Origin
Akron, OH
Evening in Akron on Friday
Local time
8:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Akron, OH to University Heights, OH
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
32.3 mi
52 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
University Heights, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Akron, OH to University Heights, OH covers 32.3 miles and takes about 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Akron Expressway, I 271, Northfield Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.9 miles on Akron Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.01 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 32.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 47m highway drive covering 32.3 miles, with most of the trip on Akron Expressway and I 271. The longest continuous stretch is about 14.9 miles on Akron Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 14.9 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,075 ft
960 ft
Total Climb
234 ft
Total Descent
167 ft
Highest Point
1,075 ft
~25.4 mi in
Elevation Range
115 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Akron Expressway and I 271. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Mill Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 32.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Mill Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.3 miles (SR 8 / Akron Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles (I 480 / Outerbelt South Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Mill Street
Enter roundabout onto East Mill Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
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
24.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 480 / Outerbelt South Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 480 / Outerbelt South Freeway toward I 480 West: Rockside Road, Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 480 West: Rockside Road, Cleveland
8
26.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward SR 8, SR 43: Northfield Road
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 25C
Toward SR 8, SR 43: Northfield Road
6
29.7 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
SR 8; CR 4 / Warrensville Center Road
Turn right onto SR 8; CR 4 / Warrensville Center Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Akron, OH to University Heights, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Cleveland along the way.
Cleveland
24.7 mi in
|
~32m
|
via I 480
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Akron Expressway | 14.9 mi | 18m |
| I 271 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Northfield Road | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Warrensville Center Road | 2.6 mi | 6m |
| Outerbelt South Freeway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| East Mill Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Buchtel Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Aurora Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Akron Expressway
— 14.9 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, OH and University Heights, 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
15 mi
·
18 min
·
Akron Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
1.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 17
Toward I 271 North: Erie Pennsylvania
11
Merge onto I 271
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I 271
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 480
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Outerbelt South Freeway
Toward I 480 West: Rockside Road, Cleveland
Use the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 25C
Toward SR 8, SR 43: Northfield Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto SR 43
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Aurora Road
15
Turn right onto SR 8; SR 43
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Northfield Road
Use the right lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto SR 8
153 ft
·
6 sec
·
Northfield Road
17
Continue on SR 8
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Northfield Road
18
Turn right onto SR 8; CR 4
2.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Warrensville Center Road
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto Silsby Road
301 ft
·
13 sec
·
Silsby Road
20
Arrive at destination
Silsby Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.2 mi from Akron, OH · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.2 miles from Akron, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in University Heights, OH
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into University Heights, OH if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.01 one way
$10.03 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $5.56 | $11.13 |
| premium | $4.91 | $6.24 | $12.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.13 | $14.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.07 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Destination
University Heights, OH
Evening in University Heights on Friday
Local time
8:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 to 18 mph
44% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 4:08AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 3:50AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
50°F
Macedonia, OH
16 mi in
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
17 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
47m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Akron, OH to University Heights, OH covers 32.3 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Akron Expressway, I 271, Northfield Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.2 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 $5.01 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 is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 32.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Mill Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.3 miles (SR 8 / Akron Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles (I 480 / Outerbelt South Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Akron, OH to University Heights, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Cleveland along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 960 ft to 1,075 ft elevation with about 234 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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