This 147.1-mile drive from Baltimore, OH to Akron, OH will take approximately 2 hours and 47 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed as a single-day adventure. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $23. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it an efficient way to travel between these two Ohio cities within the Midwest region. Given the relatively short duration and highway nature, an overnight stop isn't necessary, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
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
73.6 miles from Baltimore, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 77
82 mi
1h 31m
I 70
53.6 mi
57m
Lancaster-Newark Road Northeast
6.3 mi
7m
Baltimore-Somerset Road
1.3 mi
1m
Lancaster Road Southwest
1 mi
1m
East Market Street
0.7 mi
1m
East Mill Street
0.5 mi
1m
Fountain Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 77
— 82 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Baltimore, OH and Akron, OH.
1
Start on SR 256
0.5 mi·47 sec·East Market Street
2
Continue on SR 256
1.3 mi·1 min·Baltimore-Somerset Road
3
Turn left onto SR 37
6.3 mi·7 min·Lancaster-Newark Road Northeast
4
Continue on SR 37
1.0 mi·1 min·Lancaster Road Southwest
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 70 East: Wheeling
6
Merge onto I 70
54 mi·57 min·I 70
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 180BToward I 77 North: Cleveland
8
Merge onto I 77
82 mi·1 hr 31 min·I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 1AToward Carroll Street, Buchtel AvenueUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto Fountain Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Fountain Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Continue on Fountain Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Fountain Street
12
Turn left onto SR 18
0.2 mi·23 sec·East Market Street
13
Turn left onto South Forge Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·South Forge Street
14
Continue on East Mill Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Mill Street
15
Enter roundabout onto South Main Street
162 ft·3 sec·South Main Street
16
Continue on South Main Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·South Main Street
17
Turn right onto West Bowery Street
72 ft·1 sec·West Bowery Street
18
Arrive at destination
West Bowery Street
Trip Plan
With a total driving time under 3 hours, this route offers great flexibility. You can depart Baltimore, OH anytime, but leaving mid-morning can help you avoid potential rush hour congestion near Akron. Since the longest stretch without a major exit is 82 miles on I-77, plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you embark on that segment. The relatively low fuel cost of $23 means you won't need to budget heavily for gas, and with only one designated stop in the data, you can easily manage your breaks to suit your needs.
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 73.6 miles from Baltimore, OH, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82 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 32 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.6 miles or 1h 23m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Akron, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Baltimore, 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 Baltimore, OH
This is one driving day of about 147.1 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Baltimore, 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 77 for about 82 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.1 and 147 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.1 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Wheeling
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 70 East: Wheeling
5
63 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 77 North: Cleveland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 180B
Toward I 77 North: Cleveland
5
63.6 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|I 77
Merge onto I 77
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
145.6 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Take the exit toward Carroll Street, Buchtel Avenue
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 1A
Toward Carroll Street, Buchtel Avenue
5
147 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|South Main Street
Enter roundabout onto South Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.83 one way
$45.66 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$25.34
$50.67
premium
$4.91
$28.43
$56.86
diesel
$5.61
$32.48
$64.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.1
0
$15.45
$7.06
Efficient EV
36.8
0
$12.87
$5.88
EV Truck/SUV
58.8
0
$20.59
$9.41
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 18, 2026
Origin
Baltimore, OH
Late night
in Baltimore on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Akron, OH
Late night
in Akron on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
S 12 mph6% chanceLive forecast
48°F
Dover, OH
74 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
10 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
2h 47m 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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 147.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 92% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-77 and I-70. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 82 miles on I-77. This means the drive is characterized by consistent speeds and minimal traffic interruptions, though it may feel monotonous to some drivers. You'll transition from Lancaster-Newark Road Northeast onto these main arteries, setting the tone for a swift journey through Ohio's landscape.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82 mi on I 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and I 70. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in.
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 147.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 63 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 63.6 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 47m. Total distance: 147.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m 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 82 miles on I 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 63 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 63.6 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Akron, OH before heading back.
