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...
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 46m
Distance
241 mi
388 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Parma, OH
Wikimedia Commons
Auburn, OH
lgg pics
The drive from Parma, OH to Auburn, OH covers 241 miles and takes about 4h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 71, Ridge Road, Butler County Veterans Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 194.9 miles on I 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.40 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
120.5 miles from Parma, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 20m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 46m. Total distance: 241 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 4h 46m highway drive covering 241 miles, with most of the trip on I 71 and Ridge Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 194.9 miles on I 71.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and Ridge Road. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near SR 3 / Ridge Road.
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 241 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 0.6 miles (SR 3 / Ridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 132.4 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto SR 3 / Ridge Road
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 SR 741 North: Kings Mills Road, Mason
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn sharp left onto US 42
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Cox Lane
Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Parma, OH to Auburn, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Mason along the way.
Mason
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 194.9 mi | 3h 32m |
| Ridge Road | 14.8 mi | 24m |
| Butler County Veterans Highway | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| Millville Avenue | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| I 271 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Hamilton Scipio Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| High Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| Kings Mills Road | 2 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Parma, OH and Auburn, OH.
Start on West 54th Street
Turn left onto Snow Road
Turn left onto SR 3
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 271
Merge onto I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
Take the exit
Turn right onto SR 741
Turn sharp left onto US 42
Continue on US 42
Turn right onto West Main Street
Turn right onto Mason Road
Enter roundabout onto Mason Road
Continue on Mason Road
Enter roundabout onto Mason Road
Continue on Mason Road
Continue on Liberty Way
Turn right onto Cox Lane
Enter roundabout onto Veterans Boulevard
Continue on Veterans Boulevard
Continue on Butler County Veterans Highway
Continue on SR 129
Continue on SR 129; SR 177
Turn left onto SR 129
Turn left onto US 27; SR 129
Turn right onto SR 129
Continue on SR 129
Arrive at 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 53 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.5 miles or 2h 20m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, OH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Parma, 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 Parma, OH
This is one driving day of about 241 miles and 4h 46m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 120.5 mi from Parma, OH · 2h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 120.5 miles from Parma, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Auburn, 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 Auburn, 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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$37.40 one way
$74.80 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $41.51 | $83.02 |
| premium | $4.91 | $46.58 | $93.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.21 | $106.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.3 | 0 | $25.30 | $11.57 |
| Efficient EV | 60.3 | 0 | $21.09 | $9.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.4 | 1 | $33.74 | $15.42 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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
Morning in Parma on Friday
Local time
8:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Auburn on Friday
Local time
8:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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.
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. National park proximity is from the NPS API. 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
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Parma, OH or browse trips ending in Auburn, OH.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse OH road trips.