Origin
West Lafayette, OH
Late night in West Lafayette on Saturday
Local time
12:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Lafayette, OH to Akron, OH
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
74.9 mi
121 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Lafayette, OH
Choco Kitty
Trip Overview
The drive from West Lafayette, OH to Akron, OH covers 74.9 miles and takes about 1h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 77, US 36, Kirk Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60.8 miles on I 77. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.62 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 74.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 29m highway drive covering 74.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 77 and US 36. The longest continuous stretch is about 60.8 miles on I 77.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 77 is the longest continuous segment at about 60.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and US 36. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 12.5 miles in near I 77.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 29m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.5 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.5 miles (Fountain Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
12.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 77
Merge onto I 77
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
73.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1A
Toward Carroll Street, Buchtel Avenue
4
73.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
Fountain Street
Turn straight onto Fountain Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
4
73.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
SR 18 / East Market Street
Turn left onto SR 18 / East Market Street
Navigation decision point
5
74.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
South Main Street
Enter roundabout onto South Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 77 | 60.8 mi | 1h 8m |
| US 36 | 10.8 mi | 13m |
| Kirk Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East Mill Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Fountain Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Forge Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Market Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 77
— 60.8 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Lafayette, OH and Akron, OH.
1
Start on SR 93
52 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn right onto Kirk Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Kirk Street
3
Turn right onto US 36
11 mi
·
13 min
·
US 36
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
5
Merge onto I 77
61 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 1A
Toward Carroll Street, Buchtel Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn straight onto Fountain Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Fountain Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
Continue on Fountain Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Fountain Street
9
Turn left onto SR 18
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Market Street
10
Turn left onto South Forge Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
South Forge Street
11
Continue on East Mill Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Mill Street
12
Enter roundabout onto South Main Street
162 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Main Street
13
Continue on South Main Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
South Main Street
14
Turn right onto West Bowery Street
72 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Bowery Street
15
Arrive at destination
West Bowery Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.4 mi from West Lafayette, OH · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.4 miles from West Lafayette, 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 60.8 miles.
Arriving in Akron, OH
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.62 one way
$23.25 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $12.90 | $25.80 |
| premium | $4.91 | $14.48 | $28.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.54 | $33.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.86 | $3.60 |
| Efficient EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.55 | $3.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30 | 0 | $10.49 | $4.79 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Akron, OH
Late night in Akron on Saturday
Local time
12:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
10 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 29m 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 West Lafayette, OH to Akron, OH covers 74.9 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 77, US 36, Kirk Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.4 miles from West Lafayette, OH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.62 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 is a straightforward 1h 29m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.5 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.5 miles (Fountain Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from West Lafayette, OH to Akron, OH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
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