This 134.8-mile journey from Kenton, OH to Akron, OH, is designed for a single day of driving, taking approximately 2 hours and 42 minutes. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 86% of the drive utilizing major roads like US 30, I-71, and I-76. With a projected fuel cost of $21, this trip offers an economical option for travelers. It's a straightforward drive connecting two points within the Midwest region, making it a convenient option for those looking to cover ground efficiently without the need for an overnight stop.
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
67.4 miles from Kenton, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 30
63.9 mi
1h 10m
I 71
31.9 mi
34m
I 76
18.4 mi
22m
North Main Street
11.4 mi
19m
Innerbelt
2.1 mi
2m
Kenmore Expressway
1.9 mi
2m
Wells Road
1.4 mi
2m
Mad River Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 63.9 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kenton, OH and Akron, OH.
1
Start on SR 309
460 ft·15 sec·West Franklin Street
2
Turn left onto SR 31; SR 53
11 mi·19 min·North Main Street
3
Continue on SR 53
0.4 mi·56 sec·Mad River Street
4
Continue on SR 53
448 ft·18 sec·Warehouse Street
5
Turn left onto SR 37
0.1 mi·15 sec·West Lima Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto SR 37
0.1 mi·18 sec·North Martin Street
7
Turn left onto SR 37
0.3 mi·31 sec·West Gage Street
8
Turn right onto SR 37
1.4 mi·2 min·Wells Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·45 sec
10
Merge onto US 30
17 mi·19 min·US 30
11
Take the exit onto US 30
46 mi·51 min·US 30
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 176Toward I 71 North: Cleveland
13
Merge onto I 71
32 mi·34 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 209A-BToward I 76, US 224: Lodi, AkronUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 209AToward I 76, US 224 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi·20 min·I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
18
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.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59
2.1 mi·2 min·Innerbelt
Exit 21CToward SR 59 East: DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on SR 59
406 ft·13 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
21
Turn right onto West Center Street
459 ft·19 sec·West Center Street
22
Turn left onto West Bowery Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·West Bowery Street
23
Arrive at destination
West Bowery Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 2-hour and 42-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Kenton to bypass potential traffic as you near Akron. With only one recommended stop and a manageable 134.8 miles, you have flexibility in pacing. The $21 fuel cost is modest, but it's always wise to fill up before leaving Kenton, especially since the longest uninterrupted stretch is 63.9 miles on US 30. This route is ideal for completing in a single day, allowing you to arrive in Akron refreshed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.4 miles from Kenton, OH, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.9 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 30 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.4 miles or 1h 24m 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 11m
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 Kenton, 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 Kenton, OH
This is one driving day of about 134.8 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Kenton, 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 30 for about 63.9 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.1 and 132.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
12.1 mi into trip|~21m in|SR 37 / North Martin Street
At end of road, turn right onto SR 37 / North Martin Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
8
110.8 mi into trip|~2h 12m 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
111 mi into trip|~2h 12m 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
7
131 mi into trip|~2h 36m 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
8
132.2 mi into trip|~2h 38m 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
$20.92 one way
$41.84 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$23.22
$46.44
premium
$4.91
$26.05
$52.10
diesel
$5.61
$29.76
$59.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.4
0
$14.15
$6.47
Efficient EV
33.7
0
$11.80
$5.39
EV Truck/SUV
53.9
0
$18.87
$8.63
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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 16, 2026
Origin
Kenton, OH
Afternoon
in Kenton on Sunday
Local time
3:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 17 mph44% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:54AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:54AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Akron, OH
Afternoon
in Akron on Sunday
Local time
3:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Mansfield, OH
67 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
17 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
2h 42m 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.
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 140.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 134.8-mile trip, with 86% of it spent on major thoroughfares. You'll experience a significant stretch of 63.9 miles on US 30, offering a consistent pace. The transition to I-71 and then I-76 will provide a more interstate feel as you approach Akron. While not a winding scenic byway, this route is engineered for steady progress, minimizing delays and maximizing your time on the road.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.9 mi on US 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 30 and I 71. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.1 miles in near SR 37 / North Martin Street.
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 18 significant decision points across 134.8 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 12.1 miles (SR 37 / North Martin Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 110.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 111 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 134.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.9 miles on US 30. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.1 miles (SR 37 / North Martin Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 110.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 111 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Akron, OH before heading back.
