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Trip from University Heights, OH to Lorain, OH

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

58m

Distance

36.4 mi

59 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 54m ★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States

University Heights, OH

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lorain, OH, OH

Lorain, OH

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from University Heights, OH to Lorain, OH covers 36.4 miles and takes about 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Warrensville Center Road, Fairmount Circle, Fairmount Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.65 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

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

18.2 miles from University Heights, OH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 58m drive with frequent turns across 36.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Warrensville Center Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from University Heights, OH to Lorain, OH is easy. At 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from University Heights, OH to Lorain, OH is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Warrensville Center Road
Fairmount Circle
Fairmount Boulevard
North Woodland Road
Larchmere Boulevard
Woodland Avenue
Opportunity Corridor
Troy Lee James Highway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Warrensville Center Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between University Heights, OH and Lorain, OH.

1

Start on Silsby Road

302 ft · 17 sec · Silsby Road
2

Turn right onto Warrensville Center Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Warrensville Center Road
3

Turn right onto Fairmount Circle

167 ft · 6 sec · Fairmount Circle
4

Continue on Fairmount Boulevard

1.8 mi · 4 min · Fairmount Boulevard
5

Turn slight left onto North Woodland Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Woodland Road
6

Turn slight left onto Larchmere Boulevard

1.2 mi · 3 min · Larchmere Boulevard
7

Continue on Woodland Avenue

1.1 mi · 2 min · Woodland Avenue
8

Turn left onto Opportunity Corridor

1.5 mi · 3 min · Opportunity Corridor
9

Continue on Troy Lee James Highway

2.7 mi · 3 min · Troy Lee James Highway
10

Merge slight right onto Northwest Freeway

19 mi · 22 min · Northwest Freeway
11

Take the exit slight right toward SR 611: Avon, Sheffield Village

0.2 mi · 34 sec · SR 611: Avon, Sheffield Village
12

Turn right onto Colorado Avenue

5.5 mi · 9 min · Colorado Avenue
13

Turn left onto Henderson Drive

1.2 mi · 2 min · Henderson Drive
14

Continue on West 21st Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · West 21st Street
15

Turn right onto Hamilton Avenue

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Hamilton Avenue
16

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 18.2 miles from University Heights, OH, or about 29m into the drive.

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 36 miles or 58m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 18.2 miles or 29m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 49m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lorain, OH than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving University Heights, OH.

Day 1

Settle into the route from University Heights, OH

This is one driving day of about 36.4 miles and 58m.

At 36.4 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18.2 mi from University Heights, OH · 29m into the drive

city in and county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cleveland, OH

18 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.

Popular next leg

Cleveland, OH to Lorain, OH

29 mi · 43m

Pacing Suggestions

Amherst, OH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cleveland, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.2 miles from University Heights, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lorain, OH

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Lorain, OH if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.65 one way

$11.30 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.38 $6.27 $12.54
premium $4.91 $7.03 $14.07
diesel $5.61 $8.04 $16.07

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.9 0 $3.82 $1.75
Efficient EV 9.1 0 $3.18 $1.46
EV Truck/SUV 14.6 0 $5.10 $2.33

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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

University Heights, OH

Late night in University Heights on Thursday

Local time

12:00 AM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lorain, OH

Late night in Lorain on Thursday

Local time

12:00 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

9 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

58m 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 University Heights, OH to Lorain, OH covers 36.4 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Warrensville Center Road, Fairmount Circle, Fairmount Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.2 miles from University Heights, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.65 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.
The drive from University Heights, OH to Lorain, OH is easy. At 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from University Heights, OH to Lorain, OH is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from University Heights, OH to Lorain, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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