How far is Waterford, OH from Lorain, OH?

The driving distance from Waterford, OH to Lorain, OH is about 183.1 miles (294.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 135 miles (217.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 21m 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
183.13 mi
03h 10m
Flight
135.05 mi
217.34 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waterford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
135.05 mi
Kilometers
217.34 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
183.13 mi
Kilometers
294.72 km
Drive Time
03h 10m

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 03h 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lorain
Sun, Apr 19, 2:09 AM EDT
Return by in Waterford
Sun, Apr 19, 5:20 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterford
2026-04-18T22:58
Arrive Lorain
Sun, Apr 19, 2:09 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:11 AM to 11:11 AM EDT

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

Leave by
10:38 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waterford
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
Parral
OH

Village in the United States

From Waterford
84.5 mi
01h 35m
To Lorain
98.6 mi
01h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph SW
Destination
76°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 16 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    73 m · 19 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Main Street

    55 m · 13 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Sunset Lane

    65 m · 13 sec · Sunset Lane

  4. 4

    Turn right

    1838 ft · 43 sec

  5. 5

    Turn right onto 5th Street

    953 ft · 24 sec · 5th Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Center Street

    553 ft · 13 sec · Center Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto 7th Street

    138 m · 9 sec · 7th Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Mitchell Avenue

    13.8 mi · 24 min · Mitchell Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn right

    1.5 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Sherman Hollow

    68 m · 5 sec · Sherman Hollow

  11. 11

    Take the ramp right

    1475 ft · 36 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    70.6 mi · 1 hr 16 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 250: Strasburg, Massillon

    1543 ft · 42 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto South Wooster Avenue

    3.2 mi · 4 min · South Wooster Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left

    22.1 mi · 25 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right

    5.7 mi · 6 min

  17. 17

    Continue on Burbank Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Burbank Road

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Burbank Road

    35 m · 1 sec · Burbank Road

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto Burbank Road

    848 ft · 12 sec · Burbank Road

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    37 m · 2 sec

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout

    77 m · 3 sec

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto Burbank Road

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Burbank Road

  23. 23

    Continue on N Front Street

    2168 ft · 30 sec · N Front Street

  24. 24

    Continue on Avon Lake Road

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Avon Lake Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Wooster Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · Wooster Street

  26. 26

    Continue on Elyria Street

    2532 ft · 1 min · Elyria Street

  27. 27

    Continue on Avon Lake Road

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Avon Lake Road

  28. 28

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Avon Lake Road

    160 m · 9 sec · Avon Lake Road

  29. 29

    Exit the roundabout onto Avon Lake Road

    2.2 mi · 2 min · Avon Lake Road

  30. 30

    Continue on Avon Belden Road

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Avon Belden Road

  31. 31

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Avon Belden Road

    24 m · 1 sec · Avon Belden Road

  32. 32

    Exit the roundabout onto Avon Belden Road

    70 m · 3 sec · Avon Belden Road

  33. 33

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Avon Belden Road

    42 m · 2 sec · Avon Belden Road

  34. 34

    Exit the roundabout onto Avon Belden Road

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Avon Belden Road

  35. 35

    Turn left onto Grafton Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Grafton Road

  36. 36

    Continue on Main Street

    2 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  37. 37

    Continue on Grafton Road

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Grafton Road

  38. 38

    Continue on John F. Kennedy Memorial Parkway

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

  39. 39

    Turn right onto Lorain Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Lorain Boulevard

  40. 40

    Continue on Grove Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Grove Avenue

  41. 41

    Turn left onto East 28th Street

    2.3 mi · 4 min · East 28th Street

  42. 42

    Turn right onto Broadway

    2392 ft · 48 sec · Broadway

  43. 43

    Turn left onto West 21st Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · West 21st Street

  44. 44

    Turn right onto Hamilton Avenue

    720 ft · 32 sec · Hamilton Avenue

  45. 45

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Hamilton Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
45 steps
27 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
1 merges, 12 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Sherman Hollow
70.9 mi · 39%
Mitchell Avenue
13.8 mi · 8%
Avon Lake Road
13.8 mi · 8%
Burbank Road
10.4 mi · 6%
South Wooster Avenue
8.9 mi · 5%
John F. Kennedy Memorial Parkway
6.59 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Sherman Hollow

Merge slight left

70.6 mi · 01h 16m

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
03h 10m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48.1 mi
135 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Parral
01h 35m from Waterford
Leave By
10:38 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Waterford and Showers And Thunderstorms near Lorain.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 183.1 miles (294.7 km) and usually takes 03h 10m 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?

Parral is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.5 miles from Waterford and 98.6 miles from Lorain.

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

The direct path is about 135 miles (217.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.1 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 10:38 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.93 one way or $47.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms around Waterford and Showers And Thunderstorms near Lorain.

Stop Ideas Near Parral

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Parral, 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 Parral.

RAIL

Alliance

52 mi away
820 East Main Street
RAIL

Elyria

103 mi away
410 East River Road
RAIL

Cleveland Lakefront station

106 mi away
200 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waterford and Lorain. Straight-line distance: 135.05 mi (217.34 km).

Waterford

#1 Waterford

Township in Washington County, Ohio

Population3,642
Coordinates39.5423000, -81.6398500
Altitude198
CountryUnited States
Lorain

#2 Lorain

The most populous city in Lorain County, Ohio.

Population63,872
Coordinates41.4528200, -82.1823700
Altitude186
CountryUnited States
Start: Mill Street (-81.639861, 39.542123)
End: Hamilton Avenue (-82.182237, 41.452819)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 295 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.46 gal
24.46 L · about $23.93
Round trip
$47.87
12.92 gal · 48.92 L
Estimated CO2
57.4 kg one way
Round trip: 114.8 kg / 253 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.71 $23.93 $47.87
Mid-grade $4.24 $27.40 $54.81
Premium $4.79 $30.94 $61.89
Diesel $4.30 $27.80 $55.61

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 · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Waterford and Lorain. The current time is 22:58:45.

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.