The drive from Akron, OH to Rarden, OH covers 221.2 miles and takes about 4h 29m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 71, Portsmouth - Columbus Road, US 23 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 106.9 miles on I 71.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.33 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
110.6 miles from Akron, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 29m. Total distance: 221.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 29m highway drive covering 221.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 71 and Portsmouth - Columbus Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 106.9 miles on I 71.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 106.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Portsmouth - Columbus Road. 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 Effort10/10
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 20 significant decision points across 221.2 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 131.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 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
131.2 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 270: Stringtown Road, Grove City
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 101
Toward I 270: Stringtown Road, Grove City
8
131.5 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 East: Stringtown Road, Grove City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 East: Stringtown Road, Grove City
8
133.6 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward US 23 North, US 23 South: High Street, Circleville
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 52
Toward US 23 North, US 23 South: High Street, C...
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 Rarden, OH, road signs point toward Grove City and Circleville.
Grove City
131.2 mi in|~2h 29m
Circleville
133.6 mi in|~2h 33m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
106.9 mi
1h 56m
Portsmouth - Columbus Road
36.5 mi
47m
US 23
20.4 mi
28m
James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
20.1 mi
23m
Kenmore Expressway
19.8 mi
24m
SR 73
6.8 mi
10m
South High Street
2.8 mi
4m
Innerbelt
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 106.9 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Rarden, 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
102 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
5.1 mi·5 min·I 71
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 101Toward I 270: Stringtown Road, Grove CityUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 270 East: Stringtown Road, Grove CityUse the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 270 EastUse the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 270
1.1 mi·1 min·Jack Nicklaus Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 52Toward US 23 North, US 23 South: High Street, CirclevilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward US 23 South: Circleville
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
17
Merge onto US 23
2.8 mi·4 min·South High Street
18
Continue on US 23
37 mi·47 min·Portsmouth - Columbus Road
Use the straight lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
20 mi·28 min·US 23
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
21
Turn right onto SR 32; SR 124
20 mi·23 min·James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Take the exit
319 ft·15 sec
Use the left lane.
23
Turn left onto SR 73
6.8 mi·10 min·SR 73
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
SR 73
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 110.6 miles from Akron, OH, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.9 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 49 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.6 miles or 2h 6m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rarden, 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 221.2 miles and 4h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 I 71 for about 106.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 110.6 mi from Akron, OH
· 2h 6m into the drive
The midpoint is around 110.6 miles from Akron, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106.9 miles.
Arriving in Rarden, OH
The final approach into Rarden, 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 Rarden, OH.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
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.
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Nearly 2000 years ago, Native Americans built dozens of monumental mounds and earthen enclosures in southern Ohio. These earthwork complexes were ceremonial landscapes used for feasts, funerals, ritua...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 175.5
Caution: Hopeton Earthworks Closed for Construction Until May 2026
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
$34.33 one way
$68.66 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$38.10
$76.20
premium
$4.91
$42.75
$85.50
diesel
$5.61
$48.84
$97.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.4
0
$23.23
$10.62
Efficient EV
55.3
0
$19.35
$8.85
EV Truck/SUV
88.5
1
$30.97
$14.16
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Afternoon
in Akron on Thursday
Local time
2:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Rarden, OH
Afternoon
in Rarden on Thursday
Local time
2:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
4h 29m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Rarden, OH covers 221.2 miles and takes about 4h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 71, Portsmouth - Columbus Road, US 23. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 110.6 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 $34.33 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 221.2 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 131.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Akron, OH and Rarden, OH, road signs point toward Grove City and Circleville.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
