If you are looking to travel from Cleveland to Clinton, Ohio, prepare for a 200.4-mile journey that takes approximately 3 hours and 51 minutes. Since this trip is entirely within the Midwest, you will stay within the state of Ohio for the duration of your drive. Given the travel time, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend around $30 on fuel to complete the trip. With only one recommended stop, it is a straightforward trek that avoids the need for complex planning, allowing you to focus on the road ahead.
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
100.2 miles from Cleveland, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
189.7 mi
3h 28m
Stone Road
4.6 mi
11m
SR 72
4 mi
7m
Innerbelt
0.6 mi
<1m
Ontario Street
0.5 mi
1m
West Roadway
<0.1 mi
<1m
West 3rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
West Superior Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 189.7 mi, about 3h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cleveland, OH and Clinton, 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
0.5 mi·1 min·Ontario Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn slight right
359 ft·14 sec
Toward I 90 West, SR 10 West
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West
8
Merge onto Innerbelt
0.6 mi·45 sec·Innerbelt
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71
1.2 mi·1 min·I 71
Exit 170BToward I 71 South: ColumbusUse the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
7.3 mi·8 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
132 mi·2 hr 24 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
49 mi·53 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 58Toward SR 72: Sabina, Jamestown
14
Turn left onto SR 72
4.0 mi·7 min·SR 72
15
Turn right onto C-23
4.6 mi·11 min·Stone Road
16
Arrive at destination
C-23
Trip Plan
Because this route relies on local roads, try to depart during off-peak hours to avoid the inevitable congestion of city driving. You have one scheduled stop, so use that time to stretch your legs and refresh your focus, as the constant turns can be more draining than long highway stretches. Keep your $30 fuel budget handy and consider refueling before you get too deep into the local road segments where stations might be less convenient. A great tip for this specific drive is to double-check your GPS navigation before leaving, as the reliance on local streets like West Superior Avenue makes it easy to take a wrong turn. Enjoy the flexibility of this day trip by keeping a loose schedule that allows for the slower pace of local traffic.
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 100.2 miles from Cleveland, OH, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 189.7 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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.2 miles or 1h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clinton, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, OH
This is one driving day of about 200.4 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Cleveland, 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 189.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 142.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
8
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|I 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71 toward I 71 South: Columbus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 170B
Toward I 71 South: Columbus
6
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in|I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
10.4 mi into trip|~14m in|I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
142.7 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.10 one way
$62.20 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$34.52
$69.04
premium
$4.91
$38.73
$77.46
diesel
$5.61
$44.25
$88.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.1
0
$21.04
$9.62
Efficient EV
50.1
0
$17.54
$8.02
EV Truck/SUV
80.2
1
$28.06
$12.83
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Cleveland, OH
Afternoon
in Cleveland on Sunday
Local time
12:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clinton, OH
Afternoon
in Clinton on Sunday
Local time
12:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Mansfield, OH
100 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
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
3h 51m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate through city streets like West 3rd Street, West Superior Avenue, and West Roadway as you make your way out of the urban center. Because you are avoiding major highways, the pace is dictated by local traffic patterns and turns rather than high-speed cruising. Behind the wheel, this means you will need to stay alert and engaged with the road layout throughout the entire 200.4-mile distance. It is a technical drive that requires your full attention compared to a standard highway haul.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 189.7 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Stone Road. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87 / Ontario 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 200.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.2 miles (US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87 / Ontario Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 200.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 189.7 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 Clinton, 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 0.2 miles (US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87 / Ontario Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Clinton, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
