Origin
Akron, OH
Morning in Akron on Tuesday
Local time
6:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Akron, OH to Mentor, OH
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
47.7 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mentor, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 47.7-mile drive from Akron to Mentor, Ohio, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just over an hour to complete. The journey is primarily highway-focused, with 90% of the route utilizing major freeways like the Outerbelt East Freeway and I-271. With an estimated fuel cost of $7, this is an economical option for a quick regional hop within the Midwest. The direct nature of this route makes it ideal for a spontaneous excursion or a practical connection between these two Ohio cities, requiring no overnight stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Outerbelt East Freeway | 15 mi | 18m |
| Akron Expressway | 14.9 mi | 18m |
| I 271 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| I 90 | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| Center Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| East Mill Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Buchtel Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| South Union Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Outerbelt East Freeway
— 15 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Mentor, 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
Turn right onto South Union Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
South Union Street
6
Turn left onto East Buchtel Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Buchtel Avenue
7
Turn left onto Fountain Street
212 ft
·
5 sec
·
Fountain Street
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward SR 8 North
9
Merge onto SR 8
15 mi
·
18 min
·
Akron Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
1.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 17
Toward I 271 North: Erie Pennsylvania
11
Merge onto I 271
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I 271
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Outerbelt East Freeway
Toward I 271 North: Erie Pennsylvania
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 271
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Outerbelt East Freeway
Toward I 271 North Local, US 422 West: All Exits
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Continue on I 271
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
I 90
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 195
Toward SR 615: Center Street
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto SR 615
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Center Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn right
114 ft
·
8 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.9 miles from Akron, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 46.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
1.3 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 slight right lane.
8
27.1 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway toward I 271 North Local, US 422 West: All Exits
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 271 North Local, US 422 West: All Exit...
7
45.9 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward SR 615: Center Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 195
Toward SR 615: Center Street
6
46.3 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
SR 615 / Center Street
Turn left onto SR 615 / Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.40 one way
$14.81 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $8.22 | $16.43 |
| premium | $4.91 | $9.22 | $18.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.53 | $21.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Mentor, OH
Morning in Mentor on Tuesday
Local time
6:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Northfield, OH
24 mi in
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
1h 2m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 47.7-mile trek. Approximately 90% of the drive will be on high-speed freeways, offering a consistent and efficient pace. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 15 miles on the Outerbelt East Freeway, allowing for extended periods of cruising. While the route is largely characterized by its highway nature, transitioning between the Akron Expressway and I-271 provides slight variations in road layout as you head north.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15 mi on Outerbelt East Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Outerbelt East Freeway and Akron Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Mill Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.7 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 0.1 miles (East Mill Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.3 miles (SR 8 / Akron Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles (I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Akron, OH
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 47.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15 miles on Outerbelt East Freeway. 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 Mentor, OH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: at 0.1 miles (East Mill Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.3 miles (SR 8 / Akron Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles (I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Mentor, OH before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Mentor, OH
More trips to Mentor, OH
Explore more options from Akron, OH or browse trips ending in Mentor, OH.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse OH road trips.