Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 8, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
85.5 mi
138 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lorain, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Howland Center, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Lorain, OH to Howland Center, OH is 85.5 miles and takes about 1h 46m via Ohio Turnpike and SR 5, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Ohio, moving from the Midwest region to the same. With most of the drive on highways, expect a relatively quick transit. Consider this route for a straightforward day trip where efficiency is key. The total distance is manageable, making it suitable for a single day of travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.8 miles from Lorain, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Turnpike | 63.4 mi | 1h 7m |
| West Market Street | 7.7 mi | 13m |
| SR 5 | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| East 28th Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Lorain Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Grove Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Niles Cortland Road Northeast | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West 21st Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lorain, OH and Howland Center, OH.
Start on Hamilton Avenue
Turn left onto SR 611
Turn right onto SR 57
Turn left onto SR 57
Turn right onto SR 57
Continue on SR 57
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight
Continue on SR 5
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto West Market Street
Continue on West Market Street
Turn left onto SR 46
Turn left
Turn straight onto Anderson Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto Cranbrook Avenue Northeast
Turn right onto Venice Heights Drive Northeast
Arrive at destination
For this 1h 46m drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. Since the route is short, you can easily complete it in one day, offering flexibility for departure time. There are no recommended stops, but if you need to refuel, factor in the $14 estimated fuel cost. The Ohio Turnpike will be your primary road for the first 63.4 miles, so be prepared for potential toll collection. Once you transition to surface roads, pay attention to local speed limits and traffic patterns.
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.
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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.8 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Howland Center, OH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lorain, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lorain, OH
This is one driving day of about 85.5 miles and 1h 46m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.8 miles from Lorain, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ohio Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 85.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto SR 611 / West 21st Street
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward SR 5
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn left onto Cranbrook Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$13.13 one way
$26.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $14.81 | $29.62 |
| premium | $4.98 | $16.77 | $33.54 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $18.85 | $37.69 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.17
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.7 | 0 | $8.98 | $4.10 |
| Efficient EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.2 | 0 | $11.97 | $5.47 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Lorain on Monday
Local time
8:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Howland Center on Monday
Local time
8:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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.
You'll spend a significant amount of time on the highway, with 79% of the 85.5 miles on high-speed roads. The longest stretch without a major road change is 63.4 miles on the Ohio Turnpike. Expect the highway portion to conclude around West Market Street, transitioning to surface roads like SR 5 for the remainder of the trip. Keep an eye out for the numerous exits and entrances typical of a major toll road.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Ohio Turnpike and West Market Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SR 611 / West 21st Street.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.5 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.1 miles (SR 611 / West 21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 71.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
729 ft
Total Descent
449 ft
Highest Point
1,190 ft
~61.1 mi in
Elevation Range
582 ft
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 85.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Lorain, OH or browse trips ending in Howland Center, OH.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse OH road trips.
