Palmyra, OH to Youngstown, OH is 123 miles and takes about 2 hours 22 minutes via I-76, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This direct journey stays within the Midwest, specifically Ohio, making it a straightforward trip. You'll be spending most of your time on major highways, so expect a focused drive rather than a leisurely exploration. It's a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. With a duration under three hours, it's easily manageable for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.5 miles from Palmyra, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 76
57.6 mi
1h 6m
I 71
40.2 mi
43m
I 680
5.9 mi
8m
Zolman Road
5.7 mi
6m
Riverside Drive
5.3 mi
7m
I 80
4 mi
4m
Kenmore Expressway
1.9 mi
2m
Market Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 76
— 57.6 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmyra, OH and Youngstown, OH.
1
Start on Gregg Road
311 ft·15 sec·Gregg Road
2
Turn right onto SR 13
5.7 mi·6 min·Zolman Road
3
Continue on SR 13; SR 97
5.3 mi·7 min·Riverside Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 169Toward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 71
40 mi·43 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 209A-BToward I 76, US 224: Lodi, AkronUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 209AToward I 76, US 224 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi·20 min·I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
10
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.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76; I 77
39 mi·43 min·I 76; I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 80
4.0 mi·4 min·I 80
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
5.9 mi·8 min·I 680
Toward I 680: Youngstown
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
15
Turn sharp left onto Market Street
0.6 mi·59 sec·Market Street
16
Keep slight right at fork onto Central Square
124 ft·2 sec·Central Square
17
Arrive at destination
Central Square
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of this 2-hour and 22-minute drive, you have considerable flexibility with your departure time. Leaving anytime mid-morning should allow you to arrive well before the evening rush. Since the longest stretch without a stop is under 60 miles, you likely won't need to plan for extensive breaks, though quick stops for fuel or a stretch are always wise. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Youngstown; while the estimated fuel cost is $19, it's always good practice to top off before entering a city. A practical tip for this specific route: be aware of potential construction zones on I-76, which can occasionally impact travel times.
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 61.5 miles from Palmyra, OH, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.6 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 27 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.5 miles or 1h 10m 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 55m
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 Palmyra, 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 Palmyra, OH
This is one driving day of about 123 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Palmyra, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 76 for about 57.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 11 and 71.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
11 mi into trip|~14m in
Turn left toward I 71 North: Cleveland
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 169
Toward I 71 North: Cleveland
8
51.6 mi into trip|~57m 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
51.8 mi into trip|~58m 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
6
69.9 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|I 76 / Kenmore Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Kenmore Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
71.8 mi into trip|~1h 22m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.09 one way
$38.18 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$21.19
$42.37
premium
$4.91
$23.77
$47.54
diesel
$5.61
$27.16
$54.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.9
0
$12.92
$5.90
Efficient EV
30.8
0
$10.76
$4.92
EV Truck/SUV
49.2
0
$17.22
$7.87
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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 20, 2026
Origin
Palmyra, OH
Late night
in Palmyra on Tuesday
Local time
5:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Youngstown, OH
Late night
in Youngstown on Tuesday
Local time
5:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
17 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
2h 22m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 72.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-76. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 57.6 miles on I-76, which means consistent speeds and minimal traffic lights. The character of the drive is largely defined by these high-speed highway segments. While the focus is on efficient travel, the direct interstate nature means you'll be navigating a familiar, albeit perhaps less varied, road environment for the majority of your journey.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.6 mi on I 76.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 76 and I 71. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11 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 13 significant decision points across 123 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 11 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
On the drive from Palmyra, OH to Youngstown, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Akron along the way.
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 2h 22m. Total distance: 123 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.6 miles on I 76. 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 11 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Youngstown, OH before heading back.
