Union, OH to Youngstown, OH is 246.2 miles and takes about 4h 38m via I 71 and I 76, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Ohio, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip primarily on major interstate highways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. If you're looking for a simple, no-fuss transit day, this route fits the bill.
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
123.1 miles from Union, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
99.5 mi
1h 47m
I 70
66.7 mi
1h 12m
I 76
57.6 mi
1h 6m
I 680
5.9 mi
8m
I 670
4.3 mi
5m
I 80
4 mi
4m
North Main Street
3.2 mi
5m
Kenmore Expressway
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 99.5 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 86 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,219 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,827
Quietest
2 AM
~350 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Union, OH and Youngstown, OH.
1
Start on SR 48
3.2 mi·5 min·North Main Street
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 70 East: ColumbusUse the left lane.
3
Merge onto I 70
17 mi·19 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
49 mi·53 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670
4.3 mi·5 min·I 670
Toward I 670 East: AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto North Innerbelt
0.2 mi·15 sec·North Innerbelt
Toward I 71: Cincinnati, ClevelandUse the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Toward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 71
100 mi·1 hr 47 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 209A-BToward I 76, US 224: Lodi, AkronUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 209AToward I 76, US 224 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi·20 min·I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.2 mi·1 min·I 76
Toward I 76 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76; I 77
39 mi·43 min·I 76; I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 80
4.0 mi·4 min·I 80
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
5.9 mi·8 min·I 680
Toward I 680: Youngstown
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
19
Turn sharp left onto Market Street
0.6 mi·59 sec·Market Street
20
Keep slight right at fork onto Central Square
124 ft·2 sec·Central Square
21
Arrive at destination
Central Square
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 38m estimated drive time, leaving Union, OH in the morning is ideal to ensure you arrive in Youngstown with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a low fuel cost of around $39, you can be flexible with your timing. Pay attention to potential exit congestion as you approach larger towns along I 71. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your morning's activities in Union.
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 123.1 miles from Union, OH, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.5 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 54 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.1 miles or 2h 17m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Youngstown, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union, 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 Union, OH
This is one driving day of about 246.2 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Union, 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 71 for about 99.5 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 70.1 and 175 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
70.1 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|I 670
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670 toward I 670 East: Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 670 East: Airport
8
74.4 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|North Innerbelt
Keep slight right at fork onto North Innerbelt toward I 71: Cincinnati, Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 71: Cincinnati, Cleveland
7
75 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 71 North: Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 71 North: Cleveland
8
174.8 mi into trip|~3h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
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 209A-B
Toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
9
175 mi into trip|~3h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209A
Toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.52 one way
$77.04 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$43.37
$86.73
premium
$5.06
$49.01
$98.01
diesel
$6.18
$59.89
$119.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.9
0
$25.85
$11.82
Efficient EV
61.6
0
$21.54
$9.85
EV Truck/SUV
98.5
1
$34.47
$15.76
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Union, OH
Morning
in Union on Sunday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Sunny
N 7 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 8:01AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 7:47AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Destination
Youngstown, OH
Morning
in Youngstown on Sunday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Sunny
N 7 to 12 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 8:01AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 7:47AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
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
4h 38m 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.
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established to honor the lives and achievements of poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar and aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Through p...
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...
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 195.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 97% of this 246.2-mile trip on the interstate. The longest continuous stretch of highway driving is 99.5 miles, primarily on I 71. Expect a consistent cruising experience with many exits and entrances as you pass through various towns and cities across Ohio. The transition to surface roads will be minimal, occurring only in the final miles before reaching Youngstown.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.5 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and I 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 70.1 miles in near I 670.
Driving Effort9/10
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 18 significant decision points across 246.2 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: at 70.1 miles (I 670): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.4 miles (North Innerbelt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,293 ft744 ft
Total Climb
951 ft
Total Descent
1,017 ft
Highest Point
1,293 ft
~123.1 mi in
Elevation Range
549 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Union, OH and Youngstown, OH, road signs point toward Cleveland and Akron.
Youngstown is a city of 60,000 people (2020) in Northeast Ohio and is the county seat of Mahoning County. For Youngstown, it was all about coal and steel, until deindustrialization occurred in the second half of the 20th century.
Top landmarks
•Butler Institute of American Art — museum in Youngstown, Ohio
•Idora Park — amusement park in Youngstown, Ohio
•Youngstown station — former train station in Youngstown, Ohio, US
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 38m. Total distance: 246.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.5 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 38 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 Youngstown, 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 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 70.1 miles (I 670): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.4 miles (North Innerbelt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Youngstown, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
