Trip from Fairfax, OH to Akron, 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

4h 27m

Distance

227.9 mi

367 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 14m ★

6 AM

4h 27m

8 AM

4h 54m

10 AM

4h 37m

12 PM

4h 34m

3 PM

4h 38m

5 PM

4h 53m

8 PM

4h 19m

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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Fairfax, OH

Joaquin Carfagna

Trip Overview

Fairfax, OH to Akron, OH is 227.9 miles and takes about 4h 27m via I 71, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive primarily within Ohio, connecting two points in the Midwest region. Expect a highway-focused journey with minimal detours, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. The relatively short duration and predictable route suggest it's a practical choice for anyone needing to travel between these two Ohio cities efficiently.

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

113.9 miles from Fairfax, OH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 19m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 71	170.6 mi	3h 6m
Northeast Expressway	22.2 mi	26m
I 76	18.4 mi	22m
SR 350	4.3 mi	8m
Innerbelt	2.1 mi	2m
Middleboro Road	1.9 mi	4m
Kenmore Expressway	1.9 mi	2m
South Innerbelt	1.3 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 71 — 170.6 mi, about 3h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax, OH and Akron, OH.

Start on Germania Street

25 ft · 5 sec · Germania Street

Turn left onto Elder Street

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Elder Street

Turn left onto Watterson Road

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Watterson Road

Continue on Watterson Road

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Watterson Road

Continue on Watterson Street

0.2 mi · 50 sec · Watterson Street

At end of road, turn left onto Bramble Avenue

506 ft · 17 sec · Bramble Avenue

Turn right onto Whetsel Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Whetsel Avenue

Turn left onto Madison Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Madison Road

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Medpace Way

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Medpace Way

Use the right lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Merge onto Red Bank Expressway

0.5 mi · 46 sec · Red Bank Expressway

Use the right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Toward I 71 North: Columbus Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 71

22 mi · 26 min · Northeast Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Exit 32 Toward SR 123: Morrow, Lebanon Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto SR 123

515 ft · 12 sec · SR 123

Turn left onto SR 350

4.3 mi · 8 min · SR 350

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto C-45

1.9 mi · 4 min · Middleboro Road

At end of road, turn left onto SR 350 Truck; C-7

336 ft · 10 sec · Wilmington Road

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Toward I 71 North: Columbus

Merge onto I 71

69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · I 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto I 71

0.4 mi · 45 sec · I 71

Toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeling Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 70; I 71

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Innerbelt

Keep slight right at fork onto I 71

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 71

Exit 101A Toward I 71 North: Cleveland Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 71

100 mi · 1 hr 49 min · I 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 209A-B Toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min

Exit 209A Toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 76; US 224

17 mi · 20 min · I 76; US 224

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 76

1.9 mi · 2 min · Kenmore Expressway

Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 76

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 76

Toward I 76 East: Akron Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59

2.1 mi · 2 min · Innerbelt

Exit 21C Toward SR 59 East: Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on SR 59

406 ft · 13 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

Turn right onto West Center Street

459 ft · 19 sec · West Center Street

Turn left onto West Bowery Street

0.2 mi · 33 sec · West Bowery Street

Arrive at destination

West Bowery Street

Trip Plan

Given the 4h 27m duration and 227.9-mile distance, this trip is easily manageable as a same-day journey. Aim for an early morning departure from Fairfax to maximize daylight and allow for unexpected traffic. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $35, planning is minimal. The longest stretch is over 170 miles on I 71, so ensure you have plenty of fuel before embarking on that segment to avoid any unnecessary stops.

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 113.9 miles from Fairfax, OH, or about 2h 19m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 170.6 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 50 miles or 1h 8m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 113.9 miles or 2h 19m 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 38m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Fairfax, 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 Fairfax, OH

This is one driving day of about 227.9 miles and 4h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Fairfax, 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 170.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

capital city of Ohio, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Columbus, OH

114 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

Jeffersonville, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Columbus, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 113.9 miles from Fairfax, 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 170.6 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 29

5 decision points cluster between mile 25 and 225.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

25 mi into trip | ~33m in

Take the exit toward SR 123: Morrow, Lebanon

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 32 Toward SR 123: Morrow, Lebanon

102.5 mi into trip | ~2h 6m in | I 71

Keep slight right at fork onto I 71 toward I 71 North: Cleveland

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 101A Toward I 71 North: Cleveland

203.9 mi into trip | ~3h 56m in

Take the exit toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron

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 209A-B Toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron

204.1 mi into trip | ~3h 57m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 209A Toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron

225.3 mi into trip | ~4h 23m in | SR 59 / Innerbelt

Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59 / Innerbelt toward SR 59 East: Downtown

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 21C Toward SR 59 East: Downtown

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.37 one way

$70.74 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 80 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.38	$39.25	$78.51
premium	$4.91	$44.05	$88.09
diesel	$5.61	$50.32	$100.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 79.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	68.4	0	$23.93	$10.94
Efficient EV	57	0	$19.94	$9.12
EV Truck/SUV	91.2	1	$31.91	$14.59

Gas CO2

80 kg

EV CO2

27 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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Fairfax, OH

Late night in Fairfax on Tuesday

Local time

4:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Akron, OH

Late night in Akron on Tuesday

Local time

4:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

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

26 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

4h 27m 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.

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 47.1

View on nps.gov

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...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour Free near mile 227.9

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 ~57 min detour Free near mile 39.3

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

This trip is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route on major interstates like I 71, Northeast Expressway, and I 76. You'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including one segment of 170.6 miles solely on I 71. The character of the drive is consistent, emphasizing speed and directness rather than varied scenery. Prepare for a steady pace on well-maintained highways, typical of long-distance travel in the Midwest.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 170.6 mi on I 71.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Northeast Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 25 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 29 significant decision points across 227.9 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 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.5 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Fairfax, OH and Akron, OH, road signs point toward Lebanon and Wheeling.

Lebanon

25 mi in | ~33m

Wheeling

100.8 mi in | ~2h 3m | via I 71

About the Cities

Starting in Fairfax, OH

Full guide →

Founded 1955

Arriving in Akron, OH

Full guide →

Akron is a city of almost 200,000 people (2019) in the Northeast Ohio region in Summit County. Akron is proud of its heritage as a center of industry, and now offers visitors a wide range of recreational and cultural attractions, food experiences, and shopping.

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 27m. Total distance: 227.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 170.6 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 Akron, 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.

Yes — Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Akron, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Fairfax, OH or browse trips ending in Akron, OH.

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Trip from Fairfax, OH to Akron, OH

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Fairfax, OH

Akron, OH

Same local time

26 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 27m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Fairfax, OH

Arriving in Akron, OH

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Akron, OH

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