Buckeye Food Stop
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 9 am–2 pm
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 43m
Distance
243.3 mi
391 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Reading, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Cleveland, OH
Wikimedia Commons
This 241.2-mile journey from Reading, Ohio, to Cleveland, Ohio, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 47 minutes of driving time. With a fuel cost estimated at $36, it's an economical option for a quick trip within Ohio's Midwest region. The route primarily utilizes local roads like West Benson Street, East Benson Avenue, and East Columbia Avenue, indicating a less highway-intensive experience. This drive is best suited for those who prefer a more connected, turn-by-turn navigation rather than high-speed travel.
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
121.6 miles from Reading, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 209.5 mi | 3h 50m |
| Northeast Expressway | 18.2 mi | 21m |
| SR 350 | 4.3 mi | 8m |
| Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Middleboro Road | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| South Innerbelt | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Innerbelt | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Ontario Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, OH and Cleveland, OH.
Start on Market Street
At end of road, turn left onto West Benson Street
Continue on East Benson Avenue
Turn right onto East Columbia Avenue
Continue on Ridge Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto SR 126
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 71
Take the exit
Turn right onto SR 123
Turn left onto SR 350
Turn left onto C-45
At end of road, turn left onto SR 350 Truck; C-7
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 71
Take the exit onto I 71
Merge onto I 70; I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto US 422; SR 8; SR 10; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87
At end of road, turn right onto US 6; US 20
Continue on US 6; US 20
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 20
Turn right onto Frankfort Avenue
Arrive at destination
Given the 3-hour, 47-minute duration and the local road nature of this route, consider an early morning departure from Reading, OH, to maximize your time in Cleveland and avoid potential rush hour congestion. With only one recommended stop and a manageable 241.2 miles, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous breaks as needed. The estimated fuel cost of $36 makes this a budget-friendly one-day excursion. A key tip for this turn-heavy drive is to ensure your GPS or navigation app is fully charged and functioning, as you'll be relying on it for frequent directional changes.
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.
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 54 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.6 miles or 2h 26m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cleveland, OH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Reading, 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 Reading, OH
This is one driving day of about 243.3 miles and 4h 43m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
122 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 121.6 miles from Reading, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 209.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop · around the midpoint
Columbus, Ohio
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Hours: 9 am–2 pm
Le Petit Triangle Cafe
Cleveland, Ohio
Trivs Restaurant and Lounge
Strongsville, Ohio
Best coffee break · home stretch
Cleveland, Ohio
Near the end, short detour
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
Koffie Café
Cleveland, Ohio
Bottoms Up Coffee
Columbus, Ohio
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 9 am–2 pm
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: 10 am–9:30 pm
+12162811881
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Strongsville, Ohio
Hours: 11 am–12 pm
+14402388830
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Hours: 7:30 am–4 pm
+14405327078
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+12162660834
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+16148201111
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+16142996269
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+16142637777
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: 8:30 am–5 pm
+12168612233
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 7:30 am–3 pm
+16146622212
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Mason, Ohio
Hours: 7 am–5 pm
+15133321921
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
Around the midpoint, short detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Glendale, Ohio
Hours: 6:45 am–3 pm
+15133151870
Visit websiteNear the end, ~10 min detour
Parma Heights, Ohio
Hours: 9 am–8 pm
+12169305050
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Cleveland, Ohio
+18556757464
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+12166353200
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+12162738000
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Mason, Ohio
Hours: Closed
+15137545700
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Wyoming, Ohio
Hours: 10:30 am–4:30 pm
+15137718733
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: Closed
+12164311060
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Columbus, Ohio
Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm
+16142025197
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 242.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward SR 126 East: Ronald Reagan Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 71: Columbus, Cincinnati
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward SR 123: Morrow, Lebanon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71 toward I 71 North: Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward US 422 West, SR 14 West: Ontario Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$37.76 one way
$75.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $41.91 | $83.81 |
| premium | $4.91 | $47.02 | $94.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.72 | $107.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73 | 0 | $25.55 | $11.68 |
| Efficient EV | 60.8 | 0 | $21.29 | $9.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.3 | 1 | $34.06 | $15.57 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Reading on Tuesday
Local time
9:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Cleveland on Tuesday
Local time
9:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
70°F
Dublin, OH
122 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Park
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Throughout his life, Charles Young overcame countless obstacles in his ascent to prominence. In spite of overt racism and stifling inequality, Young rose through the military ranks to become one of th...
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 241.2-mile trip, with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating through towns and local streets for the majority of your journey, utilizing roads such as West Benson Street and East Columbia Avenue. Without significant highway stretches, the pace will be more deliberate, and you'll likely encounter more frequent turns and intersections. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests a constant need for attention to navigation and local traffic conditions.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Northeast Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
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 28 significant decision points across 243.3 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 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Reading, OH and Cleveland, OH, road signs point toward Lebanon and Wheeling.
Lebanon
Wheeling
Cleveland is a culturally diverse city on the shores of Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA. Recreational, cultural and educational opportunities are abundant throughout Northeast Ohio. You'll find world-class museums, cultural events, professional sports, and amusement parks.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 43m. Total distance: 243.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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