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Trip from Akron, OH to Nelsonville, OH

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 22m

Distance

157.2 mi

253 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 11m ★
6 AM
3h 23m
8 AM
3h 47m
10 AM
3h 31m
12 PM
3h 29m
3 PM
3h 32m
5 PM
3h 46m
8 PM
3h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Nelsonville, OH, OH

Nelsonville, OH

Jovan Vasiljević

Trip Overview

This 157.2-mile drive from Akron, OH to Nelsonville, OH is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 22 minutes to complete. With a highway share of 73%, expect a primarily highway-focused experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $24, making it an economical choice. This route stays within the Midwest region, traversing Ohio entirely. Given its duration, this drive is well-suited for a single day, allowing ample time to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.

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

78.6 miles from Akron, OH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Akron Expressway 44.9 mi 51m
I 77 36.7 mi 39m
I 70 24.2 mi 26m
Roseville Road 13.8 mi 20m
Jefferson Street 12.6 mi 18m
SR 685 5.2 mi 9m
Burr Oak Boulevard 2.8 mi 5m
Maysville Pike 2.6 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Akron Expressway — 44.9 mi, about 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Nelsonville, 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

37 mi · 39 min · I 77
11

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 44B Toward I 70 West: Columbus
12

Merge onto I 70

24 mi · 26 min · I 70
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 155 Toward SR 60, SR 146: Underwood Street
14

Continue on Elm Street

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Elm Street
15

Turn left onto North 7th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North 7th Street
16

Turn right onto US 22; SR 93

356 ft · 11 sec · Marietta Street
17

Turn left onto US 22; SR 93

0.9 mi · 1 min · Putnam Avenue
18

Turn slight right onto US 22; SR 93

1.9 mi · 3 min · Maysville Avenue
19

Continue on US 22; SR 93

2.6 mi · 4 min · Maysville Pike
20

Turn slight left

509 ft · 18 sec
21

Continue on SR 93

14 mi · 20 min · Roseville Road
22

Continue on SR 13

1.9 mi · 2 min · SR 13
23

Turn left onto Town Hwy 312

1.5 mi · 3 min · Town Hwy 312
24

Turn left onto SR 13

13 mi · 18 min · Jefferson Street
25

Continue on SR 13; SR 78

0.4 mi · 32 sec · North Main Street
26

Turn slight left onto SR 13; SR 78

0.7 mi · 1 min · High Street
27

Continue on SR 13

1.1 mi · 1 min · Lake Drive
28

Continue on SR 13

1.9 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
29

Turn right onto SR 685

0.7 mi · 1 min · SR 685
30

Turn right onto SR 685

4.5 mi · 7 min · SR 685
31

Turn left onto SR 78

1.4 mi · 2 min · Burr Oak Boulevard
32

Turn right onto Burr Oak Boulevard

140 ft · 9 sec · Burr Oak Boulevard
33

Continue on Burr Oak Boulevard

1.4 mi · 3 min · Burr Oak Boulevard
34

Turn right onto Business US 33

0.8 mi · 1 min · Canal Street
35

Turn right

50 ft · 9 sec
36

Turn left

85 ft · 6 sec
37

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

For this 3-hour and 22-minute drive, leaving Akron in the morning will allow you to reach Nelsonville with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can easily manage your breaks. The estimated fuel cost of $24 suggests you'll want to ensure you start with a full tank, especially before hitting the longer 44.9-mile stretch on the Akron Expressway. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart when it's most convenient for you.

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 78.6 miles from Akron, OH, or about 1h 30m 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 35 miles or 42m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 78.6 miles or 1h 30m 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 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nelsonville, 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 157.2 miles and 3h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 Akron Expressway for about 44.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown North Zanesville, OH, OH

Mid-route town

Meal stop

North Zanesville, OH

79 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

Canal Fulton, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cambridge, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 78.6 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 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 108.1 — 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
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.
5
83.2 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in

Take the exit toward I 70 West: Columbus

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 44B Toward I 70 West: Columbus
6
108.1 mi into trip | ~2h 2m in

Take the exit toward SR 60, SR 146: Underwood Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 155 Toward SR 60, SR 146: Underwood Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.40 one way

$48.79 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 55 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.38 $27.08 $54.15
premium $4.91 $30.38 $60.76
diesel $5.61 $34.71 $69.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 55 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 47.2 0 $16.51 $7.55
Efficient EV 39.3 0 $13.75 $6.29
EV Truck/SUV 62.9 0 $22.01 $10.06

Gas CO2

55 kg

EV CO2

18 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

4:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 9 mph 60% chance Live 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

Nelsonville, OH

Late night in Nelsonville on Tuesday

Local time

4:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

50°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

15 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

3h 22m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route leans heavily into highway driving, with 73% of the journey on interstates. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 44.9 miles on the Akron Expressway, offering a good opportunity to make steady progress. While much of the drive will be on well-maintained highways like I-77 and I-70, be prepared for the transition as you approach your destination. The overall feel is efficient, designed for covering ground rather than leisurely sightseeing.

73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 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?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Akron Expressway and I 77. You will hit about 22 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Mill Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 157.2 miles you will encounter 22 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 0.9 miles (Goodkirk Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (SR 8 / Akron Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

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 3h 22m. Total distance: 157.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 44.9 miles on Akron Expressway. 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.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Mill Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (Goodkirk Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (SR 8 / Akron Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Nelsonville, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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