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Trip from Cleveland, OH to Worthington, OH

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 31m

Distance

134.1 mi

216 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 21m ★
6 AM
2h 31m
8 AM
2h 52m
10 AM
2h 38m
12 PM
2h 36m
3 PM
2h 39m
5 PM
2h 50m
8 PM
2h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States

Cleveland, OH

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Worthington, OH, OH

Worthington, OH

Abdel Achkouk

Trip Overview

This 134.1-mile drive from Cleveland, OH, to Worthington, OH, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 31 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-71, the journey is focused on efficient travel through the Midwest. With a fuel cost estimated at $21, it's an economical trip. The route is overwhelmingly highway-based, making it a straightforward transit rather than a leisurely exploration. Given its duration and highway focus, this trip is well-suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.

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

67.1 miles from Cleveland, OH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 71 130.2 mi 2h 21m
East Dublin Granville Road 1.5 mi 3m
Innerbelt 0.6 mi <1m
Ontario Street 0.5 mi 1m
North High Street 0.3 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 — 130.2 mi, about 2h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cleveland, OH and Worthington, 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

122 mi · 2 hr 11 min · I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Exit 117 Toward SR 161: Dublin Granville Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Turn right onto SR 161

1.5 mi · 3 min · East Dublin Granville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Turn right onto US 23

0.3 mi · 56 sec · North High Street
15

Arrive at destination

US 23

Trip Plan

For this 2-hour and 31-minute drive, leaving mid-morning can help you avoid the worst of rush hour traffic in Cleveland. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 130.2 miles on I-71, you can easily complete this journey in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since the estimated fuel cost is $21; planning a stop before you leave Cleveland or shortly after hitting I-71 is a good idea. The highway-heavy nature means you’ll want to be alert for changing speed limits as you approach the Columbus metropolitan area.

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 67.1 miles from Cleveland, OH, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.2 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 30 miles or 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 67.1 miles or 1h 16m 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 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Worthington, 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 134.1 miles and 2h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 130.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Mansfield, OH, OH

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mansfield, OH

67 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

Westfield Center, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mansfield, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67.1 miles from Cleveland, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 130.2 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.

Best meal stop · first break window

Trivs Restaurant and Lounge

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Strongsville, Ohio

Near the start, right off the route

First break · 22min in 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour Moderately

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+14402388830

Visit website

Cameron's American Bistro

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Worthington, Ohio

1.6 mi

Dragon Land Chinese Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Worthington, Ohio

2.3 mi

Trivs Restaurant and Lounge

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour Moderately

Strongsville, Ohio

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+14402388830

Visit website

Cameron's American Bistro

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour Expensive

Worthington, Ohio

Hours: 5–9 pm

+16148853663

Visit website

Dragon Land Chinese Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Worthington, Ohio

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+16148479991

Visit website

Goody's Family Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Brook Park, Ohio

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12164337733

Visit website

THE GARDEN FAMILY RESTAURANT

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Brook Park, Ohio

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+12162675573

Visit website

Joe's, A Fine Deli & Restaurant- Rocky River

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Rocky River, Ohio

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+14403337890

Visit website

Bucci's Italian Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Rocky River, Ohio

Hours: 4–8:30 pm

+14403315157

Visit website

New India Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Columbus, Ohio

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+16144427705

Visit website

Java Central Café and Roaster

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20

Westerville, Ohio

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+16148390698

Visit website

Fountain of Eternal Life

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Cleveland, Ohio

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Kringle's Inventionasium Experience (Cleveland)

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Cleveland, Ohio

+18556757464

Visit website

Wendy Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Cleveland, Ohio

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+12166353200

Visit website

Perplexity Games Escape Room - Cleveland

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Cleveland, Ohio

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+12162738000

Visit website

Dunham Tavern Museum & Gardens

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Cleveland, Ohio

Hours: Closed

+12164311060

Visit website

Millstone Creek Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Westerville, Ohio

+16149016500

Visit website

Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Magick

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Cleveland, Ohio

Hours: Closed

+17187096643

Visit website

Rocky River Nature Center

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour

North Olmsted, Ohio

Hours: 9:30 am–5 pm

+14407346660

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 132 — 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.
7
132 mi into trip | ~2h 26m in

Take the exit toward SR 161: Dublin Granville Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 117 Toward SR 161: Dublin Granville Road

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.81 one way

$41.62 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.38 $23.10 $46.20
premium $4.91 $25.92 $51.83
diesel $5.61 $29.61 $59.22

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 46.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.2 0 $14.08 $6.44
Efficient EV 33.5 0 $11.73 $5.36
EV Truck/SUV 53.6 0 $18.77 $8.58

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 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 17, 2026

Origin

Cleveland, OH

Morning in Cleveland on Tuesday

Local time

9:50 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Mostly Sunny

N 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Worthington, OH

Morning in Worthington on Tuesday

Local time

9:50 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

64°F

Mansfield, OH

67 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 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 31m 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

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 ~30 min detour Free near mile 23.1
Caution: Vehicle Break-in and Theft Warning
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highly highway-focused drive, with 97% of the route on major roadways like I-71 and the Innerbelt. The bulk of your travel, a continuous stretch of 130.2 miles, will be on I-71, offering a consistent pace. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes covering distance efficiently, with minimal time spent on slower, local roads. While the focus is on highway travel, the transition onto East Dublin Granville Road near Worthington will introduce a slightly different road character as you approach your destination.

97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 130.2 mi on I 71.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and East Dublin Granville Road. 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 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 134.1 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.

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.

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 2h 31m. Total distance: 134.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 31m 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 130.2 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 Worthington, 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.

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 Worthington, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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