Polk, OH to Youngstown, OH is 93.3 miles and takes about 1h 54m via I 76, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive that stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Ohio. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a relatively short trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Consider this route for its efficiency and ease of navigation, connecting two points in Ohio without significant detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.6 miles from Polk, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 93.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This trip is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 74% of the journey on major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 76, including a longest stretch of 57.6 miles on this interstate. The character of the drive is consistent, offering a direct path with minimal complexity. Expect a smooth, predictable experience as you navigate these well-maintained highways for the majority of your travel time.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 76 is the longest continuous segment at about 57.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 76 and Conneaut-Cincinnati Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.3 miles you will encounter 20 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 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.2 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
21.9 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
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 209A-B
Toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
9
22.1 mi into trip|~29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209A
Toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
6
40.2 mi into trip|~51m in|I 76 / Kenmore Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Kenmore Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
42.1 mi into trip|~53m in|I 76
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Akron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Akron
6
43.3 mi into trip|~55m in|I 76; I 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76; I 77
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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 Polk, OH to Youngstown, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Akron along the way.
Akron
21.9 mi in|~29m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 76
57.6 mi
1h 6m
Conneaut-Cincinnati Highway
10.9 mi
11m
I 680
5.9 mi
8m
County Road 620
4.6 mi
6m
I 80
4 mi
4m
North Main Street
2 mi
2m
Kenmore Expressway
1.9 mi
2m
Ruff Road
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 76
— 57.6 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Polk, OH and Youngstown, OH.
1
Start on West Congress Street
201 ft·14 sec·West Congress Street
2
Turn left onto SR 89
2.0 mi·2 min·North Main Street
3
Turn right onto County Road 620
4.6 mi·6 min·County Road 620
4
Continue on TR 53
0.5 mi·1 min·Wiley Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 42
0.3 mi·21 sec·Rainbow Highway
6
Turn right onto TR 247
237 ft·14 sec·Flemming Road
7
Turn left onto Equity Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Equity Street
8
Turn right onto SR 301
0.1 mi·19 sec·South Main Street
9
Continue on SR 301
1.0 mi·1 min·North Elyria Road
10
Turn left onto CR 102
1.3 mi·1 min·Ruff Road
11
Turn right onto SR 539
0.4 mi·51 sec·Congress Road
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
13
Merge onto I 71
11 mi·11 min·Conneaut-Cincinnati Highway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 209A-BToward I 76, US 224: Lodi, AkronUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 209AToward I 76, US 224 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi·20 min·I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.2 mi·1 min·I 76
Toward I 76 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76; I 77
39 mi·43 min·I 76; I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 80
4.0 mi·4 min·I 80
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
5.9 mi·8 min·I 680
Toward I 680: Youngstown
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
23
Turn sharp left onto Market Street
0.6 mi·59 sec·Market Street
24
Keep slight right at fork onto Central Square
124 ft·2 sec·Central Square
25
Arrive at destination
Central Square
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 54 minutes, this route is easily manageable in a single day. You could depart in the morning or afternoon and still have plenty of daylight remaining. With only 93.3 miles, you won't need to worry about extensive fuel stops, as the estimated cost is only $14. The longest stretch without a major road change is 57.6 miles on I 76, so be prepared for that continuous highway segment. Plan to leave when it suits your schedule, as this is not a drive that requires careful timing for daylight.
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 46.6 miles from Polk, OH, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.6 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.6 miles or 59m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Youngstown, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Polk, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Polk, OH
This is one driving day of about 93.3 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Polk, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 76 for about 57.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.48 one way
$28.96 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$16.07
$32.14
premium
$4.91
$18.03
$36.06
diesel
$5.61
$20.60
$41.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28
0
$9.80
$4.48
Efficient EV
23.3
0
$8.16
$3.73
EV Truck/SUV
37.3
0
$13.06
$5.97
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Polk, OH
Afternoon
in Polk on Saturday
Local time
1:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Youngstown, OH
Afternoon
in Youngstown on Saturday
Local time
1:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
19 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 54m 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 Polk, OH to Youngstown, OH covers 93.3 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 76, Conneaut-Cincinnati Highway, I 680. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.6 miles from Polk, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.48 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 93.3 miles you will encounter 20 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 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.2 miles (I 76 / Kenmore Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Polk, OH to Youngstown, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Akron 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.
