Origin
South Russell, OH
Morning in South Russell on Sunday
Local time
10:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Russell, OH to Lorain, OH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
50.5 mi
81 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Russell, OH
Jovan Vasiljević
Lorain, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
South Russell, OH to Lorain, OH is 50.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 13 minutes via Outerbelt South Freeway and Ohio Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within Ohio, connecting two points in the Midwest region. It's a short trip that mostly utilizes major freeways, making it an easy and efficient transit. Consider this route if you're looking for a quick hop between these two locations without a lot of fuss. The drive is primarily highway-focused, so expect consistent speeds for most of the journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Outerbelt South Freeway | 18.8 mi | 23m |
| Ohio Turnpike | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| I 480N | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Cannon Road | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| East 28th Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Lorain Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Route 422 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Solon Road | 1.7 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Outerbelt South Freeway
— 18.8 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Russell, OH and Lorain, OH.
1
Start on Bell Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Bell Road
2
Continue on Bell Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bell Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto CR 35
109 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Main Street
4
Turn slight right onto North Franklin Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Franklin Street
5
Turn right onto CR 11
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Maple Street
6
Continue on CR 11
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Solon Road
7
Turn right onto Cannon Road
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Cannon Road
8
Turn left onto Harper Road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Harper Road
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward US 422 West: Cleveland
10
Merge onto US 422
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Route 422
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 480 East, I 271 South, I 480 West: Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
13
Continue on I 480N
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I 480N
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi
·
1 min
15
Merge onto I 480
19 mi
·
23 min
·
Outerbelt South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 480
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 480
Toward Ohio Turnpike, Toledo
17
Merge onto I 80
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Ohio Turnpike
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 145
Toward SR 57: Lorain, Elyria
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward SR 57 North: Lorain
20
Merge onto SR 57
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Lorain Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on SR 57
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Grove Avenue
22
Turn left onto SR 57
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East 28th Street
23
Turn right onto SR 57
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Broadway
24
Turn left onto SR 611
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West 21st Street
25
Turn right onto Hamilton Avenue
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Hamilton Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
Hamilton Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.3 miles from South Russell, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 42.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CR 35 / North Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR 35 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
CR 11 / Maple Street
Turn right onto CR 11 / Maple Street
Navigation decision point
6
6.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the ramp toward US 422 West: Cleveland
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward US 422 West: Cleveland
6
35.5 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
I 480
Keep slight right at fork onto I 480 toward Ohio Turnpike, Toledo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Ohio Turnpike, Toledo
8
42.3 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward SR 57: Lorain, Elyria
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 145
Toward SR 57: Lorain, Elyria
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.84 one way
$15.67 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $8.70 | $17.40 |
| premium | $4.91 | $9.76 | $19.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.15 | $22.30 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.28
Ohio Turnpike
(5.6 mi)
$0.28
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$0
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.42 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.07 | $3.23 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Lorain, OH
Morning in Lorain on Sunday
Local time
10:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Cloudy
W 14 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
59°F
Parma, OH
25 mi in
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
9 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 13m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 66% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Outerbelt South Freeway, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch of 18.8 miles. The route then transitions to the Ohio Turnpike and I-480N, maintaining a generally fast-paced feel. While not overly complex, the character is consistently that of interstate travel, designed for direct and efficient movement between destinations. The road doesn't offer dramatic shifts; instead, it provides a predictable and steady experience for the driver.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.8 mi on Outerbelt South Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Outerbelt South Freeway and Ohio Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near CR 35 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.5 miles you will encounter 19 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 1.4 miles (CR 35 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (CR 11 / Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between South Russell, OH and Lorain, OH, road signs point toward Cleveland, Toledo, Ohio Turnpike and Elyria.
Cleveland
8.8 mi in
|
~18m
Toledo
8.8 mi in
|
~18m
Ohio Turnpike
35.5 mi in
|
~51m
|
via I 480
Elyria
42.3 mi in
|
~59m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 50.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.8 miles on Outerbelt South Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.28 in tolls one way, starting with Ohio Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 Lorain, 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 1.4 miles (CR 35 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (CR 11 / Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
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 Lorain, OH before heading back.
How this page is built
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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