Mentor-on-the-Lake to Colerain is 144.6 miles and takes about 3h 8m via Akron Expressway and I 271 Express, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Ohio, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. With an 83% highway share, expect a fairly direct and efficient journey. This route is best suited for travelers looking for a straightforward drive to get from point A to point B without significant detours. Consider this a solid option when you want to cover ground quickly within the state.
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
72.3 miles from Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Akron Expressway
61 mi
1h 11m
US 250
33 mi
43m
I 271 Express
13.9 mi
17m
Cadiz-Harrisville Road
8.3 mi
12m
I 271
5.1 mi
5m
West Main Street
4.9 mi
7m
Outerbelt East Freeway
3.6 mi
4m
Reynolds Road
3.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Akron Expressway
— 61 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH and Colerain, OH.
1
Start on SR 615
250 ft·10 sec·Munson Road
2
Continue on SR 283
0.9 mi·2 min·Lake Shore Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto SR 306
3.3 mi·7 min·Reynolds Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn slight left onto SR 306
0.8 mi·1 min·Broadmoor Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·24 sec
Toward I 90 West: Cleveland
6
Merge onto I 90
3.2 mi·3 min·I 90
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271 Express
14 mi·17 min·I 271 Express
8
Merge onto I 271
3.6 mi·4 min·Outerbelt East Freeway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271
5.1 mi·5 min·I 271
Use the slight left lane.
10
Take the exit
1.5 mi·2 min
Exit 18AToward SR 8 South: Boston Heights, Akron
11
Merge onto SR 8
61 mi·1 hr 11 min·Akron Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 250
9.9 mi·10 min·US 250
13
Take the exit onto US 250; SR 800
0.1 mi·13 sec·US 250; SR 800
Toward US 36, US 250, SR 800: Dennison-Cadiz, Newcomerstown
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 250; SR 800
1.7 mi·2 min·US 250; SR 800
Toward US 250 East, SR 800 South: Cadiz-Dennison
15
Turn left onto US 250
21 mi·30 min·US 250
16
Turn left onto Deersville Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Deersville Avenue
17
Continue on US 250; SR 9
2.2 mi·3 min·West Market Street
18
Continue on US 250
8.3 mi·12 min·Cadiz-Harrisville Road
19
Continue on US 250
4.9 mi·7 min·West Main Street
20
Continue on US 250
1.7 mi·2 min·Colerain Road
21
Arrive at destination
US 250
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just over 3 hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and enjoy a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch on the Akron Expressway, as services can sometimes be spaced out on major highways. A good tip for this route is to confirm your GPS is updated for any potential express lane changes on I 271 Express before you depart.
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 72.3 miles from Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61 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 32 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.3 miles or 1h 32m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colerain, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mentor-on-the-Lake, 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 Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH
This is one driving day of about 144.6 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Mentor-on-the-Lake, 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 Akron Expressway for about 61 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 103.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|SR 306 / Reynolds Road
Turn left onto SR 306 / Reynolds Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
26.2 mi into trip|~38m in|I 271
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
31.3 mi into trip|~43m in
Take the exit toward SR 8 South: Boston Heights, Akron
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18A
Toward SR 8 South: Boston Heights, Akron
5
32.8 mi into trip|~45m in|SR 8 / Akron Expressway
Merge onto SR 8 / Akron Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
103.8 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|US 250; SR 800
Keep slight left at fork onto US 250; SR 800 toward US 250 East, SR 800 South: Cadiz-Dennison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 250 East, SR 800 South: Cadiz-Denniso...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.44 one way
$44.88 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$24.91
$49.81
premium
$4.91
$27.95
$55.89
diesel
$5.61
$31.93
$63.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.4
0
$15.18
$6.94
Efficient EV
36.2
0
$12.65
$5.78
EV Truck/SUV
57.8
0
$20.24
$9.25
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 19, 2026
Origin
Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH
Late night
in Mentor-on-the-Lake on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colerain, OH
Late night
in Colerain on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°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
3h 8m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily focused on highways, with 83% of the route utilizing them. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Akron Expressway, including a substantial stretch of 61 miles without needing to exit. The profile is labeled as 'Highway-focused,' suggesting a predominantly high-speed, multi-lane experience. While the primary roads are expressways and interstates, there may be brief transitions as you navigate between these main thoroughfares. Expect a consistent pace for most of the journey.
83% 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: 61 mi on Akron Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Akron Expressway and US 250. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near SR 306 / Reynolds Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 144.6 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 0.9 miles (SR 306 / Reynolds Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.2 miles (I 271): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH and Colerain, OH, road signs point toward Akron and Newcomerstown.
Akron
31.3 mi in|~43m
Newcomerstown
103.7 mi in|~2h 8m|via US 250; SR 800
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 144.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61 miles on Akron Expressway. 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 Colerain, 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 0.9 miles (SR 306 / Reynolds Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.2 miles (I 271): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Colerain, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
