The drive from Caldwell, OH to Akron, OH covers 104 miles and takes about 1h 58m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 77, Marietta Road, East Mill Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 101.1 miles on I 77.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.14 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.
Midpoint
52 miles from Caldwell, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 104 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 1h 58m highway drive covering 104 miles, with most of the trip on I 77 and Marietta Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 101.1 miles on I 77.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 77 is the longest continuous segment at about 101.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and Marietta Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 58m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 77 North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 77 North
5
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|I 77
Merge onto I 77
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
102.4 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward Carroll Street, Buchtel Avenue
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 1A
Toward Carroll Street, Buchtel Avenue
4
102.6 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|Fountain Street
Turn straight onto Fountain Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
103.8 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|South Main Street
Enter roundabout onto South Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 77
101.1 mi
1h 52m
Marietta Road
0.6 mi
1m
East Mill Street
0.5 mi
1m
Fountain Street
0.4 mi
<1m
McConnelsville Road
0.4 mi
<1m
South Forge Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East Market Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 77
— 101.1 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Caldwell, OH and Akron, OH.
1
Start on North Street
56 ft·9 sec·North Street
2
Continue on SR 821
0.2 mi·19 sec·West Street
3
Turn straight onto SR 821
0.6 mi·1 min·Marietta Road
4
Turn right onto SR 78
0.4 mi·40 sec·McConnelsville Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 77 North
6
Merge onto I 77
101 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 1AToward Carroll Street, Buchtel AvenueUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto Fountain Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Fountain Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
9
Continue on Fountain Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Fountain Street
10
Turn left onto SR 18
0.2 mi·23 sec·East Market Street
11
Turn left onto South Forge Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·South Forge Street
12
Continue on East Mill Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Mill Street
13
Enter roundabout onto South Main Street
162 ft·3 sec·South Main Street
14
Continue on South Main Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·South Main Street
15
Turn right onto West Bowery Street
72 ft·1 sec·West Bowery Street
16
Arrive at destination
West Bowery Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52 miles from Caldwell, OH, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.1 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 23 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Akron, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Caldwell, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Caldwell, OH
This is one driving day of about 104 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Caldwell, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 77 for about 101.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52 mi from Caldwell, OH
· 58m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 104
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.2
0
$10.92
$4.99
Efficient EV
26
0
$9.10
$4.16
EV Truck/SUV
41.6
0
$14.56
$6.66
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Caldwell, OH
Morning
in Caldwell on Friday
Local time
8:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Akron, OH
Morning
in Akron on Friday
Local time
8:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Dover, OH
52 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
11 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
1h 58m 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 Caldwell, OH to Akron, OH covers 104 miles and takes about 1h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 77, Marietta Road, East Mill Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52 miles from Caldwell, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.14 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 straightforward 1h 58m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Caldwell, OH to Akron, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
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.
