The drive from Akron, OH to Paulding, OH covers 195.9 miles and takes about 3h 45m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 30, Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway, I 71 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 83.3 miles on US 30.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.40 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
97.9 miles from Akron, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 195.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 45m highway drive covering 195.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 30 and Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 83.3 miles on US 30.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 30 is the longest continuous segment at about 83.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 30 and Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 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 17 significant decision points across 195.9 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 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; at 56 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
3.3 mi into trip|~5m 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
23.1 mi into trip|~29m 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
56 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 30: Wooster, 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 176
Toward US 30: Wooster, Mansfield
7
56.3 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 30 West: Mansfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 30 West: Mansfield
7
177.7 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 127, US 224: Paulding, Van Wort
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 127, US 224: Paulding, Van Wort
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Akron, OH and Paulding, OH, road signs point toward Mansfield and Van Wort.
Mansfield
56 mi in|~1h 6m
Van Wort
177.7 mi in|~3h 20m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 30
83.3 mi
1h 31m
Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway
37.8 mi
40m
I 71
31.7 mi
33m
Kenmore Expressway
19.8 mi
24m
US 127
17.7 mi
24m
Innerbelt
1.8 mi
2m
I 76
1 mi
1m
West Bowery Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 83.3 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Paulding, OH.
1
Start on West Bowery Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·West Bowery Street
2
Turn right onto West Center Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·West Center Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto SR 59
0.1 mi·15 sec·Rand Avenue
4
Turn straight onto SR 59
1.8 mi·2 min·Innerbelt
5
Merge onto I 76; I 77
1.0 mi·1 min·I 76; I 77
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
20 mi·24 min·Kenmore Expressway
Toward I 76 West: BarbertonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.2 mi·2 min
Exit 1AToward I 71 South: ColumbusUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 71
32 mi·33 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 176Toward US 30: Wooster, MansfieldUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·37 sec
Toward US 30 West: MansfieldUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto US 30
7.6 mi·9 min·US 30
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 30
38 mi·40 min·Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 30
6.3 mi·7 min·US 30
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 30
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 30
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward US 127, US 224: Paulding, Van WortUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto US 127; US 224
1.1 mi·1 min·US 127; US 224
17
Enter roundabout onto US 127
214 ft·3 sec·US 127
18
Continue on US 127
17 mi·22 min·US 127
19
Turn right onto US 127; SR 111
342 ft·8 sec·North Williams Street
20
Turn right onto East Jackson Street
66 ft·1 sec·East Jackson Street
21
Arrive at destination
East Jackson Street
Trip Plan
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 97.9 miles from Akron, OH, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.3 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 43 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.9 miles or 1h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paulding, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 195.9 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Akron, 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 US 30 for about 83.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 97.9 mi from Akron, OH
· 1h 53m into the drive
The midpoint is around 97.9 miles from Akron, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Paulding, OH
The final approach into Paulding, 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 Paulding, OH.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.40 one way
$60.81 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$33.74
$67.49
premium
$4.91
$37.86
$75.72
diesel
$5.61
$43.25
$86.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.8
0
$20.57
$9.40
Efficient EV
49
0
$17.14
$7.84
EV Truck/SUV
78.4
0
$27.43
$12.54
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 15, 2026
Origin
Akron, OH
Morning
in Akron on Friday
Local time
7:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paulding, OH
Morning
in Paulding on Friday
Local time
7:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Shelby, OH
98 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
9 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 45m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Akron, OH to Paulding, OH covers 195.9 miles and takes about 3h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 30, Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway, I 71. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 97.9 miles from Akron, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.40 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 195.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 56 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Akron, OH and Paulding, OH, road signs point toward Mansfield and Van Wort.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
