Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
54.6 mi
88 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oberlin, OH
Jovan Vasiljević
Akron to Oberlin is 54.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 10 minutes via Kenmore Expressway and Route 20, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Ohio, connecting two Midwest communities. You'll find a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making it a straightforward and manageable drive. It's an easy option if you're looking for a quick transit between these two points without a major time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kenmore Expressway | 12.8 mi | 16m |
| Wadsworth Road | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| Route 20/State Route 301 | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| Medina-Elyria Road | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Grafton Road | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| West Liberty Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Elyria Road | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 2 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Oberlin, OH.
Start on West Bowery Street
Turn right onto West Center Street
At end of road, turn left onto SR 59
Turn straight onto SR 59
Merge onto I 76; I 77
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
Take the exit
Turn right onto SR 57
Continue on SR 57
Continue on Lafayette Street
Turn right onto US 42; SR 3
Turn left onto SR 18; SR 57
Continue on SR 18; SR 57
Turn right onto SR 57; SR 252
Enter roundabout onto SR 57
Continue on SR 57
Turn straight onto SR 57
Continue on SR 57
Continue on SR 57; SR 303
Enter roundabout onto SR 57; SR 83
Continue on SR 57; SR 83
Turn left onto SR 57
Continue on SR 57
Continue on SR 57
Continue on SR 57
Turn straight onto Grafton Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 20; SR 301
Take the exit
Continue on SR 511
Continue on SR 511
Turn left onto SR 58
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.3 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 46.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto SR 59 / Rand Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Kenmore Expressway toward I 76 West: Barberton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward SR 57: Rittman, Medina
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto SR 18; SR 57 / West Liberty Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward US 20 West, SR 301 South: Norwalk
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.47 one way
$16.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $9.40 | $18.81 |
| premium | $4.91 | $10.55 | $21.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.05 | $24.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.73 | $2.62 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.78 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.64 | $3.49 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Akron on Tuesday
Local time
9:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Morning in Oberlin on Tuesday
Local time
9:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
66°F
Medina, OH
27 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This 54.6-mile drive is a mixed bag, with about 35% of it on highways. You'll experience a stretch of 12.8 miles on the Kenmore Expressway before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to encounter denser traffic and more frequent exits during the highway portion, followed by a more open feel as you approach Oberlin on Route 20 and State Route 301.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near SR 59 / Rand Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.6 miles you will encounter 17 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 16.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
400 ft
Total Descent
549 ft
Highest Point
1,166 ft
~23.4 mi in
Elevation Range
413 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Akron, OH to Oberlin, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Medina along the way.
Medina
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 54.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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