This 112.3-mile drive from Newark to Akron, Ohio, is a manageable one-day trip, typically taking around 2 hours and 20 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on I-71 and I-76, with a portion on Cassell Road, making for a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $17, this journey through the Midwest region of Ohio is an efficient way to travel between these two points. It’s a straightforward route, well-suited for a single day without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.2 miles from Newark, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
40.2 mi
43m
I 76
18.4 mi
22m
Cassell Road
16 mi
18m
Mount Vernon Road
12.6 mi
18m
Newark Road
10.1 mi
15m
Riverside Drive
5.3 mi
7m
Innerbelt
2.1 mi
2m
Kenmore Expressway
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 40.2 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newark, OH and Akron, OH.
1
Start on this road
93 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto North Second Street
264 ft·5 sec·North Second Street
3
Enter roundabout onto South Park Place
5 ft·0 sec·South Park Place
4
Continue on South Park Place
456 ft·9 sec·South Park Place
5
Enter roundabout onto South 3rd Street
10 ft·0 sec·South 3rd Street
6
Continue on South 3rd Street
385 ft·7 sec·South 3rd Street
7
Enter roundabout onto North 3rd Street
162 ft·3 sec·North 3rd Street
8
Continue on North 3rd Street
158 ft·3 sec·North 3rd Street
9
Turn right onto West Main Street
484 ft·9 sec·West Main Street
10
Enter roundabout onto SR 13
8 ft·0 sec·North 4th Street
11
Continue on SR 13
467 ft·7 sec·North 4th Street
12
Enter roundabout onto SR 13
94 ft·1 sec·North 4th Street
13
Continue on SR 13
459 ft·9 sec·North 4th Street
14
Continue on SR 13
13 mi·18 min·Mount Vernon Road
15
Continue on SR 13
1.0 mi·2 min·South Main Street
16
Continue on SR 13
10 mi·15 min·Newark Road
17
Continue on SR 13
0.3 mi·19 sec·South Main Street
18
Turn right onto SR 13
0.4 mi·42 sec·SR 13
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto SR 13
0.3 mi·53 sec·East Chestnut Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto SR 13
1.4 mi·1 min·North Sandusky Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on SR 13
16 mi·18 min·Cassell Road
22
Continue on SR 13; SR 97
5.3 mi·7 min·Riverside Drive
Use the left lane.
23
Turn left
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 169Toward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the left lane.
24
Merge onto I 71
40 mi·43 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 209A-BToward I 76, US 224: Lodi, AkronUse the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 209AToward I 76, US 224 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi·20 min·I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
29
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.
30
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59
2.1 mi·2 min·Innerbelt
Exit 21CToward SR 59 East: DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on SR 59
406 ft·13 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
32
Turn right onto West Center Street
459 ft·19 sec·West Center Street
33
Turn left onto West Bowery Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·West Bowery Street
34
Arrive at destination
West Bowery Street
Trip Plan
For this roughly 2-hour and 20-minute journey, leaving in the morning is generally best to avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only 112.3 miles, you have the flexibility to take your time, and there are no mandatory stops suggested, allowing for spontaneous breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $17 for the trip, and consider topping up before you leave Newark. A specific tip for this route: be mindful of the transition points between the interstates like I-71 and I-76 and Cassell Road, as these can sometimes involve changes in 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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 56.2 miles from Newark, OH, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.2 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 25 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.2 miles or 1h 15m 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 54m
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 Newark, 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 Newark, OH
This is one driving day of about 112.3 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Newark, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 71 for about 40.2 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 47.8 and 109.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
47.8 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Turn left toward I 71 North: Cleveland
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 169
Toward I 71 North: Cleveland
8
88.4 mi into trip|~1h 50m 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
88.6 mi into trip|~1h 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
7
108.6 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|I 76
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Akron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Akron
8
109.8 mi into trip|~2h 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
$17.43 one way
$34.86 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$19.34
$38.69
premium
$4.91
$21.70
$43.41
diesel
$5.61
$24.79
$49.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.7
0
$11.79
$5.39
Efficient EV
28.1
0
$9.83
$4.49
EV Truck/SUV
44.9
0
$15.72
$7.19
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 15, 2026
Origin
Newark, OH
Late night
in Newark on Monday
Local time
1:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Akron, OH
Late night
in Akron on Monday
Local time
1:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Mansfield, OH
56 mi in
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
2 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
2h 20m 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?
Expect a drive that's 54% highway, offering a good balance between cruising on interstates and navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 40.2 miles on I-71, providing a solid period of consistent travel. As you progress, the drive transitions, offering a mixed profile that keeps things interesting without becoming overly complex. This blend means you'll experience both the efficiency of the highway and the more varied pace of secondary routes.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.2 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 47.8 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 112.3 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 47.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 88.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 112.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.2 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 47.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 88.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Akron, OH before heading back.
