How far is Clayton, OH from Lorain, OH?

The driving distance from Clayton, OH to Lorain, OH is about 246.3 miles (396.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 203.1 miles (326.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 02m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
246.29 mi
04h 31m
Flight
203.13 mi
326.9 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clayton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
203.13 mi
Kilometers
326.9 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
246.29 mi
Kilometers
396.37 km
Drive Time
04h 31m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lorain
Thu, May 14, 5:13 AM EDT
Return by in Clayton
Thu, May 14, 9:44 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clayton
2026-05-14T00:42
Arrive Lorain
Thu, May 14, 5:13 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:31 AM to 12:31 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:58 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clayton
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Worthington
OH

City in and county seat of Nobles County, Minnesota, United States

From Clayton
126.3 mi
02h 15m
To Lorain
120 mi
02h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 14 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 mph NW
Destination
63°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 14 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 14 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Clayton and Lorain.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clayton and Lorain.

  1. 1

    Start on Clayton Pike

    1.3 mi · 5 min · Clayton Pike

  2. 2

    Continue on Clayton Pike

    1027 ft · 47 sec · Clayton Pike

  3. 3

    Continue on Clayton Pike

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Clayton Pike

  4. 4

    Turn sharp left

    20.1 mi · 25 min

  5. 5

    Turn right onto James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway

    25.4 mi · 29 min · James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway

  6. 6

    Turn left

    1503 ft · 41 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    22.5 mi · 32 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on US 23 North: Columbus

    34.5 mi · 45 min

  9. 9

    Continue on South High Street

    2.6 mi · 4 min · South High Street

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 270: Columbus, Wheeling

    1391 ft · 26 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 270 West

    1.1 km · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Jack Nicklaus Freeway

    1.3 mi · 1 min · Jack Nicklaus Freeway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 71: Cincinnati, Columbus

    1415 ft · 35 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 71 North: Columbus

    1.2 km · 2 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto South Freeway

    3.6 mi · 4 min · South Freeway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, Wheeling

    2063 ft · 46 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto South Innerbelt

    1.3 mi · 2 min · South Innerbelt

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on I 71 North: Cleveland

    1.6 km · 1 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left

    95 mi · 1 hr 43 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 83: Lodi, Wooster

    1223 ft · 39 sec

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Avon Lake Road

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Avon Lake Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Wooster Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · Wooster Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Elyria Street

    2532 ft · 1 min · Elyria Street

  24. 24

    Continue on Avon Lake Road

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Avon Lake Road

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Avon Lake Road

    160 m · 9 sec · Avon Lake Road

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto Avon Lake Road

    2.2 mi · 2 min · Avon Lake Road

  27. 27

    Continue on Avon Belden Road

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Avon Belden Road

  28. 28

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Avon Belden Road

    24 m · 1 sec · Avon Belden Road

  29. 29

    Exit the roundabout onto Avon Belden Road

    70 m · 3 sec · Avon Belden Road

  30. 30

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Avon Belden Road

    42 m · 2 sec · Avon Belden Road

  31. 31

    Exit the roundabout onto Avon Belden Road

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Avon Belden Road

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Grafton Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Grafton Road

  33. 33

    Continue on Main Street

    2 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  34. 34

    Continue on Grafton Road

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Grafton Road

  35. 35

    Continue on John F. Kennedy Memorial Parkway

    6.6 mi · 9 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Parkway

  36. 36

    Turn right onto Lorain Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Lorain Boulevard

  37. 37

    Continue on Grove Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Grove Avenue

  38. 38

    Turn left onto East 28th Street

    2.3 mi · 4 min · East 28th Street

  39. 39

    Turn right onto Broadway

    2392 ft · 48 sec · Broadway

  40. 40

    Turn left onto West 21st Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · West 21st Street

  41. 41

    Turn right onto Hamilton Avenue

    720 ft · 32 sec · Hamilton Avenue

  42. 42

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Hamilton Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Clayton and Lorain.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
42 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
4 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 71 North
97.1 mi · 39%
James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway
47.9 mi · 19%
US 23 North
34.5 mi · 14%
Avon Lake Road
13.3 mi · 5%
John F. Kennedy Memorial Parkway
6.59 mi · 3%
Avon Belden Road
4.18 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 71 North

Keep slight left

95 mi · 01h 43m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 31m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.2 mi
203.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Worthington
02h 15m from Clayton
Leave By
7:58 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Clayton and Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny near Lorain.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Clayton to Lorain?

The road trip is about 246.3 miles (396.4 km) and usually takes 04h 31m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Worthington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 126.3 miles from Clayton and 120 miles from Lorain.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 203.1 miles (326.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:58 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.20 one way or $64.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 77.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Clayton and Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny near Lorain.

Stop Ideas Near Worthington

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Worthington, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Worthington.

BUS

Columbus, OH

15 mi away
111 East Town Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clayton and Lorain. Straight-line distance: 203.13 mi (326.9 km).

Clayton

#1 Clayton

City in Ohio, United States

Population1,574
Coordinates38.7436800, -83.6754700
Altitude288
CountryUnited States
Lorain

#2 Lorain

The most populous city in Lorain County, Ohio.

Population63,872
Coordinates41.4528200, -82.1823700
Altitude186
CountryUnited States
Start: Clayton Pike (-83.675591, 38.743581)
End: Hamilton Avenue (-82.182237, 41.452819)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 396 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.69 gal
32.9 L · about $32.20
Round trip
$64.39
17.38 gal · 65.8 L
Estimated CO2
77.2 kg one way
Round trip: 154.5 kg / 341 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.71 $32.20 $64.39
Mid-grade $4.24 $36.86 $73.73
Premium $4.79 $41.63 $83.25
Diesel $4.30 $37.40 $74.80

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Ohio · May 14, 2026

There is no time difference between Clayton and Lorain. The current time is 00:42:07.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.