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
3h 9m
Distance
163.6 mi
263 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burton, OH
Osman Arabacı
Columbus, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Planning a trip from Burton, OH, to Columbus, OH? This drive covers 163.6 miles and typically takes around 3 hours and 9 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day excursion. You'll primarily be on highways, with 93% of the route utilizing them. With a projected fuel cost of about $25, it's an economical journey. This route focuses on efficient travel through the Midwest, connecting two points within Ohio. It's a straightforward drive well-suited for a single day of travel without needing an overnight stay.
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
81.8 miles from Burton, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 9m. Total distance: 163.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a highway-focused drive, designed for efficiency. You'll spend most of your time on interstates like I-71 and I-271, along with US-422, accounting for 93% of the total mileage. Expect a consistent pace for much of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 110.2 miles on I-71, offering a good period to settle in. While predominantly highway, the route is structured to get you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and I 271. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near SR 44 / Ravenna Road.
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 18 significant decision points across 163.6 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 2.8 miles (SR 44 / Ravenna Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto SR 44 / Ravenna Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Cochran Road, Harper Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the ramp toward I 271 South, I 480 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 670 East, I 670 West: Airport, Dayton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 670 West: Dayton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 110.2 mi | 1h 59m |
| I 271 | 24.3 mi | 26m |
| US 422 | 12.7 mi | 15m |
| Ravenna Road | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| SR 87 | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Cannon Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Outerbelt East Freeway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Northeast Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Burton, OH and Columbus, OH.
Start on SR 87
Continue on SR 87
Turn left onto SR 44
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 422
Take the exit
Turn right onto Harper Road
Turn left onto Cannon Road
Continue on SR 175
Continue on Rockside Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 480
Merge onto I 271; I 480
Keep slight left at fork onto I 271
Merge onto I 71
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 670
Keep slight left at fork onto Northeast Freeway
Turn straight onto US 23
Turn right onto East State Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
For this 163.6-mile trip, leaving anytime in the morning should work well, given the 3-hour duration. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to pause. Plan for your fuel needs, as the estimated cost is $25. Since this is a relatively short, highway-centric drive, you can easily complete it in a single day. A practical tip: keep an eye on traffic conditions as you approach Columbus, as urban congestion can add time to your final approach, especially on I-71.
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.
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 36 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.8 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbus, OH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Burton, 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 Burton, OH
This is one driving day of about 163.6 miles and 3h 9m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 81.8 mi from Burton, OH · 1h 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 81.8 miles from Burton, 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 110.2 miles.
The final approach into Columbus, 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 Columbus, 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.
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
$25.39 one way
$50.78 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $28.18 | $56.36 |
| premium | $4.91 | $31.62 | $63.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.12 | $72.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.1 | 0 | $17.18 | $7.85 |
| Efficient EV | 40.9 | 0 | $14.31 | $6.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.4 | 0 | $22.90 | $10.47 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Morning in Burton on Friday
Local time
8:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Columbus on Friday
Local time
8:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
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 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.
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