Parma, OH to Watertown, OH is 158.9 miles and takes about 3h 23m via I 77 and State Route 21, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within Ohio, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a highway-focused drive, making it a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B. If you're looking for a simple, efficient journey with minimal fuss, this route should fit the bill. Expect a predictable drive with a high percentage of time spent on major roadways.
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
79.5 miles from Parma, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 77
64.8 mi
1h 9m
State Route 21
28.7 mi
35m
Willow Freeway
19.1 mi
22m
SR 339
13.9 mi
24m
US 62
9.8 mi
15m
US 250
9.6 mi
11m
Ferry Street
6.8 mi
12m
Rockside Road
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 77
— 64.8 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parma, OH and Watertown, OH.
1
Start on West 54th Street
47 ft·5 sec·West 54th Street
2
Turn right onto Snow Road
1.7 mi·3 min·Snow Road
3
Continue on Rockside Road
2.1 mi·3 min·Rockside Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 77 South: Akron
5
Merge onto I 77
19 mi·22 min·Willow Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 21
29 mi·35 min·State Route 21
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Turn straight onto US 62; SR 21
9.8 mi·15 min·US 62; SR 21
8
Continue on US 250
3.0 mi·3 min·US 250
9
Take the exit onto US 250
6.6 mi·7 min·US 250
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77
65 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 16Toward SR 821: Macksburg, Dexter City
12
Turn left onto Twp 301
217 ft·4 sec·Twp 301
13
Continue on Sherman Hollow
461 ft·16 sec·Sherman Hollow
14
At end of road, turn left onto SR 821
1.5 mi·2 min·SR 821
15
Turn left onto SR 339
14 mi·24 min·SR 339
16
Turn left onto SR 339
0.1 mi·15 sec·Center Street
17
Turn right onto SR 60; SR 339
0.2 mi·25 sec·5th Street
18
Turn left onto SR 339
6.8 mi·12 min·Ferry Street
19
Turn left onto SR 676
0.1 mi·10 sec·Lancaster Street
20
Arrive at destination
SR 676
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 3h 23m drive time and 158.9-mile distance, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Leaving Parma, OH in the morning allows ample time to reach Watertown, OH well before evening. With a fuel cost estimated around $25, you won't need extensive planning for gas stops, though it's always wise to top off before departing. The longest stretch without a break is 64.8 miles on I 77, so plan for a brief stop around that point if needed for stretching or a quick refreshment.
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 79.5 miles from Parma, OH, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.8 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 35 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.5 miles or 1h 41m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Watertown, 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 158.9 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 I 77 for about 64.8 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 4 and 136 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4 mi into trip|~8m in|I 77 / Willow Freeway
Merge onto I 77 / Willow Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
23.1 mi into trip|~30m in|SR 21 / State Route 21
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 21 / State Route 21
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
64.6 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|US 250
Take the exit onto US 250
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
71.2 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|I 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
136 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward SR 821: Macksburg, Dexter City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 16
Toward SR 821: Macksburg, Dexter City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.66 one way
$49.32 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$27.37
$54.74
premium
$4.91
$30.71
$61.42
diesel
$5.61
$35.08
$70.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.7
0
$16.68
$7.63
Efficient EV
39.7
0
$13.90
$6.36
EV Truck/SUV
63.6
0
$22.25
$10.17
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Parma, OH
Morning
in Parma on Tuesday
Local time
8:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
S 15 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Watertown, OH
Morning
in Watertown on Tuesday
Local time
8:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Sugarcreek, OH
79 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
10 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 23m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey on major roads like I 77 and Willow Freeway. You'll experience a significant stretch of 64.8 miles on I 77 without interruption, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of State Route 21 suggests a slight shift in scenery or road type for a portion of the trip, though the overall character remains that of efficient travel. Expect a smooth, predictable experience behind the wheel for most of the 3h 23m duration.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.8 mi on I 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and State Route 21. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in near I 77 / Willow Freeway.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 158.9 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (I 77 / Willow Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles (SR 21 / State Route 21): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles (US 250): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Parma, OH to Watertown, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Dexter City along the way.
Dexter City
136 mi in|~2h 42m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 158.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.8 miles on I 77. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (I 77 / Willow Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles (SR 21 / State Route 21): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles (US 250): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Watertown, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
