Akron to Springfield is 163.5 miles and takes about 3h 12m via I 71 and US 36, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Ohio, making it a straightforward drive. Given its relatively short duration and focus on major roadways, it's a practical option for a single-day excursion. You'll primarily be on interstate highways, so expect a consistent pace. Plan this out if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground within the state.
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
81.8 miles from Akron, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
78 mi
1h 23m
US 36
34.9 mi
42m
Kenmore Expressway
19.8 mi
24m
Marysville Road
14.3 mi
16m
State Route 37 East
5.8 mi
7m
East William Street
2.4 mi
2m
Innerbelt
1.8 mi
2m
Lagonda Avenue
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 78 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Springfield, 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
78 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 131Toward US 36, SR 37: Sunbury, DelawareUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto US 36; SR 37
5.8 mi·7 min·State Route 37 East
11
Continue on US 36; SR 37
0.9 mi·1 min·Sunbury Road
12
Continue on US 36; SR 37; SR 521
2.4 mi·2 min·East William Street
13
Continue on US 36
14 mi·16 min·Marysville Road
14
Take the exit onto US 36
3.3 mi·4 min·US 36
15
Take the exit onto US 36; SR 4
0.1 mi·13 sec·US 36; SR 4
Toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfield
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36; SR 4
31 mi·38 min·US 36; SR 4
Toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfield
17
Turn straight onto SR 4
0.1 mi·14 sec·Mitchell Boulevard
18
Turn left onto SR 4
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Belmont Avenue
19
Turn right onto SR 4
1.0 mi·1 min·Lagonda Avenue
20
Turn right onto SR 4
0.4 mi·34 sec·Warder Street
21
Continue on US 40; SR 4; SR 41
0.5 mi·59 sec·East North Street
22
Turn left onto North Fountain Avenue
0.3 mi·45 sec·North Fountain Avenue
23
Turn left onto East High Street
476 ft·22 sec·East High Street
24
Turn left onto South Limestone Street
364 ft·7 sec·South Limestone Street
25
Arrive at destination
South Limestone Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under four hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential evening traffic. The longest stretch without a major stop is 78 miles on I 71, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. Given the short distance, you can afford to be spontaneous with any brief stops you might need.
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 81.8 miles from Akron, OH, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78 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 36 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.8 miles or 1h 34m 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 Springfield, 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 163.5 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 78 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 129.4 — 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
8
102.3 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Take the exit toward US 36, SR 37: Sunbury, Delaware
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 131
Toward US 36, SR 37: Sunbury, Delaware
6
129.4 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|US 36; SR 4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36; SR 4 toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 West, SR 4 South: Urbana, Springfi...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.37 one way
$50.75 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$28.16
$56.32
premium
$4.91
$31.60
$63.20
diesel
$5.61
$36.10
$72.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.2 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
49.1
0
$17.17
$7.85
Efficient EV
40.9
0
$14.31
$6.54
EV Truck/SUV
65.4
0
$22.89
$10.46
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 19, 2026
Origin
Akron, OH
Late night
in Akron on Tuesday
Local time
4:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, OH
Late night
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
4:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Berkshire, OH
82 mi in
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
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 12m 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.
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...
Throughout his life, Charles Young overcame countless obstacles in his ascent to prominence. In spite of overt racism and stifling inequality, Young rose through the military ranks to become one of th...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 171.4
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established to honor the lives and achievements of poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar and aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Through p...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 171.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 85% of the drive on interstates and expressways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 78 miles on I 71, offering a chance to maintain a steady speed. The inclusion of Kenmore Expressway and US 36 means you'll transition from high-speed interstate travel to more typical highway driving. It’s a profile that suggests a predictable journey with minimal slowdowns, ideal for those prioritizing getting to their destination efficiently.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and US 36. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 163.5 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 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 Springfield, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Delaware 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 3h 12m. Total distance: 163.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78 miles on I 71. 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.
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 Springfield, 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 — Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument and Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Springfield, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
