Origin
Lorain, OH
Morning in Lorain on Friday
Local time
7:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lorain, OH to Burlington, OH
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 21m
Distance
265.2 mi
427 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 8m
★
6 AM
5h 21m
8 AM
5h 48m
10 AM
5h 30m
12 PM
5h 28m
3 PM
5h 32m
5 PM
5h 47m
8 PM
5h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lorain, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Burlington, OH
Troy Tumbin
Trip Overview
The drive from Lorain, OH to Burlington, OH covers 265.2 miles and takes about 5h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 71, Portsmouth - Columbus Road, US 52 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 101.5 miles on I 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.73 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
132.6 miles from Lorain, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 101.5 mi | 1h 51m |
| Portsmouth - Columbus Road | 36.5 mi | 47m |
| US 52 | 32.5 mi | 35m |
| US 23 | 31.5 mi | 42m |
| Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway | 16.5 mi | 17m |
| Avon Lake Road | 13.1 mi | 15m |
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Parkway | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| Avon Belden Road | 4.2 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 101.5 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-71
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 90 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,112 veh/hr typical · worst 2,981
Quietest
2 AM
~236 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 102 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lorain, OH and Burlington, OH.
1
Start on Hamilton Avenue
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
Hamilton Avenue
2
Turn left onto SR 611
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West 21st Street
3
Turn right onto SR 57
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Broadway
4
Turn left onto SR 57
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East 28th Street
5
Turn right onto SR 57
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Grove Avenue
6
Continue on SR 57
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Lorain Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto SR 57; SR 113
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Parkway
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on SR 57
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Grafton Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on SR 57
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on SR 57
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Grafton Road
11
Turn right onto SR 57; SR 83
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Avon Belden Road
12
Enter roundabout onto SR 83; SR 303
86 ft
·
1 sec
·
Avon Belden Road
13
Continue on SR 83; SR 303
231 ft
·
3 sec
·
Avon Belden Road
14
Enter roundabout onto SR 83
129 ft
·
1 sec
·
Avon Belden Road
15
Continue on SR 83
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Avon Belden Road
16
Continue on SR 83
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Avon Lake Road
17
Enter roundabout onto SR 83
392 ft
·
6 sec
·
Avon Lake Road
18
Continue on SR 83
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Avon Lake Road
19
Continue on SR 83
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Elyria Street
20
Continue on SR 83
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Wooster Street
21
Continue on SR 83
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Avon Lake Road
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 71 South: Columbus
23
Merge onto I 71
96 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
I 71
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 101
Toward I 270: Stringtown Road, Grove City
Use the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 270 East: Stringtown Road, Grove City
Use the slight left lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 270 East
Use the slight left lane.
28
Merge onto I 270
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Jack Nicklaus Freeway
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 52
Toward US 23 North, US 23 South: High Street, Circleville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 23 South: Circleville
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
32
Merge onto US 23
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
South High Street
33
Continue on US 23
37 mi
·
47 min
·
Portsmouth - Columbus Road
Use the straight lane.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
31 mi
·
42 min
·
US 23
35
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward SR 823 South: Ironton
36
Continue on SR 823
17 mi
·
17 min
·
Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway
37
Merge onto US 52
32 mi
·
35 min
·
US 52
38
Turn right onto CR 120 S
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
County Road 120 South
39
Turn right onto Madison Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Madison Street
40
Continue on 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
2nd Street
41
Turn left onto TR 1034
122 ft
·
5 sec
·
Washington Avenue
42
Arrive at destination
TR 1034
Trip Plan
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 132.6 miles from Lorain, OH, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.5 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 58 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.6 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burlington, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lorain, 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 Lorain, OH
This is one driving day of about 265.2 miles and 5h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Lorain, 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 101.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
133 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 132.6 miles from Lorain, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 265 decision points cluster between mile 141.1 and 143.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
141.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 270: Stringtown Road, Grove City
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 101
Toward I 270: Stringtown Road, Grove City
8
141.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 East: Stringtown Road, Grove City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 East: Stringtown Road, Grove City
7
141.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 East
8
143.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward US 23 North, US 23 South: High Street, Circleville
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 52
Toward US 23 North, US 23 South: High Street, C...
6
143.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 23 South: Circleville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 23 South: Circleville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.73 one way
$81.46 round trip
$3.90/gal
25.4 MPG avg
93 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $45.94 | $91.88 |
| premium | $4.98 | $52.02 | $104.03 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $58.46 | $116.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.6 | 0 | $27.85 | $12.73 |
| Efficient EV | 66.3 | 0 | $23.21 | $10.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 106.1 | 1 | $37.13 | $16.97 |
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Destination
Burlington, OH
Morning in Burlington on Friday
Local time
7:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°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
6 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
5h 21m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Nearly 2000 years ago, Native Americans built dozens of monumental mounds and earthen enclosures in southern Ohio. These earthwork complexes were ceremonial landscapes used for feasts, funerals, ritua...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 182.9
View on nps.gov
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...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 27.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
265.2 mi in 5h 21m, mostly highway — 101.5 mi of that is on I 71.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.5 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Portsmouth - Columbus Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 141.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 26 significant decision points across 265.2 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 141.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,357 ft
549 ft
Total Climb
1,035 ft
Total Descent
1,085 ft
Highest Point
1,357 ft
~75.8 mi in
Elevation Range
808 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lorain, OH and Burlington, OH, road signs point toward Grove City and Circleville.
Grove City
141.1 mi in
|
~2h 44m
Circleville
143.4 mi in
|
~2h 48m
About the Cities
Starting in Lorain, OH
Full guide →Founded 1807
Lorain is a city of 64,000 people (2019) 30 miles west of Cleveland in Northeast Ohio. A former industrial center for shipbuilding, auto manufacturing, and steel, like other Rust Belt cities, the city faces population decline and urban decay.
Top landmarks
- • Lorain West Breakwater Light — lighthouse in Ohio, United States
- • Lorain Palace Theatre — theater and former movie theater in Lorain, Ohio, United States
Arriving in Burlington, OH
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 21m. Total distance: 265.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.5 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Burlington, 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 141.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Burlington, OH before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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