This 166.7-mile journey from Fostoria to Youngstown, Ohio, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 47 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with no highway driving involved, suggesting a more intimate, turn-heavy experience through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $25, this is an economical option for a quick getaway. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the drive. Given the relatively short duration, this route offers flexibility for departure times.
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
77.4 miles from Fostoria, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 224
90.1 mi
1h 58m
I 76
40.4 mi
45m
Columbus Avenue
7.1 mi
10m
I 680
5.9 mi
8m
I 80
4 mi
4m
Tiffin-Fostoria Road
3.4 mi
5m
Kenmore Expressway
1.9 mi
2m
West Lytle Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 224
— 90.1 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fostoria, OH and Youngstown, OH.
1
Start on West Tiffin Street
162 ft·9 sec·West Tiffin Street
2
Turn right onto South Wood Street
340 ft·16 sec·South Wood Street
3
Turn right onto West South Street
78 ft·8 sec·West South Street
4
Turn sharp left onto US 23; SR 18; SR 199
0.4 mi·40 sec·Midblock Underpass
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 23; SR 18; SR 199
0.7 mi·1 min·West Lytle Street
6
Turn slight right onto SR 18
7.1 mi·10 min·Columbus Avenue
7
Continue on SR 18
3.4 mi·5 min·Tiffin-Fostoria Road
8
Continue on US 224
63 mi·1 hr 24 min·US 224
9
Take the exit onto US 224
27 mi·33 min·US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
11
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.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76; I 77
39 mi·43 min·I 76; I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 80
4.0 mi·4 min·I 80
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
5.9 mi·8 min·I 680
Toward I 680: Youngstown
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
16
Turn sharp left onto Market Street
0.6 mi·59 sec·Market Street
17
Keep slight right at fork onto Central Square
124 ft·2 sec·Central Square
18
Arrive at destination
Central Square
Trip Plan
For this 166.7-mile drive, there's no need to rush, so consider a mid-morning departure to allow for a relaxed start. With a total duration of under three hours and an estimated fuel cost of $25, you have plenty of flexibility. Plan for one strategic stop to stretch your legs or grab a quick bite. Keep an eye on your GPS, as the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route means paying attention to navigation is key to staying on track from Fostoria to Youngstown.
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 77.4 miles from Fostoria, OH, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.1 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 34 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.4 miles or 1h 46m 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 45m
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 Fostoria, 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 Fostoria, OH
This is one driving day of about 154.9 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Fostoria, 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 US 224 for about 90.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 104.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Wood Street
Turn right onto South Wood Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 23; SR 18; SR 199 / Midblock Underpass
Turn sharp left onto US 23; SR 18; SR 199 / Midblock Underpass
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
101.8 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|I 76 / Kenmore Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Kenmore Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
103.7 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|I 76
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Akron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Akron
6
104.9 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|I 76; I 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76; I 77
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.04 one way
$48.08 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$26.68
$53.36
premium
$4.91
$29.94
$59.87
diesel
$5.61
$34.20
$68.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.5
0
$16.26
$7.44
Efficient EV
38.7
0
$13.55
$6.20
EV Truck/SUV
62
0
$21.69
$9.91
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Fostoria, OH
Morning
in Fostoria on Tuesday
Local time
8:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Youngstown, OH
Morning
in Youngstown on Tuesday
Local time
8:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
1 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 19m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a distinctly local feel on this route, as indicated by the 0% highway share and the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. You'll be covering 166.7 miles primarily on roads like South Main Street, Sandusky Street, and Fostoria Fremont Road. Without any significant highway stretches, the longest uninterrupted driving segment is not a major factor here. This drive will likely involve frequent turns and a more direct engagement with the towns and landscapes you pass through, rather than a high-speed transit.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.1 mi on US 224.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 224 and I 76. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Wood Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 154.9 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Wood Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 23; SR 18; SR 199 / Midblock Underpass): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 101.8 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Fostoria is a city of 13,000 people (2020) in Northwest Ohio. In the 1880s, Fostoria was an industrial town that specialized in glass and early automobiles. While the industry is mostly gone, the railroads that powered its industry still cut across the city, making it a good place for trainspotting.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 19m. Total distance: 154.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m 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 90.1 miles on US 224. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Wood Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 23; SR 18; SR 199 / Midblock Underpass): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 101.8 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Youngstown, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
