Youngstown, OH to Jefferson, OH is 190 miles and takes about 3h 41m via I-71 and I-76, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, primarily within Ohio. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the journey. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is a straightforward connection between two points, ideal for those prioritizing efficiency. Consider this trip if you need a reliable and relatively quick way to travel 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
95 miles from Youngstown, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
100.7 mi
1h 49m
I 76
39.2 mi
44m
Kenmore Expressway
19.8 mi
24m
Southeast Expressway
8.8 mi
11m
I 80
4.6 mi
5m
Wickliffe Expressway
4.6 mi
6m
East Freeway
3 mi
4m
Winchester Road Northwest
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 100.7 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Youngstown, OH and Jefferson, 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
101 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 107Toward I 70 East: WheelingUse the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 70
3.0 mi·4 min·East Freeway
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 105AToward US 33 East: LancasterUse the slight right lane.
16
Continue on US 33
0.3 mi·29 sec·College Avenue
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 33
8.8 mi·11 min·Southeast Expressway
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 33
0.7 mi·48 sec·Columbus-Lancaster Road Northwest
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 139Toward Hill Road, Diley RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto CR 18
0.2 mi·23 sec·Diley Road
Use the right lane.
21
Continue on CR 18
0.2 mi·39 sec·Hill Road Northwest
22
Turn left onto Waterloo Road Northwest
0.9 mi·1 min·Waterloo Road Northwest
23
Turn left onto CR 23
2.0 mi·3 min·Winchester Road Northwest
24
Arrive at destination
CR 23
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 41m estimated duration, starting your drive in the morning allows ample time to reach Jefferson, OH, without feeling rushed. You'll have one recommended stop, which is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, especially during the longest stretch on I-71. The fuel cost is estimated at $29, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, particularly around the Youngstown area as you begin, to ensure a smooth start.
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 95 miles from Youngstown, OH, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.7 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 42 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95 miles or 1h 51m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson, 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 190 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 100.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 50.6 and 186.2 — 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
7
172.4 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Wheeling
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 107
Toward I 70 East: Wheeling
7
176.1 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Take the exit toward US 33 East: Lancaster
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 105A
Toward US 33 East: Lancaster
8
186.2 mi into trip|~3h 34m in
Take the exit toward Hill Road, Diley Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 139
Toward Hill Road, Diley Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.71 one way
$55.43 round trip
$3.71/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.24
$31.73
$63.46
premium
$4.79
$35.83
$71.66
diesel
$4.30
$32.20
$64.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57
0
$19.95
$9.12
Efficient EV
47.5
0
$16.63
$7.60
EV Truck/SUV
76
0
$26.60
$12.16
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 16, 2026
Origin
Youngstown, OH
Late night
in Youngstown on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 6 to 15 mph80% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Jefferson, OH
Late night
in Jefferson on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Mansfield, OH
95 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
24 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 41m 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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 45.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll spend most of your time on Interstate 71 and Interstate 76, experiencing a consistent, high-speed pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 100.7 miles on I-71, offering a significant period of steady driving. The Kenmore Expressway also contributes to the predominantly highway nature of this trip. Overall, anticipate a smooth and direct journey with minimal deviations from major thoroughfares.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.7 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 76. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 50.6 miles in near I 76 / Kenmore Expressway.
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 16 significant decision points across 190 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 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 172.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 190 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100.7 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Jefferson, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 172.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Jefferson, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
