Origin
Cardington, OH
Evening in Cardington on Wednesday
Local time
6:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cardington, OH to Youngstown, OH
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 44m
Distance
139.9 mi
225 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 34m
★
6 AM
2h 45m
8 AM
3h 6m
10 AM
2h 52m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 5m
8 PM
2h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cardington, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Cardington to Youngstown, expect a 140.1-mile journey that takes approximately 2 hours and 18 minutes to complete. This drive stays entirely within the Midwest, traversing the state of Ohio without any highway travel. Given the moderate duration, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Budgeting about $20 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since you won't be relying on high-speed interstates, you can anticipate a more deliberate pace as you navigate through local roads.
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
70 miles from Cardington, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Because the route features zero percent highway travel, you will spend the entire time navigating local streets like North Marion Street, East Main Street, and Gilead Street. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this path offers a technical experience where your longest stretch of straight driving is non-existent on North Marion Street. You should prepare for frequent adjustments and turns rather than long, high-speed cruising. It is a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local geography from start to finish.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 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 57.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and I 76. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 68.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 139.9 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 68.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.9 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
68.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
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 209A-B
Toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
9
68.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209A
Toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
6
86.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
I 76 / Kenmore Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Kenmore Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
88.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
|
I 76
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Akron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Akron
6
90 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
I 76; I 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76; I 77
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cardington, OH and Youngstown, OH, road signs point toward Cleveland and Akron.
Cleveland
10.6 mi in
|
~17m
Akron
68.6 mi in
|
~1h 19m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 57.6 mi | 1h 1m |
| I 76 | 57.6 mi | 1h 6m |
| I 680 | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| Russell Road | 5 mi | 8m |
| I 80 | 4 mi | 4m |
| United States Highway 42 | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| State Route 95 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Kenmore Expressway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 57.6 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cardington, OH and Youngstown, OH.
1
Start on this road
81 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
242 ft
·
23 sec
3
Turn left onto SR 529
152 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Marion Street
4
Turn left onto US 42
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Main Street
5
Turn left onto US 42
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Gilead Street
6
Continue on US 42
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
United States Highway 42
7
Continue on US 42
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
United States Highway 42
8
Turn slight right onto TWP 115
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Russell Road
9
At end of road, turn right onto SR 95
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
State Route 95
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward Cleveland
11
Merge onto I 71
58 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 209A-B
Toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 209A
Toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi
·
20 min
·
I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 76
Toward I 76 East: Akron
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76; I 77
39 mi
·
43 min
·
I 76; I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 80
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 80
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
I 680
Toward I 680: Youngstown
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
21
Turn sharp left onto Market Street
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Market Street
22
Keep slight right at fork onto Central Square
124 ft
·
2 sec
·
Central Square
23
Arrive at destination
Central Square
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 2-hour and 18-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, as the distance is easily manageable in one go. Keep in mind that because you are sticking to local roads, your average speed will be lower than what you might expect on a major highway. Be sure to fuel up before you leave Cardington to keep your $20 budget intact and avoid searching for stations along the secondary roads. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, double-check your GPS navigation settings before heading out to ensure you stay on the intended path through the local turn sequence.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70 miles from Cardington, OH, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.6 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 31 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70 miles or 1h 21m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Youngstown, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cardington, 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 Cardington, OH
This is one driving day of about 139.9 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Cardington, 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 57.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 70 mi from Cardington, OH · 1h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 70 miles from Cardington, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Youngstown, OH
The final approach into Youngstown, 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 Youngstown, OH.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.71 one way
$43.42 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $24.10 | $48.19 |
| premium | $4.91 | $27.04 | $54.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.89 | $61.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42 | 0 | $14.69 | $6.72 |
| Efficient EV | 35 | 0 | $12.24 | $5.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56 | 0 | $19.59 | $8.95 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Youngstown, OH
Evening in Youngstown on Wednesday
Local time
6:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°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
2 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
2h 44m 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 Cardington, OH to Youngstown, OH covers 139.9 miles and takes about 2h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 71, I 76, I 680. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70 miles from Cardington, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.71 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 139.9 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 68.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.9 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Cardington, OH and Youngstown, OH, road signs point toward Cleveland and Akron.
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