If you are planning a trip from Fairfield Beach to Cleveland, expect a journey covering 146.2 miles. This route takes approximately 2 hours and 48 minutes of travel time, making it a very manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will navigate via Laural Road, Mall Drive, and Maple Road Northeast rather than relying on major interstates. Budgeting around $22 for fuel is a safe estimate for your vehicle's needs. Because this path stays entirely within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition between these two Ohio locations.
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
71.9 miles from Fairfield Beach, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
79.2 mi
1h 27m
Cassell Road
16 mi
18m
Mount Vernon Road
12.6 mi
18m
Newark Road
10.1 mi
15m
SR 13
9.7 mi
14m
Riverside Drive
5.3 mi
7m
Zartman Road
1.4 mi
3m
North Sandusky Street
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 79.2 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield Beach, OH and Cleveland, OH.
1
Start on Laurel Road Northeast
0.1 mi·33 sec·Laurel Road Northeast
2
Continue on Laural Road
424 ft·22 sec·Laural Road
3
Turn left onto Mall Drive
134 ft·8 sec·Mall Drive
4
Turn right onto Maple Road Northeast
0.1 mi·27 sec·Maple Road Northeast
5
Turn left
342 ft·15 sec
6
Turn slight left onto CR 3
0.5 mi·1 min·Fairfield Beach Road Northeast
7
At end of road, turn left onto CR 1
0.1 mi·22 sec·Custers Point Road Northeast
8
Turn right onto CR 59
1.4 mi·3 min·Zartman Road
9
Turn left onto CR 87
0.4 mi·1 min·Roberts Road
10
Turn right onto CR 2
1.1 mi·2 min·Honey Creek Road N West
11
Continue on CR 2
0.3 mi·48 sec·Honey Creek Road Northwest
12
Turn left onto CR 30
101 ft·6 sec·Zion Road
13
Turn left onto SR 13
9.3 mi·14 min·SR 13
14
Continue on SR 13
0.2 mi·27 sec·West National Drive
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto SR 13
0.5 mi·44 sec·South 4th Street
16
Enter roundabout onto SR 13
87 ft·1 sec·North 4th Street
17
Continue on SR 13
467 ft·7 sec·North 4th Street
18
Enter roundabout onto SR 13
94 ft·1 sec·North 4th Street
19
Continue on SR 13
459 ft·9 sec·North 4th Street
20
Continue on SR 13
13 mi·18 min·Mount Vernon Road
21
Continue on SR 13
1.0 mi·2 min·South Main Street
22
Continue on SR 13
10 mi·15 min·Newark Road
23
Continue on SR 13
0.3 mi·19 sec·South Main Street
24
Turn right onto SR 13
0.4 mi·42 sec·SR 13
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
25
Turn left onto SR 13
0.3 mi·53 sec·East Chestnut Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Turn right onto SR 13
1.4 mi·1 min·North Sandusky Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on SR 13
16 mi·18 min·Cassell Road
28
Continue on SR 13; SR 97
5.3 mi·7 min·Riverside Drive
Use the left lane.
29
Turn left
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 169Toward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the left lane.
30
Merge onto I 71
52 mi·55 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71
28 mi·31 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Merge onto I 90
0.9 mi·1 min·Innerbelt
33
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 171Toward US 422, SR 14: Orange Avenue, Ontario StreetUse the slight right lane.
34
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·42 sec
Toward US 422 West, SR 14 West: Ontario StreetUse the slight right lane.
35
Turn straight onto US 422; SR 8; SR 10; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87
0.7 mi·1 min·Ontario Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
36
At end of road, turn right onto US 6; US 20
232 ft·10 sec·South Roadway
Use the right lane.
37
Continue on US 6; US 20
0.1 mi·28 sec·East Roadway
Use the left / straight lanes.
38
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 20
513 ft·20 sec·Rockwell Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Turn right onto Frankfort Avenue
186 ft·6 sec·Frankfort Avenue
40
Arrive at destination
Frankfort Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-three-hour drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though leaving mid-morning can help you avoid local congestion. You only need to plan for one strategic stop to break up the 146.2-mile journey and refresh. Keep a close eye on your navigation while traversing the turn-heavy sections on Laural Road and Mall Drive, as the frequent transitions require more focus than a typical interstate trek. Because the route relies entirely on local roads, ensure your fuel tank is topped off before you leave, as you will not have the benefit of frequent highway service plazas.
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 71.9 miles from Fairfield Beach, OH, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.2 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 32 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.9 miles or 1h 43m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cleveland, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairfield Beach, 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 Fairfield Beach, OH
This is one driving day of about 143.7 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Fairfield Beach, 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 79.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 61.9 and 143.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
61.9 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Turn left toward I 71 North: Cleveland
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 169
Toward I 71 North: Cleveland
8
142.3 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 422, SR 14: Orange Avenue, Ontario Street
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 171
Toward US 422, SR 14: Orange Avenue, Ontario St...
9
142.6 mi into trip|~3h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 422 West, SR 14 West: Ontario Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 422 West, SR 14 West: Ontario Street
7
143.4 mi into trip|~3h 4m in|US 6; US 20 / South Roadway
At end of road, turn right onto US 6; US 20 / South Roadway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
143.6 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|US 6; US 20 / Rockwell Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 20 / Rockwell Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.30 one way
$44.60 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$24.75
$49.50
premium
$4.91
$27.77
$55.55
diesel
$5.61
$31.73
$63.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.1
0
$15.09
$6.90
Efficient EV
35.9
0
$12.57
$5.75
EV Truck/SUV
57.5
0
$20.12
$9.20
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 21, 2026
Origin
Fairfield Beach, OH
Morning
in Fairfield Beach on Tuesday
Local time
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cleveland, OH
Morning
in Cleveland on Tuesday
Local time
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Mansfield, OH
72 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
21 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
3h 5m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is best described as a turn-heavy local drive, offering a much more hands-on experience than a standard highway cruise. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for constant maneuvering on local roads rather than long, straight stretches of open pavement. The route demands your full attention as you navigate through various turns, making it feel less like a monotonous commute and more like a series of connected local segments. Expect a steady, active pace behind the wheel that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.2 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Cassell Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 61.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 143.7 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 61.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 142.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 143.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.2 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 Cleveland, 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 61.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 142.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Cleveland, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
