Ballville, OH to Lakewood, OH is 80.4 miles and takes about 1h 35m via Ohio Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive entirely within Ohio, connecting two points in the Midwest. Given its short duration and focus on major roadways, it's an ideal option for a quick, no-fuss trip. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained turnpikes and freeways, making it an efficient way to get from point A to point B without much complication.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.2 miles from Ballville, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ohio Turnpike
50.1 mi
53m
Northwest Freeway
19.2 mi
22m
Ohio Turnpike Connector
2.6 mi
2m
SR 53
2.5 mi
3m
Rawson Avenue
1.1 mi
1m
Tiffin Street
1.1 mi
2m
Hilliard Road
1 mi
2m
West State Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ohio Turnpike
— 50.1 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ballville, OH and Lakewood, OH.
1
Start on Siler Street
180 ft·13 sec·Siler Street
2
Turn left onto CR 53
0.3 mi·37 sec·River Street
3
Continue on Tiffin Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Tiffin Street
4
Continue on South Front Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Front Street
5
Turn left onto US 20 Business; Cty Rt 19; Cty Rt 20
0.5 mi·52 sec·West State Street
6
Turn right onto Rawson Avenue
1.1 mi·1 min·Rawson Avenue
7
Continue on SR 53
2.5 mi·3 min·SR 53
8
Enter roundabout
244 ft·3 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Ohio Turnpike
9
Continue
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 80, I 90: Ohio Turnpike
10
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·18 sec·this road
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
12
Merge onto I 80; I 90
50 mi·53 min·Ohio Turnpike
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90
2.6 mi·2 min·Ohio Turnpike Connector
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on I 90; SR 2
19 mi·22 min·Northwest Freeway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 164Toward McKinley AvenueUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto South Marginal Drive
130 ft·11 sec·South Marginal Drive
17
Turn left onto McKinley Avenue
0.3 mi·45 sec·McKinley Avenue
18
Turn right onto Hilliard Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Hilliard Road
19
Turn right onto Franklin Boulevard
0.1 mi·17 sec·Franklin Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
20
Arrive at destination
Franklin Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this efficient 1h 35m drive, leaving anytime during daylight hours is perfectly feasible, and you won't need to plan for an overnight stay. With only 80.4 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $12, you can be flexible with your departure time. Consider a brief stop around the halfway mark if you feel the need, though the longest stretch on the Ohio Turnpike is just over 50 miles, so it's not an excessively long segment without services. Keep an eye out for potential toll plazas on the Ohio Turnpike as you approach Lakewood.
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 40.2 miles from Ballville, OH, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.1 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.2 miles or 47m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakewood, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ballville, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ballville, OH
This is one driving day of about 80.4 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Ballville, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ohio Turnpike for about 50.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 79.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 53 / River Street
Turn left onto CR 53 / River Street
Navigation decision point
6
6 mi into trip|~10m in
Enter roundabout toward I 80, I 90: Ohio Turnpike
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80, I 90: Ohio Turnpike
6
57 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|I 90 / Ohio Turnpike Connector
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90 / Ohio Turnpike Connector
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
78.8 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward McKinley Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 164
Toward McKinley Avenue
5
79.1 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|McKinley Avenue
Turn left onto McKinley Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.48 one way
$24.96 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$13.85
$27.70
premium
$4.91
$15.54
$31.08
diesel
$5.61
$17.75
$35.50
Estimated Tolls: $2.63
Ohio Turnpike
(52.7 mi)$2.63
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
$12
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.1
0
$8.44
$3.86
Efficient EV
20.1
0
$7.04
$3.22
EV Truck/SUV
32.2
0
$11.26
$5.15
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ballville, OH
Evening
in Ballville on Sunday
Local time
6:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakewood, OH
Evening
in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
6:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
23 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 35m 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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 80.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 92% of the drive utilizing major roadways like the Ohio Turnpike and Northwest Freeway. Expect a consistent, high-speed experience for the majority of your journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 50.1 miles on the Ohio Turnpike, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. While primarily a highway drive, the initial and final segments might involve slightly more varied road conditions as you enter and exit these main thoroughfares.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.1 mi on Ohio Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Ohio Turnpike and Northwest Freeway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 53 / River Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 80.4 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (CR 53 / River Street): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57 miles (I 90 / Ohio Turnpike Connector): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 80.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.1 miles on Ohio Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.63 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 Lakewood, OH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: near the start (CR 53 / River Street): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57 miles (I 90 / Ohio Turnpike Connector): 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 Lakewood, OH before heading back.
