Youngstown to Gambier is 140.1 miles and takes about 2h 47m via I-76 and I-71, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Ohio, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a route that is predominantly highway driving. With just one recommended stop and a drive time under three hours, this is a straightforward, manageable trip for a single day.
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
70 miles from Youngstown, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
39.4 mi
42m
I 76
39.2 mi
44m
SR 13
23.3 mi
28m
Kenmore Expressway
19.8 mi
24m
West Gambier Street
4.7 mi
7m
I 80
4.6 mi
5m
Wickliffe Expressway
4.6 mi
6m
South Shore Expressway
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 39.4 mi, about 42m
Traffic on I-76
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,399 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~182 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.2×
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 Youngstown, OH and Gambier, OH.
1
Start on Central Square
123 ft·9 sec·Central Square
2
Continue on Central Square
340 ft·14 sec·Central Square
3
Turn straight onto Market Street
0.5 mi·50 sec·Market Street
4
Turn right onto West Woodland Avenue
230 ft·4 sec·West Woodland Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
6
Merge onto I 680
1.5 mi·2 min·South Shore Expressway
7
Continue on I 680
4.6 mi·6 min·Wickliffe Expressway
8
Merge onto I 80
4.6 mi·5 min·I 80
9
Continue on I 76
39 mi·44 min·I 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
20 mi·24 min·Kenmore Expressway
Toward I 76 West: BarbertonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.2 mi·2 min
Exit 1AToward I 71 South: ColumbusUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 71
39 mi·42 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 169Toward SR 13: Bellville, MansfieldUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto SR 13
23 mi·28 min·SR 13
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto SR 13
0.1 mi·25 sec·West Chestnut Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto North Mulberry Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·North Mulberry Street
17
Turn left onto SR 229
4.7 mi·7 min·West Gambier Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Enter roundabout onto SR 308
162 ft·3 sec·West Wiggin Street
19
Continue on SR 308
0.3 mi·49 sec·West Wiggin Street
20
Arrive at destination
East Wiggin Street
Trip Plan
Given the short drive time of under three hours, you have flexibility in when you depart. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive with plenty of time to settle in, or a mid-day departure works just as well. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $27, planning is minimal. Pay attention to your exit for Gambier, as the highway portion concludes abruptly before you reach your final destination.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70 miles from Youngstown, OH, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.4 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 31 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70 miles or 1h 23m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gambier, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Youngstown, 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 Youngstown, OH
This is one driving day of about 140.1 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Youngstown, 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 39.4 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 50.6 and 135.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
50.6 mi into trip|~59m in|I 76 / Kenmore Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Kenmore Expressway toward I 76 West: Barberton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 West: Barberton
7
70.4 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward I 71 South: Columbus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 71 South: Columbus
8
111.1 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Take the exit toward SR 13: Bellville, Mansfield
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 169
Toward SR 13: Bellville, Mansfield
6
134.8 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|SR 13 / West Chestnut Street
Turn left onto SR 13 / West Chestnut Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
135.1 mi into trip|~2h 38m in|SR 229 / West Gambier Street
Turn left onto SR 229 / West Gambier Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.25 one way
$48.49 round trip
$4.40/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.85
$26.73
$53.46
premium
$5.43
$29.93
$59.86
diesel
$5.35
$29.51
$59.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42
0
$14.71
$6.72
Efficient EV
35
0
$12.26
$5.60
EV Truck/SUV
56
0
$19.61
$8.97
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 May 27, 2026
Origin
Youngstown, OH
Evening
in Youngstown on Wednesday
Local time
5:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
N 2 to 6 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 27 at 6:21PM EDT until May 28 at 4:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 27 at 6:03PM EDT until May 27 at 9:30PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
Destination
Gambier, OH
Evening
in Gambier on Wednesday
Local time
5:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
N 5 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 27 at 6:21PM EDT until May 28 at 4:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 27 at 6:03PM EDT until May 27 at 9:30PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
82°F
Penfield, OH
70 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 47m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 48.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 94% highway, so expect to be on high-speed roads for most of the 140.1 miles. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 39.4 miles on I-71. The transition to surface roads will be brief, occurring as you near your destination in Gambier. The high highway share means you'll likely experience consistent cruising speeds and a steady flow of traffic typical of interstates.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.4 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and I 76. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 50.6 miles in near I 76 / Kenmore Expressway.
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 140.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 50.6 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.1 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
1,326 ft857 ft
Total Climb
820 ft
Total Descent
597 ft
Highest Point
1,326 ft
~110.1 mi in
Elevation Range
469 ft
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 Youngstown, OH to Gambier, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Mansfield 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.
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
Tiny Gambier is a college town in Knox County, Ohio, centered around Kenyon College. The village of Gambier mostly consists of Kenyon's campus, which is quiet, pretty, and historic. The liberal-arts college has a student body of 1,900 (2023) in a village of 2,200 (2020).
Top landmarks
•Kenyon College — private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 140.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.4 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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 Gambier, 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 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 50.6 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.1 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gambier, OH before heading back.
