Peru, OH to Akron, OH is 72.1 miles and takes about 1h 37m via US 224, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Ohio, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward drive with minimal complexity, making it a solid choice for a single-day trip. The primary roads are well-maintained, offering a predictable travel experience as you head toward Akron.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36 miles from Peru, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 224
46.4 mi
1h
SR 162
9.7 mi
15m
US 250
5.6 mi
6m
SR 61
4.6 mi
6m
Innerbelt
2.1 mi
2m
Kenmore Expressway
1.9 mi
2m
I 76
1.2 mi
1m
West Bowery Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 224
— 46.4 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Peru, OH and Akron, OH.
1
Start on this road
77 ft·3 sec·this road
2
Continue on County Highway 92
0.2 mi·41 sec·County Highway 92
3
Turn left onto SR 61
4.6 mi·6 min·SR 61
4
Turn left onto SR 162
9.7 mi·15 min·SR 162
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 250
5.6 mi·6 min·US 250
6
Turn left onto US 224
19 mi·26 min·US 224
7
Take the exit onto US 224
27 mi·33 min·US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
9
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.
10
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.
11
Continue on SR 59
406 ft·13 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
12
Turn right onto West Center Street
459 ft·19 sec·West Center Street
13
Turn left onto West Bowery Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·West Bowery Street
14
Arrive at destination
West Bowery Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 37 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Aiming for a mid-morning departure from Peru, OH, will allow you to bypass typical rush hour traffic. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, you can easily manage your budget. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 46.4 miles on US 224, so plan any brief stops before or after this segment. You'll find plenty of flexibility for when you leave and where you might stop for a quick break.
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 36 miles from Peru, OH, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.4 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36 miles or 51m 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 23m
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 Peru, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Peru, OH
This is one driving day of about 72.1 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Peru, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 224 for about 46.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 69.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.8 mi into trip|~7m in|SR 162
Turn left onto SR 162
Navigation decision point
5
39.2 mi into trip|~56m in|US 224
Take the exit onto US 224
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
66.5 mi into trip|~1h 29m 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
68.3 mi into trip|~1h 32m 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
69.6 mi into trip|~1h 33m 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
$11.19 one way
$22.38 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$12.42
$24.84
premium
$4.91
$13.93
$27.87
diesel
$5.61
$15.92
$31.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.6
0
$7.57
$3.46
Efficient EV
18
0
$6.31
$2.88
EV Truck/SUV
28.8
0
$10.09
$4.61
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Peru, OH
Late night
in Peru on Tuesday
Local time
5:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Akron, OH
Late night
in Akron on Tuesday
Local time
5:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Congress, OH
36 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
17 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
1h 37m 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...
13 mi from route
~32 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 drive is predominantly highway, with 96% of the 72.1 miles on major roads. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 46.4 miles on US 224, offering consistent cruising. The shift to surface roads will be minimal, likely occurring very close to your destination or departure points. Expect a steady pace with few interruptions for most of the trip.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.4 mi on US 224.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 224 and SR 162. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near SR 162.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 4.8 miles (SR 162): Navigation decision point; at 39.2 miles (US 224): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.5 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 1h 37m. Total distance: 72.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.4 miles on US 224. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (SR 162): Navigation decision point; at 39.2 miles (US 224): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.5 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Akron, OH before heading back.
