If you are planning a trip from Cardington to Youngstown, expect a 140.1-mile journey that takes approximately 2 hours and 18 minutes to complete. This drive stays entirely within the Midwest, traversing the state of Ohio without any highway travel. Given the moderate duration, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Budgeting about $20 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since you won't be relying on high-speed interstates, you can anticipate a more deliberate pace as you navigate through local roads.
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
70 miles from Cardington, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
57.6 mi
1h 1m
I 76
57.6 mi
1h 6m
I 680
5.9 mi
8m
Russell Road
5 mi
8m
I 80
4 mi
4m
United States Highway 42
2.8 mi
4m
State Route 95
1.9 mi
2m
Kenmore Expressway
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 57.6 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cardington, OH and Youngstown, OH.
1
Start on this road
81 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn left
242 ft·23 sec
3
Turn left onto SR 529
152 ft·10 sec·North Marion Street
4
Turn left onto US 42
0.3 mi·55 sec·East Main Street
5
Turn left onto US 42
0.5 mi·43 sec·Gilead Street
6
Continue on US 42
0.8 mi·1 min·United States Highway 42
7
Continue on US 42
2.1 mi·2 min·United States Highway 42
8
Turn slight right onto TWP 115
5.0 mi·8 min·Russell Road
9
At end of road, turn right onto SR 95
1.9 mi·2 min·State Route 95
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward Cleveland
11
Merge onto I 71
58 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 209A-BToward I 76, US 224: Lodi, AkronUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 209AToward I 76, US 224 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi·20 min·I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.2 mi·1 min·I 76
Toward I 76 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76; I 77
39 mi·43 min·I 76; I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 80
4.0 mi·4 min·I 80
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
5.9 mi·8 min·I 680
Toward I 680: Youngstown
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
21
Turn sharp left onto Market Street
0.6 mi·59 sec·Market Street
22
Keep slight right at fork onto Central Square
124 ft·2 sec·Central Square
23
Arrive at destination
Central Square
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 2-hour and 18-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, as the distance is easily manageable in one go. Keep in mind that because you are sticking to local roads, your average speed will be lower than what you might expect on a major highway. Be sure to fuel up before you leave Cardington to keep your $20 budget intact and avoid searching for stations along the secondary roads. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, double-check your GPS navigation settings before heading out to ensure you stay on the intended path through the local turn sequence.
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 70 miles from Cardington, OH, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.6 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 31 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Youngstown, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cardington, 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 Cardington, OH
This is one driving day of about 139.9 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Cardington, 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 57.6 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 68.6 and 90 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
68.6 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
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 209A-B
Toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
9
68.8 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209A
Toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
6
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 76 / Kenmore Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Kenmore Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
88.8 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|I 76
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Akron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Akron
6
90 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|I 76; I 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76; I 77
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.71 one way
$43.42 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$24.10
$48.19
premium
$4.91
$27.04
$54.08
diesel
$5.61
$30.89
$61.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.9 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
42
0
$14.69
$6.72
Efficient EV
35
0
$12.24
$5.60
EV Truck/SUV
56
0
$19.59
$8.95
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 16, 2026
Origin
Cardington, OH
Late night
in Cardington on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Youngstown, OH
Late night
in Youngstown on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 6 to 15 mph80% chanceLive 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
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 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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 91.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Because the route features zero percent highway travel, you will spend the entire time navigating local streets like North Marion Street, East Main Street, and Gilead Street. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this path offers a technical experience where your longest stretch of straight driving is non-existent on North Marion Street. You should prepare for frequent adjustments and turns rather than long, high-speed cruising. It is a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local geography from start to finish.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.6 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and I 76. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 68.6 miles in.
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 16 significant decision points across 139.9 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 68.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.9 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,326 ft857 ft
Total Climb
600 ft
Total Descent
753 ft
Highest Point
1,326 ft
~30 mi in
Elevation Range
469 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cardington, OH and Youngstown, OH, road signs point toward Cleveland and Akron.
Cleveland
10.6 mi in|~17m
Akron
68.6 mi in|~1h 19m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 139.9 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 (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.6 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Youngstown, 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 68.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.9 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): 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 Youngstown, OH before heading back.
