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
3h 33m
Distance
185.9 mi
299 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rutland, OH
Joel Zar
The drive from Rutland, OH to Akron, OH covers 185.9 miles and takes about 3h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 77, SR 7, US 50 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 136.8 miles on I 77. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.85 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
93 miles from Rutland, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 185.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 3h 33m highway drive covering 185.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 77 and SR 7. The longest continuous stretch is about 136.8 miles on I 77.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and SR 7. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.4 miles in near SR 7.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 185.9 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 10.4 miles (SR 7): Lane positioning matters here; at 36 miles (US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.2 miles (US 50): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto SR 7
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 50 toward US 50, SR 339: Parkersburg, Beverly
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50 toward US 50 East: Parkersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 77; WV 2
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Carroll Street, Buchtel Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Rutland, OH to Akron, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Beverly along the way.
Beverly
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 77 | 136.8 mi | 2h 30m |
| SR 7 | 31.8 mi | 38m |
| US 50 | 6.7 mi | 8m |
| Corridor D | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| OH State Route 124 | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Mill Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Fountain Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Rutland, OH and Akron, OH.
Start on SR 124
Continue on SR 124
At end of road, turn left onto SR 7; SR 124
Take the exit onto SR 7
Turn left onto SR 7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50; SR 7; SR 32
Take the exit onto US 50
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50
Turn left
Merge onto I 77; WV 2
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Fountain Street
Continue on Fountain Street
Turn left onto SR 18
Turn left onto South Forge Street
Continue on East Mill Street
Enter roundabout onto South Main Street
Continue on South Main Street
Turn right onto West Bowery Street
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 41 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93 miles or 1h 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 2h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Akron, OH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Rutland, 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 Rutland, OH
This is one driving day of about 185.9 miles and 3h 33m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 93 mi from Rutland, OH · 1h 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 93 miles from Rutland, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 136.8 miles.
The final approach into Akron, 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 Akron, 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$28.85 one way
$57.70 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $32.02 | $64.04 |
| premium | $4.91 | $35.93 | $71.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.04 | $82.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.8 | 0 | $19.52 | $8.92 |
| Efficient EV | 46.5 | 0 | $16.27 | $7.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.4 | 0 | $26.03 | $11.90 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 Rutland on Friday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Akron on Friday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
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.
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