Trip from Mulberry, OH to Akron, OH

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 20m

Distance

217.6 mi

350 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 7m ★

6 AM

4h 20m

8 AM

4h 47m

10 AM

4h 30m

12 PM

4h 27m

3 PM

4h 31m

5 PM

4h 46m

8 PM

4h 12m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Mulberry, OH

Chris F

Akron, OH

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Mulberry, OH to Akron, OH is 217.6 miles and takes about 4h 20m via I 71 and I 76, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Ohio, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip that mostly sticks to major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. You'll find it's a practical route for getting between these two points without much fuss.

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

108.8 miles from Mulberry, OH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 71	162.3 mi	2h 57m
I 76	18.4 mi	22m
US 22	10 mi	14m
SR 132	6.7 mi	11m
State Route 28	6.1 mi	10m
SR 380	3.5 mi	6m
SR 123	3 mi	5m
Innerbelt	2.1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 71 — 162.3 mi, about 2h 57m

Traffic on I-71

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 122 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~1,967 veh/hr typical · worst 2,666

Quietest

2 AM

~220 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

8.9×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 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 Mulberry, OH and Akron, OH.

Start on this road

56 ft · 6 sec · this road

Turn left

64 ft · 5 sec

Turn right onto SR 28 Business

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Business 28

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn left onto SR 28

6.1 mi · 10 min · State Route 28

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto SR 132

6.7 mi · 11 min · SR 132

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto SR 123

3.0 mi · 5 min · SR 123

Turn right onto US 22; SR 3

10.0 mi · 14 min · US 22; SR 3

Turn left onto SR 380

3.5 mi · 6 min · SR 380

Turn left onto SR 73

0.2 mi · 20 sec · State Route 73

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Toward I 71 North: Columbus

Merge onto I 71

61 mi · 1 hr 5 min · I 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto I 71

0.4 mi · 45 sec · I 71

Toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeling Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 70; I 71

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Innerbelt

Keep slight right at fork onto I 71

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 71

Exit 101A Toward I 71 North: Cleveland Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 71

100 mi · 1 hr 49 min · I 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 209A-B Toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min

Exit 209A Toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 76; US 224

17 mi · 20 min · I 76; US 224

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 76

1.9 mi · 2 min · Kenmore Expressway

Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 76

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 76

Toward I 76 East: Akron Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59

2.1 mi · 2 min · Innerbelt

Exit 21C Toward SR 59 East: Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on SR 59

406 ft · 13 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

Turn right onto West Center Street

459 ft · 19 sec · West Center Street

Turn left onto West Bowery Street

0.2 mi · 33 sec · West Bowery Street

Arrive at destination

West Bowery Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short, single-day trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever is most convenient for you. The drive is estimated at just over 4 hours, so a morning departure should get you to Akron with plenty of daylight remaining. With a fuel cost estimated at $32, it’s a budget-friendly option. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 162.3-mile stretch on I 71, as services might be less frequent in certain sections.

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 108.8 miles from Mulberry, OH, or about 2h 17m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 162.3 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 48 miles or 1h 10m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 108.8 miles or 2h 17m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 33m

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 Mulberry, 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 Mulberry, OH

This is one driving day of about 217.6 miles and 4h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Mulberry, 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 162.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

capital city of Ohio, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Columbus, OH

109 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

Jamestown, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Columbus, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 108.8 miles from Mulberry, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

0.4 mi from route

TA

0.6 mi from route

Service Plaza

2.2 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 90.6 and 215.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

90.6 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in | I 71

Take the exit onto I 71 toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeling

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeli...

92.3 mi into trip | ~1h 59m 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

193.7 mi into trip | ~3h 49m 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

193.9 mi into trip | ~3h 50m 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

215.1 mi into trip | ~4h 16m 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

$33.44 one way

$66.87 round trip

$3.90/gal 25.4 MPG avg 76 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.40	$37.71	$75.42
premium	$4.99	$42.72	$85.45
diesel	$4.80	$41.09	$82.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 76.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	65.3	0	$22.85	$10.44
Efficient EV	54.4	0	$19.04	$8.70
EV Truck/SUV	87	1	$30.46	$13.93

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

25 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.

Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026

Origin

Mulberry, OH

Morning in Mulberry on Monday

Local time

7:09 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

NW 3 to 10 mph 70% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 5:55PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:54PM EDT until July 18 at 6:15PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH

Destination

Akron, OH

Morning in Akron on Monday

Local time

7:09 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Showers And Thunderstorms then Patchy Smoke

NW 3 to 14 mph 100% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 5:55PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:54PM EDT until July 18 at 6:15PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH

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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 20m 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.

Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument

National Monument

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...

13 mi from route ~33 min detour Free near mile 37.5

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...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour Free near mile 217.6

View on nps.gov

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established to honor the lives and achievements of poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar and aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Through p...

23 mi from route ~57 min detour Free near mile 30

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 97% of the route on major roads. You'll spend most of your time on I 71 for a stretch of 162.3 miles. The transition to surface roads, if any, will occur near the end of your drive as you approach Akron. Expect a steady pace with many exits along the way as you navigate through Ohio.

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: 162.3 mi on I 71.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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 90.6 miles in near I 71.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 217.6 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 90.6 miles (I 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.3 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 193.7 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

1,329 ft 773 ft

Total Climb

966 ft

Total Descent

852 ft

Highest Point

1,329 ft

~139.9 mi in

Elevation Range

556 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 Mulberry, OH to Akron, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Wheeling along the way.

Wheeling

90.6 mi in | ~1h 56m | via I 71

About the Cities

Starting in Mulberry, OH

Full guide →

Milford is a small city and Miami Township is a large township often referred to as Milford, despite being an independent township, both communities are located in Southwest Ohio's Clermont County.

Arriving in Akron, OH

Full guide →

Founded 1825

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.

Top landmarks

• Goodyear Airdock — located in Akron, Ohio
• Akron Public Library — Carnegie library in Akron, Ohio
• CitiCenter Building — historic building in Akron, Ohio, United States

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 4h 20m. Total distance: 217.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 20m 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 162.3 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 25 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Akron, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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Explore more options from Mulberry, OH or browse trips ending in Akron, OH.

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Trip from Mulberry, OH to Akron, OH

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-71

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rest Area

Lee M. Rizor Memorial Highway Rest Area

Rest Area

Rest Area

Rest Area

Pilot Travel Center

Lee M. Rizor Memorial Highway Rest Area

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Pilot Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

ONE9 Travel Center

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Dupre Roadside Park

Rest Area

Rest Area

TA

Pilot Travel Center

TA

Service Plaza

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Mulberry, OH

Akron, OH

Same local time

5 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 20m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Mulberry, OH

Arriving in Akron, OH

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Akron, OH

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