
Late night
in Akron on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 9 mph60% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 14 at 6:41PM EDT until April 14 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 6:34PM EDT until April 14 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Etna, OH
Late night
in Etna on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°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
18 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
2h 35m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a highway-focused experience, with 77% of this route utilizing major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 68.4 miles on I-71, offering a consistent pace. You'll navigate through sections like the Kenmore Expressway and along Granville Street, which may present slightly different driving conditions compared to the open interstate. Overall, expect a predominantly fast-paced drive with minimal interruptions.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.4 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Kenmore Expressway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near SR 59 / Rand Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 128.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.4 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.
On the drive from Akron, OH to Etna, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Mount Gilead along the way.
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 2h 35m. Total distance: 128.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.4 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Etna, 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 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Etna, OH before heading back.
