Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Cleveland, OH to Harrison, OH
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 53m
Distance
261.9 mi
422 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 40m
★
6 AM
4h 54m
8 AM
5h 21m
10 AM
5h 3m
12 PM
5h 1m
3 PM
5h 5m
5 PM
5h 20m
8 PM
4h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cleveland, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Harrison, OH
Kian Mousazadeh
Trip Overview
Cleveland to Harrison is 261.9 miles and takes about 4h 53m via I 71, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within the Midwest, traversing Ohio for its entirety. Given its predominantly highway nature, it's a straightforward trip, ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get between these two points. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a comfortable option for a single-day journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
131 miles from Cleveland, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 230 mi | 4h 12m |
| Circle Freeway | 22.8 mi | 26m |
| Northwest Expressway | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Harrison Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Innerbelt | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Ontario Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| New Haven Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Roadway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 230 mi, about 4h 12m
Traffic on I-71
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 262 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,236 veh/hr typical · worst 2,835
Quietest
2 AM
~178 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cleveland, OH and Harrison, 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 170B
Toward I 71 South: Columbus
Use 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
89 mi
·
1 hr 38 min
·
I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 17B
Toward I 275 West
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 275
23 mi
·
26 min
·
Circle Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 74; US 52
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Northwest Expressway
Toward I 74 West, US 52 West: Indianapolis
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 1
Toward New Haven Road, Harrison
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto New Haven Road
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
New Haven Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Harrison Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Harrison Avenue
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto South State Street
9 ft
·
0 sec
·
South State Street
20
Arrive at destination
South State Street
Trip Plan
For this 4h 53m drive, leaving Cleveland in the morning is a good plan to maximize daylight. With a longest stretch of 230 miles on I 71, consider a fuel and stretch break around the halfway point, perhaps after about two hours of driving. The $43 fuel cost is an estimate, so keep an eye on gas prices as you go. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time and stop duration.
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 131 miles from Cleveland, OH, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 230 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 58 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131 miles or 2h 26m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrison, 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 261.9 miles and 4h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 230 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
131 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 131 miles from Cleveland, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 230 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Lee M. Rizor Memorial Highway Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Dupre Roadside Park
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Lee M. Rizor Memorial Highway Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Warren Interstate 71 Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Warren Interstate 71 Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
ONE9 Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
TA
0.6 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 260.3 — 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.
7
231.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 275 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17B
Toward I 275 West
8
260.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 50m in
Take the exit toward New Haven Road, Harrison
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 1
Toward New Haven Road, Harrison
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.53 one way
$81.07 round trip
$3.93/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.41 | $45.48 | $90.96 |
| premium | $5.01 | $51.65 | $103.30 |
| diesel | $6.20 | $63.92 | $127.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-05.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.6 | 0 | $27.50 | $12.57 |
| Efficient EV | 65.5 | 0 | $22.92 | $10.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 104.8 | 1 | $36.67 | $16.76 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Cleveland, OH
Morning in Cleveland on Monday
Local time
7:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Rain Showers
E 7 to 14 mph
97% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Harrison, OH
Morning in Harrison on Monday
Local time
7:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
N 3 to 7 mph
61% chance
Live 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
1 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
4h 53m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 27.1
Park Closure: Towpath Trail Improvements
Caution: Vehicle Break-in and Theft Warning
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
Throughout his life, Charles Young overcame countless obstacles in his ascent to prominence. In spite of overt racism and stifling inequality, Young rose through the military ranks to become one of th...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 198.7
View on nps.gov
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established to honor the lives and achievements of poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar and aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Through p...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 198.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 98% highway, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for almost the entire 261.9 miles. The longest stretch without needing to exit is an impressive 230 miles, all on I 71. You'll notice a high density of exits for much of the drive, especially early on, before transitioning to more open cruising.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 230 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Circle Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87 / Ontario Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 261.9 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,283 ft
524 ft
Total Climb
552 ft
Total Descent
1,204 ft
Highest Point
1,283 ft
~74.8 mi in
Elevation Range
759 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Cleveland, OH
Full guide →“The Forest City” · Founded 1796
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.
Top landmarks
- • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — music museum in Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- • Cleveland Museum of Art — art museum in Cleveland, Ohio
- • James A. Garfield Memorial — building
Arriving in Harrison, OH
Full guide →Founded 1850
The western half of Hamilton County is less populated than the eastern half, and remains divided into the original townships rather than having formed many cities. The western fringes of suburban Cincinnati give way to parkland and then farmland along the Great Miami River.
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 4h 53m. Total distance: 261.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 230 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 29 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Harrison, 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. There are 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument and Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Harrison, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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