If you are looking to travel from Akron to Willard, you are facing a straightforward 69.2-mile journey across the Ohio Midwest. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 32 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate a mix of thoroughfares including the Kenmore Expressway, Innerbelt, and Greenwich Road. Budget approximately $10 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. Since this route keeps you entirely within Ohio, it offers a consistent regional feel that is easy to manage in a single afternoon or morning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.6 miles from Akron, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Greenwich Road
35.2 mi
48m
Kenmore Expressway
29.2 mi
35m
Innerbelt
1.8 mi
2m
I 76
1 mi
1m
Conwell Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
East Tiffin Street
0.5 mi
<1m
West Bowery Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West Center Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Greenwich Road
— 35.2 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Willard, 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
29 mi·35 min·Kenmore Expressway
Toward I 76 West: BarbertonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 224
469 ft·16 sec·US 224
8
Keep slight left at fork
174 ft·6 sec
9
Turn right onto US 224
35 mi·48 min·Greenwich Road
10
Continue on SR 99
0.8 mi·1 min·Conwell Avenue
11
Turn left onto SR 103
0.5 mi·58 sec·East Tiffin Street
12
Arrive at destination
SR 103
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled for the 69.2-mile distance, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to plan for significant breaks. However, keeping your gas tank topped off before leaving Akron is a smart move to ensure you stay within your $10 fuel estimate. Since you will be tackling a 35.2-mile stretch on Greenwich Road, try to time your drive outside of peak local traffic hours to keep your transit time closer to the 1-hour and 32-minute mark. Enjoy the lack of complex navigation requirements, as the direct nature of this route allows you to focus on the road ahead.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34.6 miles from Akron, OH, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.2 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 15 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.6 miles or 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Willard, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Akron, OH
This is one driving day of about 69.2 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Akron, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Greenwich Road for about 35.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 32.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|West Center Street
Turn right onto West Center Street
Navigation decision point
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
3
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in|I 76; I 77
Merge onto I 76; I 77
Merge point - match speed before joining
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
5
32.7 mi into trip|~41m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.74 one way
$21.48 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$11.92
$23.84
premium
$4.91
$13.37
$26.75
diesel
$5.61
$15.28
$30.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.8
0
$7.27
$3.32
Efficient EV
17.3
0
$6.06
$2.77
EV Truck/SUV
27.7
0
$9.69
$4.43
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
5:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny
SW 12 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 5:19PM EDT until April 14 at 6:00PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 14 at 5:16PM EDT until April 14 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
Destination
Willard, OH
Late night
in Willard on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
West Salem, OH
35 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
14 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
1h 32m 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?
This trip features a mixed drive profile that keeps the pace varied as you transition between urban infrastructure and local roads. You will spend roughly 44% of your time on highways, providing a blend of quick cruising and slower, more deliberate driving. The longest uninterrupted segment covers 35.2 miles along Greenwich Road, which serves as the backbone of your journey. As you move away from the city, the road personality shifts from the structured flow of the Innerbelt to the more grounded feel of rural-leaning corridors. Be prepared for this transition, as the environment changes noticeably once you leave the expressway system.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.2 mi on Greenwich Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West Center Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 69.2 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.2 miles (West Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (SR 59 / Rand Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.4 miles (I 76; I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 1h 32m. Total distance: 69.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.2 miles on Greenwich Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (West Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (SR 59 / Rand Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.4 miles (I 76; I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 Willard, OH before heading back.
