Origin
Cleveland, OH
Morning in Cleveland on Tuesday
Local time
6:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cleveland, OH to Akron, OH
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
38.8 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cleveland, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transit between Cleveland and Akron, you will cover 38.8 miles in just under 50 minutes. This efficient trip is best suited for a single day, as it functions more like a short commute than a multi-day expedition. You can expect to spend approximately $6 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly option for travelers. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, the transition between them is seamless and straightforward. Whether you are heading south for business or a visit, the direct nature of this route keeps your travel logistics simple and predictable.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Willow Freeway | 26 mi | 31m |
| I 77 | 8.4 mi | 10m |
| Innerbelt | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Ontario Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Orange Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Bowery Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| SR 10 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Roadway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Willow Freeway
— 26 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cleveland, OH and Akron, OH.
1
Start on Frankfort Avenue
156 ft
·
12 sec
·
Frankfort Avenue
2
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
339 ft
·
16 sec
·
West 3rd Street
3
Turn left onto US 6; US 20; US 42; SR 3
315 ft
·
14 sec
·
West Superior Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 6; US 20
503 ft
·
23 sec
·
West Roadway
5
Turn right onto US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Ontario Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 422; SR 8; SR 10; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Orange Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Take the ramp onto SR 10
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
SR 10
Toward I 77 South, I 490: Akron
Use the straight lane.
8
Merge onto I 77; SR 10
26 mi
·
31 min
·
Willow Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
I 77
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Innerbelt
Exit 21C
Toward SR 59 East: Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on SR 59
406 ft
·
13 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
12
Turn right onto West Center Street
459 ft
·
19 sec
·
West Center Street
13
Turn left onto West Bowery Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Bowery Street
14
Arrive at destination
West Bowery Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.4 miles from Cleveland, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 36.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 3rd Street
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87 / Ontario Street
Turn right onto US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87 / Ontario Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
SR 10
Take the ramp onto SR 10 toward I 77 South, I 490: Akron
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 77 South, I 490: Akron
6
27.9 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
36.3 mi into trip
|
~46m 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
$6.02 one way
$12.04 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $6.68 | $13.37 |
| premium | $4.91 | $7.50 | $15.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.57 | $17.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.07 | $1.86 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Akron, OH
Morning in Akron on Tuesday
Local time
6:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Hinckley, OH
19 mi in
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
1 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
50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience as you navigate from Cleveland to Akron. With 89% of the trip spent on major thoroughfares, you will primarily rely on the Willow Freeway, I-77, and the Innerbelt to reach your destination. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Willow Freeway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 26 miles. Because this drive is designed for speed and connectivity, it lacks the winding turns of rural backroads in favor of a steady, interstate-grade pace. Prepare for a consistent, utilitarian drive that prioritizes getting you to your destination without unnecessary detours.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26 mi on Willow Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Willow Freeway and I 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 3rd Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 38.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87 / Ontario Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (SR 10): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
987 ft
654 ft
Total Climb
333 ft
Total Descent
0 ft
Highest Point
987 ft
~11.1 mi in
Elevation Range
333 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Cleveland, OH
Full guide →Cleveland is a culturally diverse city on the shores of Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA. Recreational, cultural and educational opportunities are abundant throughout Northeast Ohio. You'll find world-class museums, cultural events, professional sports, and amusement parks.
Arriving in Akron, OH
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 38.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26 miles on Willow Freeway. 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 Akron, 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 (West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87 / Ontario Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (SR 10): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Akron, OH before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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