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Create accountDrive Time
5h 7m
Distance
266.1 mi
428 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cleveland, OH
Jay Brand
The drive from Cleveland, OH to Laurel, OH covers 266.1 miles and takes about 5h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 71, Circle Freeway, Ohio Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 230.5 miles on I 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.80 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
133 miles from Cleveland, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
This is a 5h 7m highway drive covering 266.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 71 and Circle Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 230.5 miles on I 71.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Circle Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87 / Ontario Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 266.1 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 0.2 miles (US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87 / Ontario Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87 / Ontario Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71 toward I 71 South: Columbus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 275 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward SR 125: Beechmont Avenue, Amelia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
On the drive from Cleveland, OH to Laurel, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Amelia along the way.
Amelia
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 230.5 mi | 4h 13m |
| Circle Freeway | 16.3 mi | 18m |
| Ohio Pike | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| State Route 222 | 4 mi | 7m |
| East Ohio Pike | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| West Main Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| SR 232 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| State Route 125 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cleveland, OH and Laurel, OH.
Start on Frankfort Avenue
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
Turn left onto West Superior Avenue
Turn right onto West Roadway
Turn right onto Ontario Street
Turn slight right onto I 90 West, SR 10 West
Take the ramp straight toward I 90 West
Merge slight left onto Innerbelt
Keep slight left to continue on I 71 South: Columbus
Keep slight right
Keep slight right
Keep slight right
Take the exit slight right toward I 275 East
Merge slight left onto Circle Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward SR 125: Beechmont Avenue, Amelia
Turn left onto Ohio Pike
Continue on West Main Street
Continue on East Ohio Pike
Continue on State Route 125
Turn right onto State Route 222
Turn right onto Laurel Nicholsville Road
At the end of the road, turn right
Turn right
Arrive at your destination
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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laurel, OH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, OH
This is one driving day of about 266.1 miles and 5h 7m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 133 mi from Cleveland, OH · 2h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
133 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 133 miles from Cleveland, 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 230.5 miles.
The final approach into Laurel, 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 Laurel, 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.
Regular Gas
$39.80 one way
$79.60 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.24 | $44.44 | $88.88 |
| premium | $4.79 | $50.18 | $100.36 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $59.12 | $118.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.8 | 0 | $27.94 | $12.77 |
| Efficient EV | 66.5 | 0 | $23.28 | $10.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 106.4 | 1 | $37.25 | $17.03 |
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Late night in Cleveland on Monday
Local time
5:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Laurel on Monday
Local time
5:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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