This 146.1-mile journey from Kenton, OH to Cuyahoga Falls, OH is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 21 minutes. With no highway driving, expect a more local feel throughout the entire trip. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $22, making it an economical option. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is perfectly suited for a day trip, offering a straightforward drive within the Midwest region. You'll navigate primarily on local roads, so be prepared for a less rushed pace.
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
69.9 miles from Kenton, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 30
63.9 mi
1h 10m
I 71
31.9 mi
34m
I 76
20.3 mi
24m
North Main Street
11.4 mi
19m
Akron Expressway
4.7 mi
6m
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 Cuyahoga Falls, 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 left at fork onto I 76; I 77
1.8 mi·2 min·I 76; I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
21
Merge onto SR 8
4.7 mi·6 min·Akron Expressway
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 5AToward Broad BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn left onto Broad Boulevard
0.2 mi·31 sec·Broad Boulevard
24
Turn left onto 2nd Street
56 ft·2 sec·2nd Street
25
Arrive at destination
2nd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short and direct drive of 146.1 miles taking just over 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning should allow you to avoid early rush hour in any populated areas you pass through. With no long highway stretches, you can easily manage fuel stops. Keep an eye out for the numerous turns indicated by the 'turn-heavy' profile; planning your route on a GPS is advisable. The $22 fuel estimate is a good budget point, but it's always wise to start with a full tank.
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 69.9 miles from Kenton, OH, or about 1h 27m 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 31 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.9 miles or 1h 27m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cuyahoga Falls, 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 139.9 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.1 and 139.3 — 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
7
139.3 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward Broad Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5A
Toward Broad Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.71 one way
$43.42 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$24.10
$48.19
premium
$4.91
$27.04
$54.08
diesel
$5.61
$30.89
$61.78
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: 48.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42
0
$14.69
$6.72
Efficient EV
35
0
$12.24
$5.60
EV Truck/SUV
56
0
$19.59
$8.95
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 15, 2026
Origin
Kenton, OH
Afternoon
in Kenton on Sunday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Afternoon
in Cuyahoga Falls on Sunday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Mansfield, OH
70 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
7 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 50m 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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 139.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be making frequent turns and navigating through local streets rather than cruising on interstates. With 0% highway share, anticipate a continuous engagement with the road, passing through towns and residential areas. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests you won't encounter long, monotonous stretches. Expect a dynamic driving experience that keeps you actively involved from start to finish, as you traverse North Main Street, Mad River Street, and Warehouse Street.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 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 21 significant decision points across 139.9 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 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Kenton, OH to Cuyahoga Falls, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Akron along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 139.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). 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 Cuyahoga Falls, 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 Cuyahoga Falls, OH before heading back.
