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...
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 27m
Distance
127.3 mi
205 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marysville, OH
Tom Fisk
Akron to Marysville is 127 miles and takes about 2 hours 30 minutes via I 71, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Ohio. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive that makes for a simple, single-day journey. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so expect a consistent pace. This route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without many detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
63.6 miles from Akron, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 127.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 82% of the journey on major roads like I 71. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 78 miles on I 71, offering a consistent driving experience for a significant portion of the trip. The Kenmore Expressway and Marysville Road will be the other main components of your journey, likely representing the approach to your destination. Expect a relatively smooth and fast-paced drive, characteristic of a modern interstate route designed for efficient travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Kenmore Expressway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near SR 59 / Rand Avenue.
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 127.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.4 miles (SR 59 / Rand Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.3 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn left onto SR 59 / Rand Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Kenmore Expressway toward I 76 West: Barberton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 71 South: Columbus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 71
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 36, SR 37: Sunbury, Delaware
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Akron, OH to Marysville, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Delaware along the way.
Delaware
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 78 mi | 1h 23m |
| Kenmore Expressway | 19.8 mi | 24m |
| Marysville Road | 15 mi | 17m |
| State Route 37 East | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| East William Street | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Innerbelt | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| I 76 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Sunbury Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Marysville, OH.
Start on West Bowery Street
Turn right onto West Center Street
At end of road, turn left onto SR 59
Turn straight onto SR 59
Merge onto I 76; I 77
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
Take the exit
Merge onto I 71
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 36; SR 37
Continue on US 36; SR 37
Continue on US 36; SR 37; SR 521
Continue on US 36
Turn slight right onto East 5th Street
Arrive at destination
Given this is a 127-mile drive taking under 2.5 hours, it’s easily a same-day trip. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize your daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With a fuel cost estimated around $20, you should have ample opportunity to refuel if needed without significant budget impact. Since the longest stretch on I 71 is 78 miles, plan a quick stop at a rest area or service plaza around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The flexibility of a short drive like this means you can adjust your departure time as needed.
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.
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 28 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.6 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marysville, OH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Akron, 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 Akron, OH
This is one driving day of about 127.3 miles and 2h 27m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 63.6 mi from Akron, OH · 1h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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.
A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 63.6 miles from Akron, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78 miles.
The final approach into Marysville, OH usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Marysville, OH.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$19.76 one way
$39.51 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $21.93 | $43.85 |
| premium | $4.91 | $24.60 | $49.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.11 | $56.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.37 | $6.11 |
| Efficient EV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.14 | $5.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.9 | 0 | $17.82 | $8.15 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Akron on Friday
Local time
5:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Marysville on Friday
Local time
5:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
68°F
Mansfield, OH
64 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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