Youngstown, OH to Whitehall, OH is 176.4 miles and takes about 3h 24m via I-71 and I-76, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays entirely within Ohio, connecting two points in the Midwest region. With a high percentage of highway driving, it's a straightforward trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently. You'll find it a practical choice for a day trip or as a segment of a larger Midwest adventure.
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
88.2 miles from Youngstown, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
89.8 mi
1h 36m
I 76
39.2 mi
44m
Kenmore Expressway
19.8 mi
24m
Jack Nicklaus Freeway
11.2 mi
12m
I 80
4.6 mi
5m
Wickliffe Expressway
4.6 mi
6m
Hamilton Road
1.9 mi
3m
South Shore Expressway
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 89.8 mi, about 1h 36m
Traffic on I-71
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,112 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,981
Quietest
2 AM
~236 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 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 Whitehall, 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
90 mi·1 hr 36 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 119AToward I 270 EastUse the straight / right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 270
11 mi·12 min·Jack Nicklaus Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 37Toward SR 317: Hamilton RoadUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto SR 317
1.9 mi·3 min·Hamilton Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn right onto SR 16
0.6 mi·1 min·East Broad Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto South Yearling Road
0.6 mi·1 min·South Yearling Road
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
South Yearling Road
Trip Plan
For this 176.4-mile drive, departing in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the approximately 3h 24m trip. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $28, it's an easy day trip. The longest continuous stretch is about 89.8 miles on I-71, so plan for a break either before or after this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach your destination, as highway exits can be spaced out.
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 88.2 miles from Youngstown, OH, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.8 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 39 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.2 miles or 1h 44m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Whitehall, 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 176.4 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 89.8 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 173.3 — 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
161.4 mi into trip|~3h 2m in
Take the exit toward I 270 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 119A
Toward I 270 East
7
172.9 mi into trip|~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward SR 317: Hamilton Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 37
Toward SR 317: Hamilton Road
6
173.3 mi into trip|~3h 17m in|SR 317 / Hamilton Road
Turn right onto SR 317 / Hamilton Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.09 one way
$54.18 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$30.56
$61.11
premium
$4.98
$34.60
$69.20
diesel
$5.60
$38.88
$77.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.9
0
$18.52
$8.47
Efficient EV
44.1
0
$15.44
$7.06
EV Truck/SUV
70.6
0
$24.70
$11.29
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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 Sep 1, 2026
Origin
Youngstown, OH
Night
in Youngstown on Saturday
Local time
9:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
W 8 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 4:46PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 3:26PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Whitehall, OH
Night
in Whitehall on Saturday
Local time
9:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 4:46PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 3:26PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
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
3h 24m 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 48.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 97% of the 176.4 miles covered on high-speed roads like I-71 and I-76. You'll experience a long stretch of 89.8 miles on I-71 without needing to exit. The transition to surface roads will happen near the end of your trip, close to Whitehall, OH. Expect a consistent flow of traffic typical of major interstates.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.8 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 50.6 miles in near I 76 / Kenmore Expressway.
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 176.4 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 161.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Whitehall Township is a suburban township near Allentown in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. The township is 64.1 miles (103.2 km) north of Philadelphia, the sixth-largest city in the United States, and 93.7 miles (150.8 km) west of New York City, the nation's largest city.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 176.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 24m 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 89.8 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 Whitehall, 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 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 161.4 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 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Whitehall, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
