Origin
Willoughby, OH
Morning in Willoughby on Tuesday
Local time
10:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Willoughby, OH to Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
38.8 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Willoughby, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 38.8-mile drive from Willoughby, OH to Cuyahoga Falls, OH is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking about 52 minutes to complete. You'll spend most of your time on major freeways like the Outerbelt East Freeway and Akron Expressway, with I-271 also playing a role. Given its highway-focused nature, expect a straightforward journey with minimal detours. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $6, making it a budget-friendly option for a quick transition within the Midwest region. This route is ideal for those seeking efficiency and a direct path.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Outerbelt East Freeway | 16.2 mi | 20m |
| Akron Expressway | 11.2 mi | 13m |
| I 271 | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| Ridge Road | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| River Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| I 90 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Broad Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| S.O.M. Center Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Outerbelt East Freeway
— 16.2 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Willoughby, OH and Cuyahoga Falls, OH.
1
Start on East Spaulding Street
58 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Spaulding Street
2
Turn left onto SR 174
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
3
Continue on SR 174
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Ridge Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto SR 91
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
S.O.M. Center Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 90 West: Cleveland
6
Merge onto I 90
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
I 90
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Outerbelt East Freeway
Exit 188
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Outerbelt East Freeway
Toward I 271 South, I 480 East: Columbus
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
I 271
Use the slight left lane.
10
Take the exit
1.5 mi
·
2 min
Exit 18A
Toward SR 8 South: Boston Heights, Akron
11
Merge onto SR 8
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Akron Expressway
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 5
Toward Broad Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto Broad Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Broad Boulevard
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto 2nd Street
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
2nd Street
15
Arrive at destination
2nd Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.4 miles from Willoughby, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 4.2 and 38.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 188
8
16.5 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway toward I 271 South, I 480 East: Columbus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 271 South, I 480 East: Columbus
6
20.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 271
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
25.6 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward SR 8 South: Boston Heights, Akron
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18A
Toward SR 8 South: Boston Heights, Akron
7
38.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward Broad Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward Broad Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.02 one way
$12.04 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $6.68 | $13.37 |
| premium | $4.91 | $7.50 | $15.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.57 | $17.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.07 | $1.86 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Morning in Cuyahoga Falls on Tuesday
Local time
10:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 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
52m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
The journey is predominantly highway-focused, with 85% of the drive utilizing major freeways. You'll experience an uninterrupted stretch of 16.2 miles on the Outerbelt East Freeway, offering a consistent pace. This route is designed for efficient travel, characterized by smooth, high-speed driving rather than winding country roads or intricate city navigation. The personality of the drive is direct and purposeful, allowing you to cover ground quickly without much variation in road type.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.2 mi on Outerbelt East Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Outerbelt East Freeway and Akron Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 miles in near I 271 / Outerbelt East 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 12 decision points packed into just 38.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.2 miles (I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles (I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.5 miles (I 271): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,156 ft
659 ft
Total Climb
552 ft
Total Descent
184 ft
Highest Point
1,156 ft
~13.8 mi in
Elevation Range
497 ft
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.
On the drive from Willoughby, OH to Cuyahoga Falls, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Akron along the way.
Akron
25.6 mi in
|
~35m
About the Cities
Starting in Willoughby, OH
Full guide →Willoughby is a town in Lake County in Ohio.
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 52m. Total distance: 38.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.2 miles on Outerbelt East Freeway. 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 Cuyahoga Falls, 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 4.2 miles (I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles (I 271 / Outerbelt East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.5 miles (I 271): 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 Cuyahoga Falls, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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