Fairfield, OH to Youngstown, OH is 284.2 miles and takes about 5h 27m via I-71 and I-76, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Ohio, connecting two points in the Midwest region. It's a straightforward, mostly highway trip designed for efficient travel. You'll spend the bulk of your time on interstates, making this a good option if you're looking to cover ground quickly. Plan for a single day of driving with minimal complexity.
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
142.1 miles from Fairfield, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
99.5 mi
1h 47m
I 76
57.6 mi
1h 6m
I 70
51.1 mi
55m
I 675
24.7 mi
28m
I 75
13.3 mi
15m
Hamilton Middletown Road
6.4 mi
7m
I 680
5.9 mi
8m
Hamilton Lebanon Road East
4.5 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 99.5 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-71
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,112 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,981
Quietest
2 AM
~236 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 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 Fairfield, OH and Youngstown, OH.
1
Start on Magie Avenue
316 ft·20 sec·Magie Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 127
2.5 mi·4 min·Pleasant Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto Grand Boulevard
0.3 mi·46 sec·Grand Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto SR 4
1.0 mi·1 min·South Erie Highway
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on SR 4
0.6 mi·50 sec·North Erie Boulevard
6
Continue on SR 4
0.6 mi·41 sec·Fairgrove Avenue
7
Continue on SR 4
6.4 mi·7 min·Hamilton Middletown Road
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward SR 63: Monroe, Lebanon
9
Continue on SR 63
4.5 mi·8 min·Hamilton Lebanon Road East
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn straight onto SR 63
0.1 mi·9 sec·SR 63
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 North: DaytonUse the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 75
13 mi·15 min·I 75
13
Take the exit
1.4 mi·1 min
Exit 43Toward I 675 North: ColumbusUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 675
16 mi·18 min·I 675
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 675
9.0 mi·10 min·I 675
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 26AToward I 70 East, SR 4 North: Columbus
17
Merge onto I 70; SR 4
1.9 mi·1 min·I 70; SR 4
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
49 mi·53 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670
4.3 mi·5 min·I 670
Toward I 670 East: AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto North Innerbelt
0.2 mi·15 sec·North Innerbelt
Toward I 71: Cincinnati, ClevelandUse the slight right lane.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Toward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the slight left lane.
23
Merge onto I 71
100 mi·1 hr 47 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 209A-BToward I 76, US 224: Lodi, AkronUse the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 209AToward I 76, US 224 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi·20 min·I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.2 mi·1 min·I 76
Toward I 76 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76; I 77
39 mi·43 min·I 76; I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 80
4.0 mi·4 min·I 80
31
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
5.9 mi·8 min·I 680
Toward I 680: Youngstown
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
33
Turn sharp left onto Market Street
0.6 mi·59 sec·Market Street
34
Keep slight right at fork onto Central Square
124 ft·2 sec·Central Square
35
Arrive at destination
Central Square
Trip Plan
For this 5.5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to ensure you arrive with plenty of daylight. The route is efficient, so you likely won't need more than one planned stop for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into longer interstate stretches. With a recommended fuel cost of around $45, it's a manageable expense for a single day's travel. Given the single-day nature of this trip, you have flexibility to depart slightly later if needed, but aim to start early to maximize your time upon arrival.
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 142.1 miles from Fairfield, OH, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.5 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 63 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.1 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Youngstown, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairfield, 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, OH
This is one driving day of about 284.2 miles and 5h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Fairfield, 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 99.5 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 30.2 and 213 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
30.2 mi into trip|~40m in
Take the exit toward I 675 North: Columbus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 43
Toward I 675 North: Columbus
7
108.1 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|I 670
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670 toward I 670 East: Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 670 East: Airport
8
112.4 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|North Innerbelt
Keep slight right at fork onto North Innerbelt toward I 71: Cincinnati, Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 71: Cincinnati, Cleveland
8
212.8 mi into trip|~4h 2m 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
9
213 mi into trip|~4h 2m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.46 one way
$88.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$50.06
$100.12
premium
$5.06
$56.57
$113.14
diesel
$6.18
$69.14
$138.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.3
1
$29.84
$13.64
Efficient EV
71.1
0
$24.87
$11.37
EV Truck/SUV
113.7
1
$39.79
$18.19
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Fairfield, OH
Morning
in Fairfield on Saturday
Local time
11:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Partly Cloudy
N 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:34AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 12:44AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Destination
Youngstown, OH
Morning
in Youngstown on Saturday
Local time
11:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 10 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:34AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 12:44AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
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
5h 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.
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...
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...
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 235.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 92% of the route on interstates. You'll encounter a 99.5-mile stretch on I-71, which means extended periods of cruising. After the highway portions conclude, you'll transition to surface roads for the final segment into Youngstown. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and frequent exits along the interstate segments.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.5 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and I 76. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.2 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 26 significant decision points across 284.2 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 30.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.1 miles (I 670): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.4 miles (North Innerbelt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,269 ft594 ft
Total Climb
1,142 ft
Total Descent
879 ft
Highest Point
1,269 ft
~162.4 mi in
Elevation Range
675 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fairfield, OH and Youngstown, OH, road signs point toward Cleveland and Akron.
Youngstown is a city of 60,000 people (2020) in Northeast Ohio and is the county seat of Mahoning County. For Youngstown, it was all about coal and steel, until deindustrialization occurred in the second half of the 20th century.
Top landmarks
•Butler Institute of American Art — museum in Youngstown, Ohio
•Idora Park — amusement park in Youngstown, Ohio
•Youngstown station — former train station in Youngstown, Ohio, US
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 27m. Total distance: 284.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.5 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 41 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Youngstown, 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. There are 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 30.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.1 miles (I 670): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.4 miles (North Innerbelt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Youngstown, OH before the return drive.
