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Trip from Cuyahoga Falls, OH to Vandalia, OH

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 44m

Distance

197.5 mi

318 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 32m ★
6 AM
3h 45m
8 AM
4h 10m
10 AM
3h 54m
12 PM
3h 51m
3 PM
3h 55m
5 PM
4h 9m
8 PM
3h 37m

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

Best Time
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city in Summit County, Ohio, United States

Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Wikimedia Commons

city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States

Vandalia, OH

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Cuyahoga Falls, OH to Vandalia, OH covers 197.5 miles and takes about 3h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 71, West Freeway, Kenmore Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 98.8 miles on I 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.33 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

98.8 miles from Cuyahoga Falls, OH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 71 98.8 mi 1h 46m
West Freeway 61.1 mi 1h 6m
Kenmore Expressway 19.8 mi 24m
Akron Expressway 4.8 mi 6m
I 670 4.5 mi 5m
I 77 3 mi 4m
I 75 1 mi 1m
East National Road 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 71 — 98.8 mi, about 1h 46m

Traffic on I-70

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 74 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~3,299 veh/hr typical · worst 3,927

Quietest

2 AM

~353 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

9.3×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 104 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 Cuyahoga Falls, OH and Vandalia, OH.

1

Start on 2nd Street

27 ft · 8 sec · 2nd Street
2

Turn left onto Broad Boulevard

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Broad Boulevard
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward SR 8 South, SR 59 West
4

Merge onto SR 8; SR 59

4.8 mi · 6 min · Akron Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Exit 1A-B Toward I 76 East, I 76 West, I 77 North: Youngstown, Barberton, Cleveland Use the slight right lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 77

3.0 mi · 4 min · I 77
Exit 1B Toward I 76 West, I 77 North: Barberton, Cleveland Use the slight right lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 76

20 mi · 24 min · Kenmore Expressway
Toward I 76 West: Barberton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

1.2 mi · 2 min
Exit 1A Toward I 71 South: Columbus Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto I 71

99 mi · 1 hr 46 min · I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 109A Toward I 670 East, I 670 West: Airport, Dayton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 670 West: Dayton Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto I 670

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Northeast Freeway
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 670

4.5 mi · 5 min · I 670
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Merge onto I 70

61 mi · 1 hr 6 min · West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Exit 33 Toward I 75: Dayton, Toledo Use the slight right lane.
16

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 75 North: Toledo Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Merge onto I 75

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 75
18

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 53 sec
Exit 63 Toward US 40: Vandalia, Donnelsville Use the slight right lane.
19

Turn left onto US 40

0.7 mi · 1 min · East National Road
20

Turn sharp left

120 ft · 5 sec
21

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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 98.8 miles from Cuyahoga Falls, OH, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 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 43 miles or 53m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 98.8 miles or 1h 54m 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 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vandalia, OH than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Cuyahoga Falls, 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 Cuyahoga Falls, OH

This is one driving day of about 197.5 miles and 3h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Cuyahoga Falls, 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 98.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Huron County, Ohio, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Willard, OH

99 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

Lorain, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ashley, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 98.8 miles from Cuyahoga Falls, 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 98.8 miles.

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 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 196.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
5.2 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the exit toward I 76 East, I 76 West, I 77 North: Youngstown, Barberton, Cleveland

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 1A-B Toward I 76 East, I 76 West, I 77 North: Youngs...
9
5.3 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 77

Keep slight right at fork onto I 77 toward I 76 West, I 77 North: Barberton, Cleveland

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 1B Toward I 76 West, I 77 North: Barberton, Clevel...
8
128.1 mi into trip | ~2h 25m in

Take the exit toward I 670 East, I 670 West: Airport, Dayton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 109A Toward I 670 East, I 670 West: Airport, Dayton
8
194.6 mi into trip | ~3h 39m in

Take the exit toward I 75: Dayton, Toledo

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 33 Toward I 75: Dayton, Toledo
8
196.5 mi into trip | ~3h 42m in

Take the exit toward US 40: Vandalia, Donnelsville

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 63 Toward US 40: Vandalia, Donnelsville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.33 one way

$60.67 round trip

$3.90/gal 25.4 MPG avg 69 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $34.21 $68.43
premium $4.98 $38.74 $77.48
diesel $5.60 $43.54 $87.07

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 69.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 59.3 0 $20.74 $9.48
Efficient EV 49.4 0 $17.28 $7.90
EV Truck/SUV 79 0 $27.65 $12.64

Gas CO2

69 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 Sep 1, 2026

Origin

Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Evening in Cuyahoga Falls on Friday

Local time

8:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

SW 7 mph 25% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 8:55PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 7:23PM EDT until September 2 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Destination

Vandalia, OH

Evening in Vandalia on Friday

Local time

8:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Partly Cloudy

SW 7 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 8:55PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 7:23PM EDT until September 2 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

3h 44m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

197.5 mi in 3h 44m, mostly highway — 98.8 mi of that is on I 71.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.8 mi on I 71.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and West Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 197.5 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 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.3 miles (I 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,396 ft 854 ft

Total Climb

775 ft

Total Descent

810 ft

Highest Point

1,396 ft

~70.5 mi in

Elevation Range

543 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Cuyahoga Falls, OH to Vandalia, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Dayton along the way.

Dayton

128.1 mi in | ~2h 25m

About the Cities

Starting in Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Full guide →

Founded 1812

Arriving in Vandalia, OH

Full guide →

Founded 1838

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 3h 44m. Total distance: 197.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 44m 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 98.8 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 Vandalia, 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 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.3 miles (I 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Vandalia, 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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