Origin
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Morning in Cuyahoga Falls on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cuyahoga Falls, OH to Mentor, OH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
42.6 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Mentor, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Cuyahoga Falls to Mentor is 42.6 miles and takes about 54 minutes via Outerbelt East Freeway, Akron Expressway, and I-271, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip entirely within Ohio's Midwest region. Given its short distance and quick travel time, it's an ideal option for a same-day excursion or a simple commute. Expect minimal deviation from major roadways, making it a predictable journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Outerbelt East Freeway | 15 mi | 18m |
| Akron Expressway | 10.5 mi | 12m |
| I 271 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| I 90 | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| Center Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Broad Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Outerbelt East Freeway
— 15 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cuyahoga Falls, OH and Mentor, OH.
1
Start on 2nd Street
27 ft
·
8 sec
·
2nd Street
2
Turn left onto Broad Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Broad Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
4
Merge onto SR 8; SR 59
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Akron Expressway
5
Take the exit
1.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 17
Toward I 271 North: Erie Pennsylvania
6
Merge onto I 271
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I 271
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Outerbelt East Freeway
Toward I 271 North: Erie Pennsylvania
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 271
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Outerbelt East Freeway
Toward I 271 North Local, US 422 West: All Exits
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Continue on I 271
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
I 90
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 195
Toward SR 615: Center Street
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto SR 615
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Center Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn right
114 ft
·
8 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.3 miles from Cuyahoga Falls, 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 11.1 and 41.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 271 North: Erie Pennsylvania
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 17
Toward I 271 North: Erie Pennsylvania
5
19.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway toward I 271 North: Erie Pennsylvania
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 271 North: Erie Pennsylvania
8
22 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway toward I 271 North Local, US 422 West: All Exits
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 271 North Local, US 422 West: All Exit...
7
40.8 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward SR 615: Center Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 195
Toward SR 615: Center Street
6
41.1 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
SR 615 / Center Street
Turn left onto SR 615 / Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.61 one way
$13.22 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $7.34 | $14.68 |
| premium | $4.91 | $8.23 | $16.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.41 | $18.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.47 | $2.04 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.73 | $1.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17 | 0 | $5.96 | $2.73 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Mentor, OH
Morning in Mentor on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
54m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with a 90% highway share. You'll spend most of your time on the Outerbelt East Freeway and I-271. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is about 15 miles on the Outerbelt East Freeway, offering a consistent pace. The character remains largely highway-focused throughout, minimizing the need to navigate local streets.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15 mi on Outerbelt East Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Outerbelt East Freeway and Akron Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.1 miles in.
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 42.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 19.6 miles (I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 22 miles (I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 42.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15 miles on Outerbelt East 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 Mentor, 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: at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 19.6 miles (I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 22 miles (I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Mentor, 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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