This 133-mile drive from Akron, OH to Portage, OH is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 44 minutes. With a highway share of 68%, you'll spend a good portion of your time on major roadways, including the Ohio Turnpike and I-77. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $21, making it an economical option for a Midwest excursion. You'll encounter just one recommended stop along the way, and the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 81.2 miles on the Ohio Turnpike. This route offers a straightforward, highway-focused experience.
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
66.5 miles from Akron, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ohio Turnpike
81.2 mi
1h 27m
Hayes Avenue
25.4 mi
34m
I 77
7.1 mi
8m
West Market Street
4.3 mi
7m
Bypass Highway
3.8 mi
5m
SR 53
2.7 mi
3m
Ghent Road
1.6 mi
3m
South Dixie Highway
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Ohio Turnpike
— 81.2 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Portage, 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
0.3 mi·34 sec·Rand Avenue
4
Turn right onto West Exchange Street
0.9 mi·2 min·West Exchange Street
5
Turn right onto South Portage Path
0.5 mi·1 min·South Portage Path
6
Turn left onto SR 18
4.3 mi·7 min·West Market Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn right onto Ghent Road
1.6 mi·3 min·Ghent Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
9
Merge onto I 77; SR 21
7.1 mi·8 min·I 77; SR 21
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 145Toward SR 21: Brecksville RoadUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto SR 21
0.6 mi·1 min·Brecksville Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 80: Ohio Turnpike
13
Continue on this road
397 ft·9 sec·this road
14
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·13 sec·this road
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 West: ToledoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 80
81 mi·1 hr 27 min·Ohio Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 91Toward SR 53: Fremont, Port ClintonUse the slight right lane.
18
Enter roundabout onto SR 53
13 ft·0 sec·SR 53
19
Continue on SR 53
2.2 mi·2 min·SR 53
20
Take the exit onto SR 53
0.5 mi·59 sec·SR 53
21
Merge onto US 6; US 20; SR 19; SR 53
1.7 mi·1 min·Bypass Highway
22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6; SR 53
1.2 mi·1 min·Bypass Highway
23
Enter roundabout onto US 6; SR 53
64 ft·3 sec·Bypass Highway
Toward US 6 West, SR 53 South
24
Continue on US 6; SR 53
0.8 mi·1 min·Bypass Highway
Toward US 6 West, SR 53 South
25
Turn right onto US 6
25 mi·34 min·Hayes Avenue
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
27
Turn left onto SR 25
1.1 mi·1 min·South Dixie Highway
28
Continue on SR 25
0.5 mi·58 sec·North Findlay Pike
29
Turn right onto West Main Street
97 ft·3 sec·West Main Street
30
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Trip Plan
Given its manageable 2-hour and 44-minute duration, this trip is perfect for a single-day adventure, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Plan for one stop to break up the 133 miles, perhaps after covering the longest stretch of 81.2 miles on the Ohio Turnpike. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longer highway segments, with an estimated cost of $21. Since it's a relatively short drive, you can afford to be spontaneous with your departure, but ensure you're aware of potential tolls associated with the Ohio Turnpike.
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 66.5 miles from Akron, OH, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.2 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 29 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.5 miles or 1h 21m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portage, 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 133 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 Ohio Turnpike for about 81.2 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 104.8 — 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
15.4 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward SR 21: Brecksville Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 145
Toward SR 21: Brecksville Road
7
16.9 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 West: Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Toledo
8
98.7 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Take the exit toward SR 53: Fremont, Port Clinton
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 91
Toward SR 53: Fremont, Port Clinton
6
104.8 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|US 6; SR 53 / Bypass Highway
Enter roundabout onto US 6; SR 53 / Bypass Highway toward US 6 West, SR 53 South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6 West, SR 53 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.64 one way
$41.28 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$22.91
$45.82
premium
$4.91
$25.70
$51.41
diesel
$5.61
$29.36
$58.73
Estimated Tolls: $4.06
Ohio Turnpike
(81.2 mi)$4.06
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.9
0
$13.96
$6.38
Efficient EV
33.3
0
$11.64
$5.32
EV Truck/SUV
53.2
0
$18.62
$8.51
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Akron, OH
Late night
in Akron on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 13 mph86% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Portage, OH
Late night
in Portage on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°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
8 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 44m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that is predominantly highway-focused, with 68% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a significant 81.2-mile stretch on the Ohio Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. While the primary roads are interstates, the inclusion of Hayes Avenue and I-77 suggests some variation in the road types you'll encounter. The overall character is one of efficient travel, prioritizing getting you to your destination with minimal fuss. This isn't a winding scenic byway, but rather a direct connection between two points in Ohio.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.2 mi on Ohio Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Ohio Turnpike and Hayes Avenue. 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.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 133 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 0.4 miles (SR 59 / Rand Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 15.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Portage, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Port Clinton 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 44m. Total distance: 133 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81.2 miles on Ohio Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.06 in tolls one way, starting with Ohio Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Portage, 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 15.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Portage, OH before heading back.
