Trip from Akron, OH to Stow, OH

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

15m

Distance

8.2 mi

13 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

4 AM

0h 14m ★

6 AM

0h 16m

8 AM

0h 19m

10 AM

0h 17m

12 PM

0h 16m

3 PM

0h 17m

5 PM

0h 18m

8 PM

0h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

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Trip Overview

This short 8.2-mile drive from Akron to Stow, Ohio, is easily manageable in just 15 minutes, making it perfect for a single-day excursion. You'll navigate primarily via the Akron Expressway and Kent Road, with a portion on East Mill Street. With a modest fuel cost estimated at just $1, this route offers an economical option for local travel within the Midwest region. Given its brevity, there's no need to consider an overnight stay; you can comfortably complete this journey without breaking it up. The mixed drive profile suggests a blend of faster-paced road sections and potentially more local transitions as you approach your destination.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 15m. Total distance: 8.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a mixed drive on this journey, with about 55% of the route utilizing highway segments. The longest stretch without a turn is approximately 4.5 miles on the Akron Expressway, offering a brief period of consistent speed. As you transition from the expressway, you'll encounter Kent Road and East Mill Street, which likely involve more local traffic and potentially lower speed limits. This change in road character means the drive isn't a monotonous interstate cruise but rather a blend of efficient travel and more community-focused road conditions.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Akron Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 4.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Main Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 8.2 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Mill Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.6 miles (South Union Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Main Street

Turn left onto South Main Street

Navigation decision point

6

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Mill Street

Enter roundabout onto East Mill Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | South Union Street

Turn right onto South Union Street

Navigation decision point

5

1.3 mi into trip | ~3m in | SR 8 / Akron Expressway

Merge onto SR 8 / Akron Expressway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.

8

5.8 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the exit toward SR 59 East: Front Street, Stow

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 6 Toward SR 59 East: Front Street, Stow

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Akron Expressway	4.5 mi	6m
Kent Road	1.7 mi	3m
East Mill Street	0.5 mi	1m
Front Street	0.5 mi	1m
East Buchtel Avenue	0.3 mi	1m
South Union Street	0.1 mi	<1m
South Main Street	0.1 mi	<1m
Fountain Street	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Akron Expressway — 4.5 mi, about 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and Stow, OH.

1

Start on West Bowery Street

72 ft · 7 sec · West Bowery Street

2

Turn left onto South Main Street

0.1 mi · 18 sec · South Main Street

3

Enter roundabout onto East Mill Street

13 ft · 0 sec · East Mill Street

4

Continue on East Mill Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Mill Street

5

Turn right onto South Union Street

0.1 mi · 25 sec · South Union Street

6

Turn left onto East Buchtel Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · East Buchtel Avenue

7

Turn left onto Fountain Street

212 ft · 5 sec · Fountain Street

8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward SR 8 North

9

Merge onto SR 8

4.5 mi · 6 min · Akron Expressway

Use the slight right lane.

10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Exit 6 Toward SR 59 East: Front Street, Stow Use the slight right lane.

11

Continue on SR 59

0.5 mi · 1 min · Front Street

Use the straight lane.

12

Continue on SR 59

1.7 mi · 3 min · Kent Road

13

Turn left onto SR 91

20 ft · 0 sec · Darrow Road

14

Arrive at destination

SR 91

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.27 one way

$2.55 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 3 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.38	$1.41	$2.82
premium	$4.91	$1.58	$3.17
diesel	$5.61	$1.81	$3.62

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$1

Estimated CO2 emission: 2.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	2.5	$0.86	$0.39
Efficient EV	2.1	$0.72	$0.33
EV Truck/SUV	3.3	$1.15	$0.52

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 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

Late night in Akron on Friday

Local time

2:48 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Stow, OH

Late night in Stow on Friday

Local time

2:48 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

15m 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 Stow, OH covers 8.2 miles and takes about 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Akron Expressway, Kent Road, East Mill Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 4.1 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 $1.27 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 8.2 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Mill Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.6 miles (South Union Street): Navigation decision point.

The route from Akron, OH to Stow, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

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