Skip to main content

Trip from Palmyra, OH to Lorain, OH

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 45m

Distance

85.8 mi

138 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 38m ★
6 AM
1h 46m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 51m
12 PM
1h 50m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 1m
8 PM
1h 41m

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

Downtown Palmyra, OH, OH

Palmyra, OH

Engin Akyurt

Downtown Lorain, OH, OH

Lorain, OH

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 78.9-mile drive from Palmyra to Lorain, Ohio, will take approximately 1 hour and 38 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll navigate primarily local roads, indicated by the 0% highway share, so expect a more hands-on driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of just $12, this route is very budget-friendly for its distance. The region remains within the Midwest, offering a consistent feel throughout your journey. This trip is ideal for those who prefer exploring backroads over interstate travel.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

42.9 miles from Palmyra, OH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 85.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive as you make your way from Palmyra to Lorain. With no highway segments, your 78.9-mile journey will consist entirely of Zolman Road, Riverside Drive, and I-71 North, requiring your constant attention. While there's no specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent changes in direction and road type. You'll likely experience a variety of local road conditions and potentially pass through smaller communities along the way.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 28 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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 85.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 11 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 46.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.4 miles (SR 83 / Avon Lake Road): 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.

8
11 mi into trip | ~14m in

Turn left toward I 71 North: Cleveland

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Exit 169 Toward I 71 North: Cleveland
8
46.2 mi into trip | ~52m 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
46.4 mi into trip | ~52m in | SR 83 / Avon Lake Road

Turn left onto SR 83 / Avon Lake Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
58.8 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in | SR 83 / Avon Lake Road

Enter roundabout onto SR 83 / Avon Lake Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

6
63.7 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | SR 57; SR 83 / Avon Belden Road

Enter roundabout onto SR 57; SR 83 / Avon Belden Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

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 Palmyra, OH to Lorain, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Wooster along the way.

Wooster

46.2 mi in | ~52m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 71 34.9 mi 37m
Avon Lake Road 13.3 mi 15m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Parkway 6.6 mi 9m
Zolman Road 5.7 mi 6m
Riverside Drive 5.3 mi 7m
Avon Belden Road 4.2 mi 4m
Grafton Road 3.8 mi 4m
Lorain Boulevard 2.9 mi 4m
Longest stretch: I 71 — 34.9 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Gregg Road

311 ft · 15 sec · Gregg Road
2

Turn right onto SR 13

5.7 mi · 6 min · Zolman Road
3

Continue on SR 13; SR 97

5.3 mi · 7 min · Riverside Drive
Use the left lane.
4

Turn left

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 169 Toward I 71 North: Cleveland Use the left lane.
5

Merge onto I 71

35 mi · 37 min · I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 39 sec
Exit 204 Toward SR 83: Lodi, Wooster Use the slight right lane.
7

Turn left onto SR 83

2.1 mi · 3 min · Avon Lake Road
Use the left lane.
8

Continue on SR 83

0.9 mi · 1 min · Wooster Street
9

Continue on SR 83

0.5 mi · 1 min · Elyria Street
10

Continue on SR 83

8.9 mi · 10 min · Avon Lake Road
11

Enter roundabout onto SR 83

524 ft · 8 sec · Avon Lake Road
12

Continue on SR 83

2.2 mi · 2 min · Avon Lake Road
13

Continue on SR 83

2.5 mi · 2 min · Avon Belden Road
14

Enter roundabout onto SR 83; SR 303

78 ft · 1 sec · Avon Belden Road
15

Continue on SR 83; SR 303

229 ft · 3 sec · Avon Belden Road
16

Enter roundabout onto SR 57; SR 83

139 ft · 1 sec · Avon Belden Road
17

Continue on SR 57; SR 83

1.5 mi · 1 min · Avon Belden Road
18

Turn left onto SR 57

1.6 mi · 1 min · Grafton Road
19

Continue on SR 57

2.0 mi · 2 min · Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Continue on SR 57

2.3 mi · 2 min · Grafton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

Continue on SR 57

6.6 mi · 9 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Parkway
Use the left lane.
22

Turn right onto SR 57

2.9 mi · 4 min · Lorain Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
23

Continue on SR 57

1.5 mi · 2 min · Grove Avenue
24

Turn left onto SR 57

2.3 mi · 3 min · East 28th Street
25

Turn right onto SR 57

0.5 mi · 47 sec · Broadway
26

Turn left onto SR 611

0.8 mi · 1 min · West 21st Street
27

Turn right onto Hamilton Avenue

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Hamilton Avenue
28

Arrive at destination

Hamilton Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the 1 hour and 38-minute duration and the turn-heavy nature of this 78.9-mile route, you have excellent flexibility for departure times. Since the fuel cost is a low $12, you won't need to worry excessively about finding stations, but it's always wise to top off before leaving Palmyra. Keep an eye out for the transitions between Zolman Road, Riverside Drive, and I-71 North, as these will be your primary navigational points. The lack of a longest stretch means you can easily incorporate short breaks as needed, perhaps at any local points of interest you discover.

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 42.9 miles from Palmyra, OH, or about 48m 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 19 miles or 22m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 42.9 miles or 48m 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 25m

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 Palmyra, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Palmyra, OH

This is one driving day of about 85.8 miles and 1h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Palmyra, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 42.9 mi from Palmyra, OH · 48m into the drive

Downtown West Salem, OH, OH

Mid-route town

Meal stop

West Salem, OH

43 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.

Popular next leg

West Salem, OH to Lorain, OH

43.2 mi · 59m

Pacing Suggestions

Mansfield, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West Salem, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.9 miles from Palmyra, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lorain, OH

The final approach into Lorain, OH usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.32 one way

$26.63 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.38 $14.78 $29.56
premium $4.91 $16.58 $33.16
diesel $5.61 $18.94 $37.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.7 0 $9.01 $4.12
Efficient EV 21.5 0 $7.51 $3.43
EV Truck/SUV 34.3 0 $12.01 $5.49

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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 15, 2026

Origin

Palmyra, OH

Morning in Palmyra on Friday

Local time

8:56 AM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lorain, OH

Morning in Lorain on Friday

Local time

8:56 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

West Salem, OH

43 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

1h 45m 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 Palmyra, OH to Lorain, OH covers 85.8 miles and takes about 1h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 71, Avon Lake Road, John F. Kennedy Memorial Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 42.9 miles from Palmyra, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.32 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 11 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 46.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.4 miles (SR 83 / Avon Lake Road): Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from Palmyra, OH to Lorain, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Wooster along the way.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Palmyra, OH or browse trips ending in Lorain, OH.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse OH road trips.