The drive from Chatham, OH to Lorain, OH covers 116.8 miles and takes about 2h 33m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 71, Cassell Road, Avon Lake Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.9 miles on I 71.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.13 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
58.4 miles from Chatham, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 116.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Chatham, OH to Lorain, OH covers 116.8 miles and takes about 2h 33m, 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 37 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 34.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 19.1 miles in near SR 13 / East Chestnut Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 116.8 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.1 miles (SR 13 / East Chestnut Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles (SR 13 / North Sandusky Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
19.1 mi into trip|~33m in|SR 13 / East Chestnut Street
Turn left onto SR 13 / East Chestnut Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
19.4 mi into trip|~34m in|SR 13 / North Sandusky Street
Turn right onto SR 13 / North Sandusky Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
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
77.2 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward SR 83: Lodi, Wooster
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 204
Toward SR 83: Lodi, Wooster
6
77.5 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|SR 83 / Avon Lake Road
Turn left onto SR 83 / Avon Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left 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 Chatham, OH to Lorain, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Wooster along the way.
Wooster
77.2 mi in|~1h 39m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
34.9 mi
37m
Cassell Road
16 mi
18m
Avon Lake Road
13.3 mi
15m
Newark Road
10.1 mi
15m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Parkway
6.6 mi
9m
Mount Vernon Road
5.7 mi
8m
Riverside Drive
5.3 mi
7m
Avon Belden Road
4.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 34.9 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chatham, OH and Lorain, 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
35 mi·37 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
Exit 204Toward SR 83: Lodi, WoosterUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto SR 83
2.1 mi·3 min·Avon Lake Road
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on SR 83
0.9 mi·1 min·Wooster Street
18
Continue on SR 83
0.5 mi·1 min·Elyria Street
19
Continue on SR 83
8.9 mi·10 min·Avon Lake Road
20
Enter roundabout onto SR 83
524 ft·8 sec·Avon Lake Road
21
Continue on SR 83
2.2 mi·2 min·Avon Lake Road
22
Continue on SR 83
2.5 mi·2 min·Avon Belden Road
23
Enter roundabout onto SR 83; SR 303
78 ft·1 sec·Avon Belden Road
24
Continue on SR 83; SR 303
229 ft·3 sec·Avon Belden Road
25
Enter roundabout onto SR 57; SR 83
139 ft·1 sec·Avon Belden Road
26
Continue on SR 57; SR 83
1.5 mi·1 min·Avon Belden Road
27
Turn left onto SR 57
1.6 mi·1 min·Grafton Road
28
Continue on SR 57
2.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Continue on SR 57
2.3 mi·2 min·Grafton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Continue on SR 57
6.6 mi·9 min·John F. Kennedy Memorial Parkway
Use the left lane.
31
Turn right onto SR 57
2.9 mi·4 min·Lorain Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
32
Continue on SR 57
1.5 mi·2 min·Grove Avenue
33
Turn left onto SR 57
2.3 mi·3 min·East 28th Street
34
Turn right onto SR 57
0.5 mi·47 sec·Broadway
35
Turn left onto SR 611
0.8 mi·1 min·West 21st Street
36
Turn right onto Hamilton Avenue
0.1 mi·31 sec·Hamilton Avenue
37
Arrive at destination
Hamilton Avenue
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.4 miles from Chatham, OH, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.9 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 26 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.4 miles or 1h 19m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lorain, 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 116.8 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Chatham, 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 34.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.4 mi from Chatham, OH
· 1h 19m 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...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 92.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.13 one way
$36.25 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$20.12
$40.24
premium
$4.91
$22.57
$45.15
diesel
$5.61
$25.79
$51.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35
0
$12.26
$5.61
Efficient EV
29.2
0
$10.22
$4.67
EV Truck/SUV
46.7
0
$16.35
$7.48
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
10:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lorain, OH
Night
in Lorain on Friday
Local time
10:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Mansfield, OH
58 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
2h 33m 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 Lorain, OH covers 116.8 miles and takes about 2h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 71, Cassell Road, Avon Lake Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.4 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 $18.13 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 116.8 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.1 miles (SR 13 / East Chestnut Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles (SR 13 / North Sandusky Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Chatham, OH to Lorain, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Wooster along the way.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
