Spanning 253.6 miles across Ohio, this journey from Lucasville to Youngstown typically takes about 4 hours and 9 minutes of driving time. Because the trip is manageable in a single day, you can easily complete it without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $37 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Midwest locations. The route relies on a combination of US 23 North, South High Street, and I-270 rather than a single interstate corridor. Whether you are heading north for business or a change of scenery, this path provides a straightforward connection between the southern and northeastern parts of the state.
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
126.6 miles from Lucasville, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
101.8 mi
1h 51m
US 23
69.3 mi
1h 32m
I 76
57.6 mi
1h 6m
I 680
5.9 mi
8m
I 80
4 mi
4m
South Freeway
3.6 mi
4m
South High Street
2.6 mi
3m
Kenmore Expressway
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 101.8 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lucasville, OH and Youngstown, OH.
1
Start on US 23
35 mi·47 min·US 23
Use the straight lane.
2
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
34 mi·44 min·US 23
Toward US 23 North: ColumbusUse the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 23
2.6 mi·3 min·South High Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward I 270: Columbus, Wheeling
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 270 WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 270
1.3 mi·1 min·Jack Nicklaus Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 55Toward I 71: Cincinnati, ColumbusUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 71 North: ColumbusUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 71
3.6 mi·4 min·South Freeway
10
Take the exit onto I 71
0.4 mi·45 sec·I 71
Toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, WheelingUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 70; I 71
1.3 mi·1 min·South Innerbelt
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
1.0 mi·1 min·I 71
Exit 101AToward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71
100 mi·1 hr 49 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
39 mi·43 min·I 76; I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 80
4.0 mi·4 min·I 80
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
5.9 mi·8 min·I 680
Toward I 680: Youngstown
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
23
Turn sharp left onto Market Street
0.6 mi·59 sec·Market Street
24
Keep slight right at fork onto Central Square
124 ft·2 sec·Central Square
25
Arrive at destination
Central Square
Trip Plan
Planning for this route is simple since it fits well into a single day of travel. With only one recommended stop, you have the flexibility to choose when and where to take a break based on your personal pace. Since you are navigating local roads, try to avoid peak traffic hours to keep your travel time closer to the 4-hour and 9-minute estimate. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially when navigating the turn-heavy sections, to ensure you stay within your $37 budget. A helpful tip is to map out your one primary stop in advance to ensure you have a reliable place to stretch your legs during the drive.
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 126.6 miles from Lucasville, OH, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.8 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 56 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.6 miles or 2h 38m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Youngstown, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lucasville, 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 Lucasville, OH
This is one driving day of about 253.2 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Lucasville, 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 101.8 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 34.8 and 182 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
34.8 mi into trip|~47m in|US 23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23 toward US 23 North: Columbus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 23 North: Columbus
8
74.1 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward I 71: Cincinnati, Columbus
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 55
Toward I 71: Cincinnati, Columbus
8
80.4 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71 toward I 71 North: Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 101A
Toward I 71 North: Cleveland
8
181.8 mi into trip|~3h 38m 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
182 mi into trip|~3h 39m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.30 one way
$78.59 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$43.61
$87.22
premium
$4.91
$48.94
$97.87
diesel
$5.61
$55.90
$111.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76
0
$26.59
$12.15
Efficient EV
63.3
0
$22.15
$10.13
EV Truck/SUV
101.3
1
$35.45
$16.20
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lucasville, OH
Afternoon
in Lucasville on Sunday
Local time
1:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Youngstown, OH
Afternoon
in Youngstown on Sunday
Local time
1:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
5 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 3m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate a series of local roads and surface streets that keep you engaged behind the wheel throughout the 253.6-mile trek. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches on US 23 North, you should prepare for frequent changes in road conditions and traffic flow. This personality makes for a more technical driving experience compared to a standard freeway commute. Staying alert is essential as you transition through the various local segments that define this journey.
97% 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: 101.8 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and US 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 34.8 miles in near US 23.
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 253.2 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 34.8 miles (US 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.4 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lucasville, OH and Youngstown, OH, road signs point toward Wheeling, Columbus and Akron.
Youngstown is a city of 60,000 people (2020) in Northeast Ohio and is the county seat of Mahoning County. For Youngstown, it was all about coal and steel, until deindustrialization occurred in the second half of the 20th century.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 3m. Total distance: 253.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.8 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 Youngstown, 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 34.8 miles (US 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.4 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Youngstown, OH before the return drive.
