This 164.9-mile journey from Worthington, OH to Youngstown, OH is a straightforward drive, estimated to take about 3 hours and 8 minutes. It's perfectly suited for a single-day trip, with a fuel cost estimated at $26. The route stays within the Midwest region, primarily utilizing major interstates for an efficient travel experience. With a highway share of 97%, this drive is designed for covering ground quickly. You'll find it to be a practical option for a quick getaway or a transit between these Ohio locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
82.4 miles from Worthington, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
91.2 mi
1h 38m
I 76
57.6 mi
1h 6m
I 680
5.9 mi
8m
I 80
4 mi
4m
Kenmore Expressway
1.9 mi
2m
East Dublin Granville Road
1.7 mi
3m
Market Street
0.6 mi
<1m
North High Street
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 91.2 mi, about 1h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Worthington, OH and Youngstown, OH.
1
Start on US 23
0.3 mi·1 min·North High Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn left onto SR 161
1.7 mi·3 min·East Dublin Granville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 71
91 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 209A-BToward I 76, US 224: Lodi, AkronUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 209AToward I 76, US 224 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi·20 min·I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
9
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.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76; I 77
39 mi·43 min·I 76; I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80
4.0 mi·4 min·I 80
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
5.9 mi·8 min·I 680
Toward I 680: Youngstown
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
14
Turn sharp left onto Market Street
0.6 mi·59 sec·Market Street
15
Keep slight right at fork onto Central Square
124 ft·2 sec·Central Square
16
Arrive at destination
Central Square
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, this route is easily manageable as a day trip. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize your time at your destination or upon arrival in Youngstown. With only one suggested stop, you have flexibility in when and where you might pull over, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is always wise, especially during the 91.2-mile stretch on I-71. The $26 fuel estimate is helpful for budgeting, and the predominantly highway nature means you'll likely encounter readily available services.
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 82.4 miles from Worthington, OH, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.2 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 36 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.4 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 32m
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 Worthington, 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 Worthington, OH
This is one driving day of about 164.9 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Worthington, 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 91.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 113.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 161 / East Dublin Granville Road
Turn left onto SR 161 / East Dublin Granville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
2 mi into trip|~4m in
Turn left toward I 71 North: Cleveland
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 71 North: Cleveland
8
93.5 mi into trip|~1h 43m 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
93.7 mi into trip|~1h 43m 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
7
113.7 mi into trip|~2h 8m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.59 one way
$51.18 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$28.40
$56.81
premium
$4.91
$31.87
$63.74
diesel
$5.61
$36.41
$72.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.5
0
$17.31
$7.92
Efficient EV
41.2
0
$14.43
$6.60
EV Truck/SUV
66
0
$23.09
$10.55
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Worthington, OH
Afternoon
in Worthington on Tuesday
Local time
1:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Youngstown, OH
Afternoon
in Youngstown on Tuesday
Local time
1:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Medina, OH
82 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
3h 8m 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.
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 113.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 164.9-mile trip. With 97% of the route on interstates, you'll spend most of your time on fast-paced highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 91.2 miles on I-71. While the terrain is largely consistent with a highway profile, the transition from I-71 to I-76 and then I-680 marks the progression towards your destination. This drive prioritizes direct travel over scenic detours.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.2 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and I 76. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near SR 161 / East Dublin Granville 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 14 significant decision points across 164.9 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 0.3 miles (SR 161 / East Dublin Granville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 93.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Worthington, OH to Youngstown, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Akron along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 164.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m 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 91.2 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 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 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (SR 161 / East Dublin Granville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 93.5 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 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Youngstown, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
