Spanning 233 miles across the Ohio heartland, this trek from Parma to Union City is a straightforward drive that typically takes about 4 hours and 41 minutes. You will primarily navigate a combination of I-71, US 30, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway to complete the journey. Given the total duration, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Budget roughly $35 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Since you are traveling entirely within the Midwest, expect a consistent regional feel as you transition between these Ohio points. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
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
116.5 miles from Parma, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 30
48.7 mi
54m
I 71
43.1 mi
46m
Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway
37.8 mi
40m
I 75
24.1 mi
25m
South Main Street
22.6 mi
29m
Ridge Road
14.8 mi
24m
US 33
12.6 mi
13m
Canal Street
10.8 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 48.7 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parma, OH and Union City, OH.
1
Start on West 54th Street
47 ft·8 sec·West 54th Street
2
Turn left onto Snow Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Snow Road
3
Turn left onto SR 3
15 mi·24 min·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 271 South: Wadsworth
5
Merge onto I 271
3.5 mi·4 min·I 271
6
Merge onto I 71
43 mi·46 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 176Toward US 30: Wooster, MansfieldUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·37 sec
Toward US 30 West: MansfieldUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 30
7.6 mi·9 min·US 30
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 30
38 mi·40 min·Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 30
6.3 mi·7 min·US 30
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 30
35 mi·37 min·US 30
13
Take the exit onto US 30 West to East Lincoln Highway
0.6 mi·1 min·US 30 West to East Lincoln Highway
Toward SR 696: Dayton, Toledo
14
At end of road, turn left onto SR 696
0.4 mi·54 sec·East Lincoln Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
16
Merge onto I 75
24 mi·25 min·I 75
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·22 sec
Exit 110Toward US 33: Bellefontaine, Saint Marys
18
Keep slight left at fork
125 ft·5 sec
Exit 110Toward US 33 East: Bellefontaine
19
Turn right onto US 33
13 mi·13 min·US 33
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on SR 29
8.9 mi·10 min·SR 29
21
Turn left onto US 127; SR 29; SR 703
23 mi·29 min·South Main Street
22
Turn right onto SR 47
2.5 mi·4 min·State Route 47
23
Continue on SR 47
11 mi·18 min·Canal Street
24
Continue on SR 47
0.6 mi·52 sec·East Elm Street
25
Arrive at destination
SR 47
Trip Plan
To keep your travel day stress-free, plan for at least one dedicated stop along the 233-mile path to stretch your legs and refuel. Since you are looking at nearly five hours of time behind the wheel, departing in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential afternoon congestion on the busier highway sections. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during that long 48.7-mile stretch on US 30, as services may be less frequent than on the interstate portions. Because this trip is designed as a one-day drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule. Prioritize a steady pace to ensure you reach Union City with plenty of daylight to spare.
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 116.5 miles from Parma, OH, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.7 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 51 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.5 miles or 2h 18m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union City, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Parma, 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 Parma, OH
This is one driving day of about 233 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Parma, 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 US 30 for about 48.7 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 62.3 and 175.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
62.3 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward US 30: Wooster, Mansfield
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 176
Toward US 30: Wooster, Mansfield
7
62.6 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 30 West: Mansfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 30 West: Mansfield
7
149.9 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|SR 696 / East Lincoln Highway
At end of road, turn left onto SR 696 / East Lincoln Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
150.3 mi into trip|~2h 55m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
175.1 mi into trip|~3h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 33 East: Bellefontaine
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 110
Toward US 33 East: Bellefontaine
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.16 one way
$72.32 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$40.13
$80.27
premium
$4.91
$45.03
$90.06
diesel
$5.61
$51.44
$102.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.9
0
$24.46
$11.18
Efficient EV
58.3
0
$20.39
$9.32
EV Truck/SUV
93.2
1
$32.62
$14.91
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Parma, OH
Morning
in Parma on Sunday
Local time
7:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 7 mph78% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Union City, OH
Morning
in Union City on Sunday
Local time
7:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 41m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 78% of your time will be spent cruising on major roads. The drive offers a mix of high-speed interstate travel and stretches on US 30, where you will encounter your longest uninterrupted segment of 48.7 miles. Because this is primarily a highway-based route, you can anticipate a steady, consistent pace rather than the stop-and-go nature of local backroads. The character of the road is functional and direct, favoring efficiency over technical curves. While the scenery remains classic Midwestern landscape, the varying road types keep the driving experience from feeling entirely monotonous.
78% 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: 48.7 mi on US 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 30 and I 71. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 62.3 miles in.
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 20 significant decision points across 233 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 62.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 149.9 miles (SR 696 / East Lincoln Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,311 ft837 ft
Total Climb
794 ft
Total Descent
549 ft
Highest Point
1,311 ft
~58.3 mi in
Elevation Range
474 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Parma, OH and Union City, OH, road signs point toward Mansfield, Toledo and Saint Marys.
Mansfield
62.3 mi in|~1h 16m
Toledo
149.3 mi in|~2h 53m|via US 30 West to East Lincoln Highway
Saint Marys
175 mi in|~3h 22m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 41m. Total distance: 233 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.7 miles on US 30. 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 Union City, 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 62.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 149.9 miles (SR 696 / East Lincoln Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Union City, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
