The drive from Vernon, OH to Akron, OH covers 227.1 miles and takes about 4h 40m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 71, US 23, US 35 Business 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 $35.25 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
113.5 miles from Vernon, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
101.8 mi
1h 51m
US 23
34.5 mi
44m
US 35 Business
25.3 mi
29m
I 76
18.4 mi
22m
SR 93
15.3 mi
24m
North Jackson Street
12 mi
18m
South Freeway
3.6 mi
4m
South High Street
2.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 101.8 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vernon, OH and Akron, OH.
1
Start on SR 93
15 mi·24 min·SR 93
2
Turn left onto SR 93
12 mi·18 min·North Jackson Street
3
Turn right onto Broadway Street
436 ft·14 sec·Broadway Street
4
Turn left onto US 35 Business
0.3 mi·24 sec·Water Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 35 Business; SR 93
385 ft·6 sec·Bridge Street
6
Continue on US 35 Business; SR 93
0.5 mi·48 sec·Chillicothe Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 35 Business
2.5 mi·3 min·Chillicothe Pike
8
Take the ramp onto US 35 Business
25 mi·29 min·US 35 Business
Toward US 35 West: Chillicothe
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23
34 mi·44 min·US 23
Toward US 23 North: ColumbusUse the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 23
2.6 mi·3 min·South High Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward I 270: Columbus, Wheeling
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 270 WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 270
1.3 mi·1 min·Jack Nicklaus Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 55Toward I 71: Cincinnati, ColumbusUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 71 North: ColumbusUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 71
3.6 mi·4 min·South Freeway
17
Take the exit onto I 71
0.4 mi·45 sec·I 71
Toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, WheelingUse the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 70; I 71
1.3 mi·1 min·South Innerbelt
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
1.0 mi·1 min·I 71
Exit 101AToward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71
100 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 209A-BToward I 76, US 224: Lodi, AkronUse the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 209AToward I 76, US 224 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi·20 min·I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
25
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.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59
2.1 mi·2 min·Innerbelt
Exit 21CToward SR 59 East: DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on SR 59
406 ft·13 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
28
Turn right onto West Center Street
459 ft·19 sec·West Center Street
29
Turn left onto West Bowery Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·West Bowery Street
30
Arrive at destination
West Bowery Street
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 113.5 miles from Vernon, OH, or about 2h 32m 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 50 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.5 miles or 2h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Akron, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Vernon, 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 Vernon, OH
This is one driving day of about 227.1 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Vernon, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 95.5 and 224.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
95.5 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 71: Cincinnati, Columbus
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 55
Toward I 71: Cincinnati, Columbus
8
101.7 mi into trip|~2h 19m 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
203.1 mi into trip|~4h 9m 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
203.3 mi into trip|~4h 10m 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
8
224.6 mi into trip|~4h 36m in|SR 59 / Innerbelt
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59 / Innerbelt toward SR 59 East: Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21C
Toward SR 59 East: Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.25 one way
$70.49 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$39.12
$78.23
premium
$4.91
$43.89
$87.78
diesel
$5.61
$50.14
$100.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.1
0
$23.85
$10.90
Efficient EV
56.8
0
$19.87
$9.08
EV Truck/SUV
90.8
1
$31.79
$14.53
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Vernon, OH
Afternoon
in Vernon on Saturday
Local time
2:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Akron, OH
Afternoon
in Akron on Saturday
Local time
2:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
17 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 40m 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.
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 55.2
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 228.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
227.1 mi in 4h 40m, mostly highway — 101.8 mi of that is on I 71.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 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?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and US 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 95.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 23 significant decision points across 227.1 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 95.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101.7 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Vernon, OH and Akron, OH, road signs point toward Wheeling and Columbus.
Wheeling
93.2 mi in|~2h 7m
Columbus
95.5 mi in|~2h 10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 227.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). 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 Akron, 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 95.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101.7 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Akron, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
