Origin
Stow, OH
Late night in Stow on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stow, OH to Cleveland, OH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
35.7 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stow, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Cleveland, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 35.7-mile drive from Stow to Cleveland, Ohio, is easily manageable in about 48 minutes, making it perfect for a single-day trip. You'll primarily be on a highway-focused route, with 82% of the journey taking place on major freeways like the Akron Expressway and I-271. The estimated fuel cost is a low $5, reflecting the short distance and efficient travel. Given its brevity and minimal need for stops, this route offers a quick and convenient connection within the Midwest region. It's a practical option if you're looking for an efficient transit between these two Ohio locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Akron Expressway | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| Outerbelt South Freeway | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| I 271 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Willow Freeway | 5.9 mi | 7m |
| Graham Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Darrow Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East 14th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Euclid Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Akron Expressway
— 8.5 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stow, OH and Cleveland, OH.
1
Start on SR 91
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Darrow Road
2
Turn left onto Graham Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Graham Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward SR 8 North
4
Merge onto SR 8
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Akron Expressway
5
Take the exit
1.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 17
Toward I 271 North: Erie Pennsylvania
6
Merge onto I 271
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I 271
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 480
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Outerbelt South Freeway
Toward I 480 West: Rockside Road, Cleveland
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 480
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Outerbelt South Freeway
9
Take the exit
470 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 77 South, I 77 North: Akron, Cleveland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 20B
Toward I 77 North: Cleveland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 77
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Willow Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 162B
Toward East 22nd Street, East 14th Street
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward East 14th Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto East 14th Street
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
East 14th Street
15
Keep slight left at fork onto East 14th Street
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
East 14th Street
16
Turn left onto Prospect Avenue East
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Prospect Avenue East
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn right onto East 9th Street
523 ft
·
19 sec
·
East 9th Street
18
Turn left onto US 20
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Euclid Avenue
19
At end of road, turn right onto US 6; US 20
518 ft
·
27 sec
·
East Roadway
Use the right lane.
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; US 20
513 ft
·
20 sec
·
Rockwell Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto Frankfort Avenue
186 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frankfort Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Frankfort Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.8 miles from Stow, 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 19.3 and 34.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
19.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 480 / Outerbelt South Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 480 / Outerbelt South Freeway toward I 480 West: Rockside Road, Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 480 West: Rockside Road, Cleveland
7
27.5 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward I 77 South, I 77 North: Akron, Cleveland
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.
Toward I 77 South, I 77 North: Akron, Cleveland
8
27.6 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 77 North: Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 20B
Toward I 77 North: Cleveland
8
34.2 mi into trip
|
~44m 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
34.3 mi into trip
|
~44m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.54 one way
$11.08 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $6.15 | $12.30 |
| premium | $4.91 | $6.90 | $13.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.71 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Cleveland, OH
Late night in Cleveland on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Showers And Thunderstorms then Areas Of Fog
NW 3 to 7 mph
86% chance
Live forecast
51°F
Northfield, OH
18 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
10 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
48m 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?
Expect a highway-centric experience for most of this 48-minute trip. With 82% of the drive on major freeways, you'll spend most of your time navigating at higher speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.5 miles along the Akron Expressway, offering a consistent pace. The route's profile is largely defined by its interstate nature, meaning you'll experience the predictable flow of highway travel rather than winding scenic byways. It's a functional drive designed for efficient transit.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.5 mi on Akron Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Akron Expressway and Outerbelt South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.3 miles in near I 480 / Outerbelt South Freeway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 19 decision points packed into just 35.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.3 miles (I 480 / Outerbelt South Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Cleveland, OH
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 35.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.5 miles on Akron Expressway. 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.
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 19.3 miles (I 480 / Outerbelt South Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 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.
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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