The drive from Chatham, OH to Akron, OH covers 106.6 miles and takes about 2h 16m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 71, I 76, Cassell Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40.2 miles on I 71.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.54 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
53.3 miles from Chatham, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 106.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Chatham, OH to Akron, OH covers 106.6 miles and takes about 2h 16m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 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 40.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 42.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 106.6 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 42.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 82.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
42.1 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Turn left toward I 71 North: Cleveland
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 169
Toward I 71 North: Cleveland
8
82.6 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
82.8 mi into trip|~1h 46m 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
7
102.8 mi into trip|~2h 10m 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
8
104 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|SR 59 / Innerbelt
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59 / Innerbelt toward SR 59 East: Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21C
Toward SR 59 East: Downtown
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
40.2 mi
43m
I 76
18.4 mi
22m
Cassell Road
16 mi
18m
Newark Road
10.1 mi
15m
Mount Vernon Road
5.7 mi
8m
Riverside Drive
5.3 mi
7m
Innerbelt
2.1 mi
2m
Kenmore Expressway
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 40.2 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chatham, OH and Akron, OH.
1
Start on Preston Road
459 ft·23 sec·Preston Road
2
Turn left onto SR 657
298 ft·11 sec·Marion Road Northeast
3
Turn left onto St Joseph Road Northeast
1.5 mi·5 min·St Joseph Road Northeast
4
At end of road, turn left onto SR 13
5.7 mi·8 min·Mount Vernon Road
5
Continue on SR 13
1.0 mi·2 min·South Main Street
6
Continue on SR 13
10 mi·15 min·Newark Road
7
Continue on SR 13
0.3 mi·19 sec·South Main Street
8
Turn right onto SR 13
0.4 mi·42 sec·SR 13
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto SR 13
0.3 mi·53 sec·East Chestnut Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto SR 13
1.4 mi·1 min·North Sandusky Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on SR 13
16 mi·18 min·Cassell Road
12
Continue on SR 13; SR 97
5.3 mi·7 min·Riverside Drive
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 169Toward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the left lane.
14
Merge onto I 71
40 mi·43 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 209A-BToward I 76, US 224: Lodi, AkronUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 209AToward I 76, US 224 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi·20 min·I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.2 mi·1 min·I 76
Toward I 76 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59
2.1 mi·2 min·Innerbelt
Exit 21CToward SR 59 East: DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on SR 59
406 ft·13 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
22
Turn right onto West Center Street
459 ft·19 sec·West Center Street
23
Turn left onto West Bowery Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·West Bowery Street
24
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 53.3 miles from Chatham, OH, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.2 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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.3 miles or 1h 14m 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 51m
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 Chatham, 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 Chatham, OH
This is one driving day of about 106.6 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Chatham, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 71 for about 40.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.3 mi from Chatham, OH
· 1h 14m 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 106.6
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32
0
$11.19
$5.12
Efficient EV
26.7
0
$9.33
$4.26
EV Truck/SUV
42.6
0
$14.92
$6.82
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
Chatham, OH
Night
in Chatham on Friday
Local time
11:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Akron, OH
Night
in Akron on Friday
Local time
11:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Mansfield, OH
53 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
10 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
2h 16m 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 Chatham, OH to Akron, OH covers 106.6 miles and takes about 2h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 71, I 76, Cassell Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53.3 miles from Chatham, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.54 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 demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 106.6 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 42.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 82.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Chatham, OH to Akron, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
