Saint Clairsville, OH to Cleveland, OH is 126.5 miles and takes about 2h 49m via SR 21, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Ohio, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mixed driving experience that's manageable for a single day trip. With a relatively short distance and a reasonable fuel cost, this route is a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B without extensive planning.
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
63.2 miles from Saint Clairsville, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
SR 21
65.2 mi
1h 23m
Cadiz-Dennison Road
21.4 mi
30m
Water Street
15.9 mi
17m
Cadiz-New Athens Road
5.9 mi
8m
Fairpoint New Athens Road
3.7 mi
5m
South Wooster Avenue
3.2 mi
3m
Provident Fairpoint Road
2.4 mi
3m
US 250
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
SR 21
— 65.2 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Clairsville, OH and Cleveland, OH.
1
Start on US 40
0.2 mi·18 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn right onto SR 9
423 ft·12 sec·North Marietta Street
3
Turn left onto SR 9
0.1 mi·10 sec·Newell Avenue
4
Continue on SR 9
0.5 mi·40 sec·Maple Avenue
5
Continue on SR 9
2.4 mi·3 min·Provident Fairpoint Road
6
Continue on SR 9
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
7
Continue on SR 9
0.4 mi·35 sec·Main Street
8
Continue on SR 9
3.7 mi·5 min·Fairpoint New Athens Road
9
Continue on SR 9
1.4 mi·2 min·Saint Clairsville-New Athens Road
10
Continue on SR 9
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
11
Continue on SR 9
5.9 mi·8 min·Cadiz-New Athens Road
12
Continue on SR 9
0.2 mi·21 sec·Saint Clair Avenue
13
At end of road, turn left onto SR 9
75 ft·3 sec·South Street
14
Turn right onto SR 9
0.2 mi·23 sec·South Main Street
15
Turn left onto US 250; SR 9
0.2 mi·13 sec·West Market Street
16
Turn slight left onto Deersville Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Deersville Avenue
17
Turn right onto US 250
21 mi·30 min·Cadiz-Dennison Road
18
Continue on US 250; SR 800
1.1 mi·1 min·US 250; SR 800
19
Take the exit onto US 250; SR 800
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 250; SR 800
Toward US 250 West, SR 800 North: Uhrichsville, New Philadelphia
20
Turn right onto US 250; SR 800
16 mi·17 min·Water Street
21
Take the exit onto US 250
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 250
Exit 87Toward US 250: Strasburg, MassillonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn left onto US 250
3.2 mi·3 min·South Wooster Avenue
23
Continue on SR 21
65 mi·1 hr 23 min·SR 21
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 162BToward East 22nd Street, East 14th StreetUse the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward East 14th StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
26
Turn straight onto East 14th Street
0.1 mi·9 sec·East 14th Street
27
Keep slight left at fork onto East 14th Street
0.3 mi·28 sec·East 14th Street
28
Turn left onto Prospect Avenue East
0.3 mi·41 sec·Prospect Avenue East
Use the straight / left lanes.
29
Turn right onto East 9th Street
523 ft·19 sec·East 9th Street
30
Turn left onto US 20
0.3 mi·1 min·Euclid Avenue
31
At end of road, turn right onto US 6; US 20
518 ft·27 sec·East Roadway
Use the right lane.
32
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 20
513 ft·20 sec·Rockwell Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Turn right onto Frankfort Avenue
186 ft·6 sec·Frankfort Avenue
34
Arrive at destination
Frankfort Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 49m duration, you can easily complete this trip in one day, so consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour traffic. The route has one recommended stop, which is ample for this distance, so you can be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 65.2 miles on SR 21, as services might be less frequent in some sections. Planning your departure around midday can allow for a relaxed start and an arrival well before evening.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.2 miles from Saint Clairsville, OH, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.2 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 28 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.2 miles or 1h 25m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cleveland, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Clairsville, 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 Saint Clairsville, OH
This is one driving day of about 126.5 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Saint Clairsville, 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 SR 21 for about 65.2 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 56.2 and 126.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
56.2 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|US 250
Take the exit onto US 250 toward US 250: Strasburg, Massillon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 87
Toward US 250: Strasburg, Massillon
8
125 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward East 22nd Street, East 14th Street
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 162B
Toward East 22nd Street, East 14th Street
8
125.1 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward East 14th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward East 14th Street
7
126.2 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|US 6; US 20 / East Roadway
At end of road, turn right onto US 6; US 20 / East Roadway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
126.3 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|US 6; US 20 / Rockwell Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 20 / Rockwell Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.63 one way
$39.26 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$21.79
$43.58
premium
$4.91
$24.45
$48.90
diesel
$5.61
$27.93
$55.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.9
0
$13.28
$6.07
Efficient EV
31.6
0
$11.07
$5.06
EV Truck/SUV
50.6
0
$17.71
$8.10
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Saint Clairsville, OH
Morning
in Saint Clairsville on Sunday
Local time
11:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cleveland, OH
Morning
in Cleveland on Sunday
Local time
11:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Dover, OH
63 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
2 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
2h 49m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This journey features a mix of driving experiences, with just over half the route (53%) on highways. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 65.2 miles primarily on SR 21, offering a consistent pace. The rest of the drive will likely involve navigating local roads such as Cadiz-Dennison Road and Water Street, providing a varied feel. This blend means you'll experience both faster highway travel and more localized road conditions as you progress.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.2 mi on SR 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 56.2 miles in near US 250.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 126.5 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 56.2 miles (US 250): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Saint Clairsville, OH and Cleveland, OH, road signs point toward New Philadelphia and Massillon.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 126.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.2 miles on SR 21. 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 Cleveland, 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 56.2 miles (US 250): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.1 miles: 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 Cleveland, OH before heading back.
