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
2h 28m
Distance
113 mi
182 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
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
Chatham, OH
RDNE Stock project
The drive from Parma, OH to Chatham, OH covers 113 miles and takes about 2h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 71, SR 13, Ridge Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50.8 miles on I 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.54 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.5 miles from Parma, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 113 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 2h 28m highway drive covering 113 miles, with most of the trip on I 71 and SR 13. The longest continuous stretch is about 50.8 miles on I 71.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and SR 13. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Snow 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 113 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (Snow Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (SR 3 / Ridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles (I 71): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Snow Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto SR 3 / Ridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 71
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward SR 13: Bellville, Mansfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto SR 13 / West Chestnut Street
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 Chatham, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Mansfield along the way.
Mansfield
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 50.8 mi | 54m |
| SR 13 | 23.3 mi | 28m |
| Ridge Road | 14.8 mi | 24m |
| Newark Road | 10.1 mi | 15m |
| Mount Vernon Road | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| I 271 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| St Joseph Road Northeast | 1.5 mi | 5m |
| North Main Street | 1 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Parma, OH and Chatham, 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
Take the exit
Turn left onto SR 13
Turn left onto SR 13
Turn right onto North Mulberry Street
Turn left onto SR 13
Turn right onto SR 13
Continue on SR 13
Continue on SR 13
Continue on SR 13
Turn right onto St Joseph Road Northeast
At end of road, turn right onto SR 657
Turn right onto Preston Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 25 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.5 miles or 1h 10m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chatham, 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 113 miles and 2h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.5 mi from Parma, OH · 1h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 56.5 miles from Parma, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Chatham, 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 Chatham, OH.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$17.54 one way
$35.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $19.46 | $38.93 |
| premium | $4.91 | $21.84 | $43.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.95 | $49.90 |
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: 39.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.86 | $5.42 |
| Efficient EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.89 | $4.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.82 | $7.23 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Parma on Friday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Chatham on Friday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
68°F
Mansfield, OH
57 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
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
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.
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 Chatham, OH.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse OH road trips.