This 170-mile drive from Carey, Ohio, to Akron, Ohio, is a straightforward 3-hour and 27-minute trip, making it an ideal one-day journey. With a projected fuel cost of around $26, it's an economical option for a quick getaway within the Midwest. The route is primarily highway-focused, offering a direct path with minimal detours. You'll spend the majority of your time on major interstates, so expect a consistent driving experience. This trip is well-suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
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
85 miles from Carey, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
101.8 mi
1h 51m
Main Street
18.8 mi
27m
I 76
18.4 mi
22m
South Freeway
11.4 mi
13m
West Columbus Street
8.8 mi
12m
Innerbelt
2.1 mi
2m
Kenmore Expressway
1.9 mi
2m
Harrisburg Pike
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 101.8 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carey, OH and Akron, OH.
1
Start on Browns Chapel Road
1.5 mi·5 min·Browns Chapel Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto SR 207
19 mi·27 min·Main Street
3
Continue on SR 207
0.3 mi·25 sec·Yankeetown Street
4
Turn slight right onto US 62; SR 3; SR 207
8.8 mi·12 min·West Columbus Street
5
Continue on US 62; SR 3
1.7 mi·2 min·Harrisburg Pike
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 71 North: ColumbusUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 71
11 mi·13 min·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto I 71
0.4 mi·45 sec·I 71
Toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, WheelingUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 70; I 71
1.3 mi·1 min·South Innerbelt
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
1.0 mi·1 min·I 71
Exit 101AToward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71
100 mi·1 hr 49 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 right at fork onto SR 59
2.1 mi·2 min·Innerbelt
Exit 21CToward SR 59 East: DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on SR 59
406 ft·13 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
19
Turn right onto West Center Street
459 ft·19 sec·West Center Street
20
Turn left onto West Bowery Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·West Bowery Street
21
Arrive at destination
West Bowery Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 27-minute duration, starting your drive from Carey in the morning will allow you to reach Akron with ample daylight. Plan for one stop along the way, perhaps around the midpoint of the 101.8-mile stretch on I-71, to refuel and stretch your legs. The fuel cost is estimated at $26, so ensure you have sufficient funds or a card for gas stations. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Keep an eye out for the transition from local roads to the interstate system as you leave Carey.
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 85 miles from Carey, OH, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.8 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 37 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85 miles or 1h 50m 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 49m
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 Carey, 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 Carey, OH
This is one driving day of about 170 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Carey, 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 101.8 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 31.1 and 167.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
31.1 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the ramp toward I 71 North: Columbus
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
8
44.7 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71 toward I 71 North: Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 101A
Toward I 71 North: Cleveland
8
146.1 mi into trip|~2h 56m 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
146.3 mi into trip|~2h 57m 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
8
167.5 mi into trip|~3h 23m in|SR 59 / Innerbelt
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59 / Innerbelt toward SR 59 East: Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21C
Toward SR 59 East: Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.38 one way
$52.77 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$29.28
$58.56
premium
$4.91
$32.86
$65.71
diesel
$5.61
$37.53
$75.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51
0
$17.85
$8.16
Efficient EV
42.5
0
$14.87
$6.80
EV Truck/SUV
68
0
$23.80
$10.88
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Carey, OH
Morning
in Carey on Tuesday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Akron, OH
Morning
in Akron on Tuesday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
70°F
Ashley, OH
85 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
3 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
3h 27m 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.
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Nearly 2000 years ago, Native Americans built dozens of monumental mounds and earthen enclosures in southern Ohio. These earthwork complexes were ceremonial landscapes used for feasts, funerals, ritua...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
Caution: Hopeton Earthworks Closed for Construction Until May 2026
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 170
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 78% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-71 and I-76. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 101.8 miles on I-71, which means extended periods of consistent speed and less need for frequent maneuvering. While the majority of the drive is on the interstate, the initial and final segments may involve navigating local roads like Main Street, offering a slight change of pace before merging onto the faster highways. Overall, anticipate a drive characterized by efficient travel and relatively smooth conditions.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.8 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Main Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 31.1 miles in.
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 15 significant decision points across 170 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 31.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 44.7 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 146.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Carey, OH to Akron, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Wheeling 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 27m. Total distance: 170 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.8 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 Akron, 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 31.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 44.7 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 146.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Akron, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
