Cuyahoga Valley National Park to Canton
Waterfalls and sandstone ledges in Ohio’s national park, a Gilded Age mansion in Akron and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.
- Distance
- 114 km (71 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 16 min
- Suggested days
- 2
- Stops
- 8
- States
- OH
- Updated
- June 29, 2026
At a glance: 2-day road trip of about 114 km (71 mi) with 8 stops, from Cleveland to Canton. About 1 h 16 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Ohio · More road trips from Cleveland
Route description
Cuyahoga Valley National Park lies between Cleveland and Akron, about 30 minutes south of downtown Cleveland via I-77 or I-271. There is no entrance fee, and the park is open all year. Start at Brandywine Falls, where a boardwalk leads to a view of the falls; the parking lot fills on weekends. Nearby Brandywine Road is narrow and hilly.
The Boston Mill Visitor Center is the park’s main information center, next to the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. The trail is a flat path for walking and cycling along the old canal, and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad runs along the valley with a special bike-aboard fare. The park has no drive-in campgrounds, but there are some in the area around it.
South of Peninsula, the Ledges area has trails around sandstone cliffs and an overlook that is popular at sunset. Continue south to Akron, once the rubber capital of the world, and visit Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, the mansion of the founder of the Goodyear tire company. The house and gardens are open from spring to December.
Canton is about 30 minutes south of Akron on I-77. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is next to the interstate, and the enshrinement festival takes place in early August, when the city is very busy. Canton also has the First Ladies National Historic Site downtown. Roads in the national park can be narrow and busy, but the main routes are fine for RVs.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Cleveland
OH - 234 km
Brandywine Falls
NatureSagamore Hills, OHA 20 m waterfall over sandstone and shale in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, seen from a boardwalk a short walk from the parking lot. Arrive early on weekends.
- 33 km
Boston Mill Visitor Center
HistoryPeninsula, OHThe main visitor center of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, in the historic village of Boston, on the Towpath Trail along the Ohio & Erie Canal. Get maps and trail status here.
- 47 km
Ritchie Ledges
NaturePeninsula, OHSandstone cliffs of Sharon Conglomerate with cracks and caves, circled by a 3 km trail. The Ledges Overlook faces west and is a popular spot for sunset.
- 519 km
Akron
OH - 66 km
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
HistoryAkron, OHThe Tudor Revival mansion of Goodyear founder F. A. Seiberling, from 1915, with gardens by Warren Manning. In 1935 the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous first met in its gate lodge.
- 742 km
Pro Football Hall of Fame
HistoryCanton, OHThe museum of American professional football in the city where the NFL was founded in 1920, with the bronze busts of every inductee. Right off I-77; allow two to three hours.
- 84 km
Canton
OH
Suggested stages and overnight stops
2 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Cleveland → Akron · 39 mi · 0 h 42 minOn the way: Brandywine Falls, Boston Mill Visitor Center, Ritchie Ledges.Overnight nearby, for example: Stow Silver Springs Campground (10 mi); Nimisila Reservoir Metro Park Campground (10 mi).
- Day 2: Akron → Canton · 32 mi · 0 h 34 minOn the way: Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Pro Football Hall of Fame.Overnight nearby, for example: Camp Tuscazoar (16 mi); Nimisila Reservoir Metro Park Campground (12 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Cuyahoga Valley National Park to Canton?
2-day road trip of about 114 km (71 mi) with 8 stops, from Cleveland to Canton. About 1 h 16 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Cuyahoga Valley National Park to Canton?
We suggest 2 days: about 1 h 16 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Cuyahoga Valley National Park to Canton start and end?
It starts in Cleveland and ends in Canton.
Which states does Cuyahoga Valley National Park to Canton pass through?
Ohio.
Where can you camp along Cuyahoga Valley National Park to Canton?
OpenStreetMap lists 35 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Stow Silver Springs Campground, Camp Tuscazoar and Roundup Lake Campground.
When is the best time for Cuyahoga Valley National Park to Canton?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
