Origin
Prospect, OH
Afternoon in Prospect on Saturday
Local time
4:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Prospect, OH to Youngstown, OH
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 59m
Distance
243.8 mi
392 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 46m
★
6 AM
4h 59m
8 AM
5h 26m
10 AM
5h 8m
12 PM
5h 6m
3 PM
5h 10m
5 PM
5h 25m
8 PM
4h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Prospect, OH
César O'neill
Trip Overview
The drive from Prospect, OH to Youngstown, OH covers 243.8 miles and takes about 4h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 71, I 76, South High Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 101.8 miles on I 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.84 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 Prospect, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 101.8 mi | 1h 51m |
| I 76 | 57.6 mi | 1h 6m |
| South High Street | 25.9 mi | 38m |
| State Route 3 | 12.2 mi | 18m |
| South Freeway | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| West Columbus Street | 9 mi | 12m |
| I 680 | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| State Route 73 | 4.4 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 101.8 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prospect, OH and Youngstown, OH.
1
Start on C-51
29 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Prospect Road
2
Turn right onto SR 73
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 73
3
Continue on SR 73
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Belfast Pike
4
Turn left onto SR 73
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Muntz Street
5
Turn right onto US 62; SR 73
26 mi
·
38 min
·
South High Street
6
Continue on US 22; US 62; SR 3; SR 41
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Court Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 62; SR 3
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Columbus Avenue
8
Continue on US 62; SR 3
12 mi
·
18 min
·
State Route 3
9
Continue on US 62; SR 3
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Columbus-Washington C H Road
10
Continue on US 62; SR 3
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
West Columbus Street
11
Continue on US 62; SR 3
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Harrisburg Pike
12
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto I 71
11 mi
·
13 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto I 71
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 71
Toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeling
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 70; I 71
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Innerbelt
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 71
Exit 101A
Toward I 71 North: Cleveland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71
100 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
·
I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 209A-B
Toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 209A
Toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi
·
20 min
·
I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 76
Toward I 76 East: Akron
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76; I 77
39 mi
·
43 min
·
I 76; I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 80
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 80
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
I 680
Toward I 680: Youngstown
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
27
Turn sharp left onto Market Street
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Market Street
28
Keep slight right at fork onto Central Square
124 ft
·
2 sec
·
Central Square
29
Arrive at destination
Central Square
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 Prospect, OH, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.8 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 54 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.9 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 7m
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 Prospect, 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 Prospect, OH
This is one driving day of about 243.8 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Prospect, 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 101.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 121.9 miles from Prospect, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 57.5 and 172.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
57.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the ramp toward I 71 North: Columbus
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
7
69.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
I 71
Take the exit onto I 71 toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeling
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeli...
8
71 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
|
I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71 toward I 71 North: Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 101A
Toward I 71 North: Cleveland
8
172.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 34m 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
172.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 34m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.84 one way
$75.67 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $41.99 | $83.99 |
| premium | $4.91 | $47.12 | $94.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.83 | $107.66 |
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 | 73.1 | 0 | $25.60 | $11.70 |
| Efficient EV | 61 | 0 | $21.33 | $9.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.5 | 1 | $34.13 | $15.60 |
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.
Destination
Youngstown, OH
Afternoon in Youngstown on Saturday
Local time
4:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 59m 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.
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 193.3
Caution: Vehicle Break-in and Theft Warning
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Nearly 2000 years ago, Native Americans built dozens of monumental mounds and earthen enclosures in southern Ohio. These earthwork complexes were ceremonial landscapes used for feasts, funerals, ritua...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 25.2
View on nps.gov
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...
27 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 25.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
243.8 mi in 4h 59m, mostly highway — 101.8 mi of that is on I 71.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.8 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and I 76. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 57.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 243.8 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 57.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 69.3 miles (I 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,281 ft
714 ft
Total Climb
672 ft
Total Descent
861 ft
Highest Point
1,281 ft
~121.9 mi in
Elevation Range
567 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Prospect, OH and Youngstown, OH, road signs point toward Wheeling and Akron.
Wheeling
69.3 mi in
|
~1h 41m
|
via I 71
Akron
172.4 mi in
|
~3h 34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 59m. Total distance: 243.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.8 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Youngstown, OH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 57.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 69.3 miles (I 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Youngstown, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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