Cleveland to Sunbury is 119 miles and takes about 2 hours 15 minutes via I 71, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Midwest, staying entirely within Ohio. It's a straightforward highway-focused drive, making it a simple option if you're looking for a direct route between these two points. Given its relatively short duration and minimal stops, it’s ideal for a single-day journey without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.5 miles from Cleveland, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 119 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is overwhelmingly a highway experience, with 98% of the drive utilizing major roadways. Expect to spend most of your time on I 71, which forms the backbone of this journey. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 107.4 miles on I 71, offering a consistent pace. The inclusion of the Innerbelt in Cleveland and State Route 61 as you approach Sunbury provides brief transitions before returning to the higher-speed environment of the interstate. It’s a drive built for efficiency rather than winding exploration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 107.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and State Route 61. 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.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 119 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87 / Ontario Street
Turn right onto US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87 / Ontario Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|I 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71 toward I 71 South: Columbus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 170B
Toward I 71 South: Columbus
6
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in|I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
10.4 mi into trip|~14m in|I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
109.3 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward SR 61: Sunbury, Mount Gilead
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 140
Toward SR 61: Sunbury, Mount Gilead
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 Cleveland, OH to Sunbury, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Mount Gilead along the way.
Mount Gilead
109.3 mi in|~2h 1m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
107.4 mi
1h 57m
State Route 61
8.9 mi
12m
Innerbelt
0.6 mi
<1m
Ontario Street
0.5 mi
1m
Columbus Street
0.4 mi
1m
West Roadway
<0.1 mi
<1m
West 3rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
West Superior Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 107.4 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cleveland, OH and Sunbury, OH.
1
Start on Frankfort Avenue
156 ft·12 sec·Frankfort Avenue
2
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
339 ft·16 sec·West 3rd Street
3
Turn left onto US 6; US 20; US 42; SR 3
315 ft·14 sec·West Superior Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 6; US 20
503 ft·23 sec·West Roadway
5
Turn right onto US 422; SR 8; SR 14; SR 43; SR 87
0.5 mi·1 min·Ontario Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn slight right
359 ft·14 sec
Toward I 90 West, SR 10 West
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West
8
Merge onto Innerbelt
0.6 mi·45 sec·Innerbelt
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71
1.2 mi·1 min·I 71
Exit 170BToward I 71 South: ColumbusUse the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
7.3 mi·8 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
99 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 140Toward SR 61: Sunbury, Mount GileadUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto SR 61
4.6 mi·6 min·State Route 61
14
Enter roundabout onto SR 61
271 ft·4 sec·State Route 61
15
Continue on SR 61
4.3 mi·5 min·State Route 61
16
Continue on Columbus Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Columbus Street
17
Turn left onto SR 37
203 ft·2 sec·Cherry Street
18
Arrive at destination
SR 37
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 2-hour 15-minute drive, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Cleveland in the morning or early afternoon will get you to Sunbury with plenty of daylight remaining. With only 119 miles and a highway-focused profile, you likely won't need more than one brief stop for fuel or a quick break, which you can easily fit in along I 71. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Sunbury; while the fuel cost is estimated at $18, it's always wise to top off before heading into less populated areas if needed.
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 59.5 miles from Cleveland, OH, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.4 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.5 miles or 1h 7m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunbury, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 119 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Cleveland, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 71 for about 107.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.5 mi from Cleveland, OH
· 1h 7m 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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 24.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.47 one way
$36.94 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$20.50
$40.99
premium
$4.91
$23.00
$46.00
diesel
$5.61
$26.27
$52.55
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: 41.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.7
0
$12.49
$5.71
Efficient EV
29.8
0
$10.41
$4.76
EV Truck/SUV
47.6
0
$16.66
$7.62
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 17, 2026
Origin
Cleveland, OH
Late night
in Cleveland on Saturday
Local time
12:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
N 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:45AM EDT until April 22 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:45AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Sunbury, OH
Late night
in Sunbury on Saturday
Local time
12:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Ashland, OH
60 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
30 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 15m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cleveland, OH to Sunbury, OH covers 119 miles and takes about 2h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 71, State Route 61, Innerbelt. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.5 miles from Cleveland, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.47 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 14 significant decision points across 119 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 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.
On the drive from Cleveland, OH to Sunbury, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Mount Gilead 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.
