Traveling from Lakewood to Bexley is a straightforward 137.6-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 38 minutes. Because this is a compact drive within the Midwest, it serves perfectly as a one-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $21 on fuel for the trip, making it an affordable excursion for a weekend or a quick getaway. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, keeping the navigation simple and predictable. Since both ends of your trip are located within Ohio, you will stay within familiar territory for the duration of your travel. It is a practical choice if you value efficiency and want to reach your destination without the hassle of complex navigation.
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
68.8 miles from Lakewood, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
130.8 mi
2h 22m
Warren Road
2.2 mi
5m
East Long Street
1.7 mi
3m
West 150th Street
0.9 mi
1m
East Broad Street
0.8 mi
1m
Lester Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
West 154th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Franklin Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 130.8 mi, about 2h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, OH and Bexley, OH.
1
Start on Franklin Boulevard
456 ft·18 sec·Franklin Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Warren Road
2.2 mi·5 min·Warren Road
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on West 150th Street
0.9 mi·1 min·West 150th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto West 154th Street
489 ft·26 sec·West 154th Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 71
0.9 mi·58 sec·I 71
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
130 mi·2 hr 21 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 109BToward Downtown, Spring StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on Lester Drive
0.1 mi·27 sec·Lester Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto East Long Street
1.7 mi·3 min·East Long Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Monypenny Avenue
433 ft·20 sec·Monypenny Avenue
12
Turn left onto US 40; US 62; SR 16
0.8 mi·1 min·East Broad Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto Drexel Circle
134 ft·4 sec·Drexel Circle
14
Arrive at destination
Drexel Circle
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 2 hours and 38 minutes on the road, try to time your departure to avoid peak commuter hours on I-71. Since the drive is relatively short, you only need to plan for one stop, which gives you plenty of flexibility to stretch your legs whenever you prefer. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the interstate, as you will be covering over 130 miles on that single stretch without needing to exit for supplies. Being aware of the highway-heavy nature of the route means you should prioritize comfort and cruise control settings early on. If you want to keep the drive stress-free, finalize your route into Bexley via East Long Street ahead of time so you can transition smoothly from the highway into local streets.
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 68.8 miles from Lakewood, OH, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.8 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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.8 miles or 1h 20m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bexley, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, OH
This is one driving day of about 137.6 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Lakewood, 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 130.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 136.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.2 mi into trip|~8m in|West 154th Street
Turn right onto West 154th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
3.3 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
4.4 mi into trip|~10m in|I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
134.4 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Spring Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 109B
Toward Downtown, Spring Street
6
136.8 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|US 40; US 62; SR 16 / East Broad Street
Turn left onto US 40; US 62; SR 16 / East Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.36 one way
$42.71 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$23.70
$47.40
premium
$4.91
$26.59
$53.19
diesel
$5.61
$30.38
$60.76
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: 48.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.3
0
$14.45
$6.60
Efficient EV
34.4
0
$12.04
$5.50
EV Truck/SUV
55
0
$19.26
$8.81
Gas CO2
48 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 17, 2026
Origin
Lakewood, OH
Morning
in Lakewood on Tuesday
Local time
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Showers And Thunderstorms then Areas Of Fog
NW 7 mph83% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 3:23AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 16 at 10:31PM EDT until April 17 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Bexley, OH
Morning
in Bexley on Tuesday
Local time
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Clear
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 3:23AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 16 at 10:31PM EDT until April 17 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
64°F
Mansfield, OH
69 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 38m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 95% of your travel time spent on major roads. The bulk of your journey consists of a 130.8-mile stretch on I-71, which provides a consistent, high-speed experience for the majority of the trip. While you start by navigating local streets like Warren Road, the character of the drive quickly shifts to a steady interstate pace. Expect a fairly uniform experience behind the wheel, as the route is designed for moving efficiently between these two points. Because the interstate makes up such a significant portion of the mileage, you should be prepared for the steady flow of highway traffic that defines this corridor.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 130.8 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Warren Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.2 miles in near West 154th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 137.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 3.2 miles (West 154th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 137.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 130.8 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (West 154th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (I 71): 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bexley, OH before heading back.
