Traveling from Willard to Akron is a straightforward 69.5-mile journey across the Ohio landscape. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 32 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable trip for a single day. Since the drive is relatively short, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging or complex itineraries. Plan for a modest fuel budget of around $10 to complete the transit. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, this route offers a practical connection between these two Midwestern locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.8 miles from Willard, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Conwell Avenue
36.1 mi
50m
US 224
27.2 mi
33m
Innerbelt
2.1 mi
2m
Kenmore Expressway
1.9 mi
2m
I 76
1.2 mi
1m
West Tiffin Street
0.5 mi
1m
West Bowery Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West Center Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Conwell Avenue
— 36.1 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Willard, OH and Akron, OH.
1
Start on SR 103
0.5 mi·1 min·West Tiffin Street
2
Turn right onto SR 99
0.8 mi·1 min·Conwell Avenue
3
Continue on US 224
35 mi·48 min·Conwell Avenue
4
Take the exit onto US 224
27 mi·33 min·US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
6
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.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59
2.1 mi·2 min·Innerbelt
Exit 21CToward SR 59 East: DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on SR 59
406 ft·13 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
9
Turn right onto West Center Street
459 ft·19 sec·West Center Street
10
Turn left onto West Bowery Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·West Bowery Street
11
Arrive at destination
West Bowery Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a quick 1-hour and 32-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since there are zero scheduled stops in the route data, you should handle your fueling and rest needs before you hit the road to maintain a smooth pace. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition between Conwell Avenue and the Innerbelt, as the change in road types can sometimes catch drivers off guard. Using the $10 fuel estimate as a baseline will help you budget effectively for the round trip. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity allows you to focus on arriving in Akron without the stress of a long-haul commute.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34.8 miles from Willard, OH, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.1 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 15 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.8 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Akron, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Willard, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Willard, OH
This is one driving day of about 69.5 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Willard, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Conwell Avenue for about 36.1 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 36.7 and 69.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
36.7 mi into trip|~51m in|US 224
Take the exit onto US 224
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
63.9 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|I 76 / Kenmore Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Kenmore Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
65.8 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|I 76
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Akron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Akron
8
67 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|SR 59 / Innerbelt
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59 / Innerbelt toward SR 59 East: Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21C
Toward SR 59 East: Downtown
4
69.2 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|West Center Street
Turn right onto West Center Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.79 one way
$21.57 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$11.97
$23.94
premium
$4.91
$13.43
$26.86
diesel
$5.61
$15.34
$30.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.8
0
$7.30
$3.34
Efficient EV
17.4
0
$6.08
$2.78
EV Truck/SUV
27.8
0
$9.73
$4.45
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Willard, OH
Late night
in Willard on Tuesday
Local time
4:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Akron, OH
Late night
in Akron on Tuesday
Local time
4:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
18 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 32m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a mixed drive profile that keeps the experience varied. You will spend roughly 44% of your time on highways, balancing faster stretches with more localized roads. Be prepared for a significant 36.1-mile stretch along Conwell Avenue, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your trip. As you transition from the initial segments onto US 224 and eventually the Innerbelt, the road character shifts from rural-leaning paths to the more urban environment of Akron. It is a functional drive that requires steady attention as the road type changes.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.1 mi on Conwell Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 36.7 miles in near US 224.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.5 miles you will encounter 7 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 36.7 miles (US 224): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.9 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.8 miles (I 76): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Akron is a city of almost 200,000 people (2019) in the Northeast Ohio region in Summit County. Akron is proud of its heritage as a center of industry, and now offers visitors a wide range of recreational and cultural attractions, food experiences, and shopping.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 69.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.1 miles on Conwell Avenue. 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 Akron, 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 36.7 miles (US 224): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.9 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.8 miles (I 76): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Akron, OH before heading back.
