Trip from Lorain, OH to Dunlap, OH

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

4h 40m

Distance

243.9 mi

392 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 27m ★

6 AM

4h 41m

8 AM

5h 8m

10 AM

4h 50m

12 PM

4h 47m

3 PM

4h 51m

5 PM

5h 6m

8 PM

4h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Lorain, OH

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Dunlap, OH

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Trip Overview

The drive from Lorain, OH to Dunlap, OH covers 243.9 miles and takes about 4h 40m 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, Avon Lake Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 185.7 miles on I 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.85 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

121.9 miles from Lorain, OH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 4h 40m highway drive covering 243.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 71 and Circle Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 185.7 miles on I 71.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 32 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 185.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 22.2 miles in near SR 83 / Avon Belden Road.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 243.9 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 22.2 miles (SR 83 / Avon Belden Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 136 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 225.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

22.2 mi into trip | ~31m in | SR 83 / Avon Belden Road

Enter roundabout onto SR 83 / Avon Belden Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

136 mi into trip | ~2h 38m 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.

225.2 mi into trip | ~4h 16m in

Take the exit toward I 275 West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 17B Toward I 275 West

240.4 mi into trip | ~4h 34m in

Take the exit toward US 27, SR 126: Colerain Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 33 Toward US 27, SR 126: Colerain Avenue

243.3 mi into trip | ~4h 39m in

Take the exit toward Kemper Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward Kemper Road

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 71	185.7 mi	3h 23m
Circle Freeway	14.4 mi	16m
Avon Lake Road	13.1 mi	15m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Parkway	6.6 mi	9m
Avon Belden Road	4.2 mi	4m
Grafton Road	3.8 mi	4m
Lorain Boulevard	2.9 mi	4m
Colerain Avenue	2.6 mi	3m

Longest stretch: I 71 — 185.7 mi, about 3h 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lorain, OH and Dunlap, OH.

Start on Hamilton Avenue

0.1 mi · 37 sec · Hamilton Avenue

Turn left onto SR 611

0.8 mi · 1 min · West 21st Street

Turn right onto SR 57

0.5 mi · 47 sec · Broadway

Turn left onto SR 57

2.3 mi · 3 min · East 28th Street

Turn right onto SR 57

1.5 mi · 2 min · Grove Avenue

Continue on SR 57

2.9 mi · 4 min · Lorain Boulevard

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto SR 57; SR 113

6.6 mi · 9 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Parkway

Use the left lane.

Continue on SR 57

2.3 mi · 2 min · Grafton Road

Use the straight lane.

Continue on SR 57

2.0 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on SR 57

1.5 mi · 1 min · Grafton Road

Turn right onto SR 57; SR 83

1.5 mi · 1 min · Avon Belden Road

Enter roundabout onto SR 83; SR 303

86 ft · 1 sec · Avon Belden Road

Continue on SR 83; SR 303

231 ft · 3 sec · Avon Belden Road

Enter roundabout onto SR 83

129 ft · 1 sec · Avon Belden Road

Continue on SR 83

2.5 mi · 2 min · Avon Belden Road

Continue on SR 83

2.2 mi · 2 min · Avon Lake Road

Enter roundabout onto SR 83

392 ft · 6 sec · Avon Lake Road

Continue on SR 83

8.9 mi · 10 min · Avon Lake Road

Continue on SR 83

0.5 mi · 1 min · Elyria Street

Continue on SR 83

0.9 mi · 1 min · Wooster Street

Continue on SR 83

2.0 mi · 2 min · Avon Lake Road

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 71 South: Columbus

Merge onto I 71

96 mi · 1 hr 45 min · I 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 71

89 mi · 1 hr 38 min · I 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min

Exit 17B Toward I 275 West Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 275

14 mi · 16 min · Circle Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Exit 33 Toward US 27, SR 126: Colerain Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto US 27; SR 126

2.6 mi · 3 min · Colerain Avenue

Use the right lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward Kemper Road Use the right lane.

Turn left onto West Kemper Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · West Kemper Road

At end of road, turn right onto Colerain Avenue

40 ft · 0 sec · Colerain Avenue

Arrive at destination

Colerain Avenue

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 121.9 miles from Lorain, OH, or about 2h 23m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185.7 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 121.9 miles or 2h 23m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 48m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dunlap, OH than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Lorain, 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 Lorain, OH

This is one driving day of about 243.9 miles and 4h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lorain, 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 185.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 121.9 mi from Lorain, OH · 2h 23m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mansfield, OH

122 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

Mansfield, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Columbus, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 121.9 miles from Lorain, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 185.7 miles.

Arriving in Dunlap, OH

The final approach into Dunlap, 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 Dunlap, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument

National Monument

Throughout his life, Charles Young overcame countless obstacles in his ascent to prominence. In spite of overt racism and stifling inequality, Young rose through the military ranks to become one of th...

14 mi from route ~34 min detour Free near mile 193.4

View on nps.gov

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established to honor the lives and achievements of poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar and aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Through p...

23 mi from route ~58 min detour Free near mile 193.4

View on nps.gov

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 25.2

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.85 one way

$75.71 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 85 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.38	$42.01	$84.02
premium	$4.91	$47.14	$94.28
diesel	$5.61	$53.85	$107.70

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 85.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	73.2	0	$25.61	$11.71
Efficient EV	61	0	$21.34	$9.76
EV Truck/SUV	97.6	1	$34.15	$15.61

Gas CO2

85 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (66% 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Lorain, OH

Night in Lorain on Tuesday

Local time

9:56 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 12 mph 76% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 7:46PM EDT until April 14 at 8:30PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 7:45PM EDT until April 14 at 8:45PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Destination

Dunlap, OH

Night in Dunlap on Tuesday

Local time

9:56 PM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 13 mph 19% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 7:46PM EDT until April 14 at 8:30PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 7:45PM EDT until April 14 at 8:45PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

54°F

Mansfield, OH

122 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

7 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

4h 40m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Lorain, OH to Dunlap, OH covers 243.9 miles and takes about 4h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 71, Circle Freeway, Avon Lake Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 121.9 miles from Lorain, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.85 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.