Strongsville, OH to Lima, OH is 219.2 miles and takes about 4h 11m via I-77 and I-71, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route primarily stays within Ohio, offering a straightforward trip through the Midwest. You'll be on highways for most of the drive, making it a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B. Consider this trip if you want a direct path with minimal fuss, suitable for a single day of 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
109.6 miles from Strongsville, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 77
91.8 mi
1h 38m
I 71
26.9 mi
29m
SR 7
26.4 mi
30m
Dover Road
13.8 mi
15m
Burbank Road
10.4 mi
11m
Corridor D
10.2 mi
11m
US 250
9.6 mi
11m
Dix Expressway
5.9 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 77
— 91.8 mi, about 1h 38m
Traffic on I-71
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,385 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,747
Quietest
2 AM
~102 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
23.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Strongsville, OH and Lima, OH.
1
Start on SR 82
213 ft·32 sec·Royalton Road
2
Turn uturn onto SR 82
1.2 mi·2 min·Royalton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 71 South: ColumbusUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 71
27 mi·29 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 204Toward SR 83: Wooster, LodiUse the slight right lane.
6
Turn left onto SR 83
0.6 mi·1 min·Avon Lake Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Continue on SR 83
0.4 mi·30 sec·Front Street
8
Continue on SR 83
9.0 mi·10 min·Burbank Road
9
Enter roundabout onto SR 83
98 ft·1 sec·Burbank Road
10
Continue on SR 83
0.2 mi·11 sec·Burbank Road
11
Enter roundabout onto SR 83
134 ft·1 sec·Burbank Road
12
Continue on SR 83
1.2 mi·1 min·Burbank Road
13
Continue on SR 83
5.9 mi·6 min·Dix Expressway
14
Continue on SR 83
3.7 mi·4 min·Dover Road
15
Continue on US 250
1.6 mi·1 min·West Main Street
16
Continue on US 250
7.0 mi·7 min·Dover Road
17
Continue on US 250
0.4 mi·34 sec·West Main Street
18
Continue on US 250
3.1 mi·3 min·Dover Road
19
Continue on US 250
0.9 mi·1 min·Sandusky Drive Southwest
20
Continue on US 250
0.5 mi·37 sec·West Main Street
21
Continue on US 250
4.9 mi·5 min·Sandusky Drive Southwest
22
Turn right onto US 250
3.0 mi·3 min·US 250
23
Take the exit onto US 250
6.6 mi·7 min·US 250
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77
92 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 50: Downtown Parkersburg
26
Turn right onto US 50
10 mi·11 min·Corridor D
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50
0.6 mi·1 min·US 50
Toward US 50 West, SR 32 West, SR 7 South: Athens, Pomeroy
28
Merge onto US 50; SR 7; SR 32
26 mi·30 min·US 50; SR 7; SR 32
Use the straight lane.
29
Take the exit
6.3 mi·8 min
30
Turn right onto SR 124
3.2 mi·4 min·OH State Route 124
31
Continue on SR 124
1.2 mi·2 min·Main Street
32
Continue on C-3
1.3 mi·3 min·New Lima Road
33
Arrive at destination
C-3
Trip Plan
For this roughly 4-hour drive, leaving Strongsville in the morning is a good plan, allowing you to arrive in Lima with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a mostly highway profile, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering longer stretches like the 91.8-mile segment on I-77, as services can be spread out. The $33 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting, but always check current prices. Since this is a manageable drive, you have flexibility if you decide to take an unplanned break.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 109.6 miles from Strongsville, OH, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.8 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 48 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.6 miles or 2h 4m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lima, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Strongsville, 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 Strongsville, OH
This is one driving day of about 219.2 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Strongsville, 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 I 77 for about 91.8 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 71.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 82 / Royalton Road
Turn uturn onto SR 82 / Royalton Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 71 South: Columbus
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 71 South: Columbus
8
28.5 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward SR 83: Wooster, Lodi
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 204
Toward SR 83: Wooster, Lodi
6
28.7 mi into trip|~33m in|SR 83 / Avon Lake Road
Turn left onto SR 83 / Avon Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
71.2 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|US 250
Take the exit onto US 250
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.68 one way
$67.37 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$37.99
$75.98
premium
$4.99
$43.04
$86.07
diesel
$4.80
$41.39
$82.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.8
0
$23.02
$10.52
Efficient EV
54.8
0
$19.18
$8.77
EV Truck/SUV
87.7
1
$30.69
$14.03
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Strongsville, OH
Late night
in Strongsville on Monday
Local time
2:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 17 mph97% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:20PM EDT until July 18 at 6:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:19PM EDT until July 18 at 8:15PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
Destination
Lima, OH
Late night
in Lima on Monday
Local time
2:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 9 mph60% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:20PM EDT until July 18 at 6:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:19PM EDT until July 18 at 8:15PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
83°F
West Chester, OH
110 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
4 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
4h 11m on the road
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.
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 7.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 75% of the total mileage on freeways. You'll experience a long stretch of 91.8 miles on I-77, indicating a significant portion of uninterrupted driving. The transition to surface roads will occur after the main highway sections, likely bringing more frequent exits and lower speed limits. Expect a consistent cruising experience for the majority of your time behind the wheel.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.8 mi on I 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and I 71. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 82 / Royalton Road.
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 15 significant decision points across 219.2 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: near the start (SR 82 / Royalton Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 28.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,138 ft601 ft
Total Climb
487 ft
Total Descent
817 ft
Highest Point
1,138 ft
~31.3 mi in
Elevation Range
537 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Strongsville, OH and Lima, OH, road signs point toward Lodi and Pomeroy.
Lima is a city in Allen County, Northwest Ohio and is the county seat of Allen County. Lima remains prominent in the area as a hub for business and local culture.
Top landmarks
•Allen County Museum — history museum in Lima, Ohio
•Allen County Courthouse — county courthouse in Lima, Ohio
•Lima station — former railway station in Lima, Ohio, US
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 219.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 91.8 miles on I 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 Lima, 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. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 82 / Royalton Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 28.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Lima, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
