Traveling from London to Akron covers 151.6 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 22 minutes of drive time. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $22 for fuel to cover the distance across this stretch of the Midwest. Navigating this route involves a series of local roads, including Elm Street, Lafayette Road, and the London–Delaware Road. It is a straightforward trip that avoids the interstate system entirely, making it a great option if you prefer a slower, more deliberate pace through the heart of Ohio.
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
75.8 miles from London, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
99.5 mi
1h 47m
I 76
18.4 mi
22m
I 70
16.4 mi
17m
London – Delaware Road
5.3 mi
7m
I 670
4.3 mi
5m
Innerbelt
2.1 mi
2m
Kenmore Expressway
1.9 mi
2m
Lafayette Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 99.5 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between London, OH and Akron, OH.
1
Start on US 42; SR 38; SR 142
0.2 mi·37 sec·East High Street
2
Turn slight left onto US 42; SR 38
0.2 mi·27 sec·Elm Street
3
Keep slight right at fork onto US 42
0.4 mi·51 sec·Lafayette Road
4
Continue on US 42
5.3 mi·7 min·London – Delaware Road
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto I 70
16 mi·17 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto North Innerbelt
0.2 mi·15 sec·North Innerbelt
Toward I 71: Cincinnati, ClevelandUse the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Toward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 71
100 mi·1 hr 47 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 209A-BToward I 76, US 224: Lodi, AkronUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 209AToward I 76, US 224 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi·20 min·I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
16
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.
17
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.
18
Continue on SR 59
406 ft·13 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
19
Turn right onto West Center Street
459 ft·19 sec·West Center Street
20
Turn left onto West Bowery Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·West Bowery Street
21
Arrive at destination
West Bowery Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 2-hour and 22-minute drive without any mandatory stops, you have the flexibility to plan your departure time based on your own schedule. Because the route is entirely local, consider checking your navigation apps for real-time traffic updates on Elm Street or Lafayette Road before you head out. You won't face the typical fatigue associated with long-haul highway driving, but staying alert for frequent turns is essential given the profile of this road. Keep your $22 fuel budget in mind as you prep your vehicle for the trip. Since there are no designated stops in the data, pack your own water and snacks to ensure you stay comfortable throughout the entire 151.6-mile journey.
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 75.8 miles from London, OH, or about 1h 27m 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 33 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.8 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 20m
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 London, 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 London, OH
This is one driving day of about 151.7 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from London, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 23 and 149.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
23 mi into trip|~28m 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
27.3 mi into trip|~34m 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
127.7 mi into trip|~2h 23m 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
127.9 mi into trip|~2h 24m 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
8
149.2 mi into trip|~2h 50m 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
$23.54 one way
$47.09 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$26.13
$52.26
premium
$4.91
$29.32
$58.64
diesel
$5.61
$33.49
$66.99
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: 53.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.5
0
$15.93
$7.28
Efficient EV
37.9
0
$13.27
$6.07
EV Truck/SUV
60.7
0
$21.24
$9.71
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 15, 2026
Origin
London, OH
Afternoon
in London on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Akron, OH
Afternoon
in Akron on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Mansfield, OH
76 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
12 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 54m 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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 151.7
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route contains zero highway miles. You will spend your time navigating secondary roads, with the longest stretch being a 0-mile segment on Elm Street, indicating that you will be making frequent adjustments behind the wheel. The path demands your full attention because it relies exclusively on local surface roads to connect the two cities. This profile creates a very different experience compared to high-speed travel, as the road character remains consistent and technical from start to finish. Be prepared for a driving style that favors local navigation over long, uninterrupted stretches of pavement.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 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?
9/10
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 23 miles in near I 670.
Driving Effort9/10
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 15 significant decision points across 151.7 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 23 miles (I 670): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles (North Innerbelt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,385 ft814 ft
Total Climb
764 ft
Total Descent
856 ft
Highest Point
1,385 ft
~86.7 mi in
Elevation Range
572 ft
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 London, OH to Akron, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Cleveland along the way.
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 54m. Total distance: 151.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). 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.
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 23 miles (I 670): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles (North Innerbelt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument. 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.
