Located between Akron and Cleveland in Northeast Ohio, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is an American national park dedicated to preserving and reclaiming the rural environment along the Cuyahoga River between them.
The National Park Service administers the 32,572-acre park, although sections inside its limits are separately maintained as county parks or as public or private entities, according to the National Park Service. Cuyahoga Valley National Park was established in 1974 as a National Recreation Area, and it was re-named as a national park 26 years later in 2000. It is the only national park that was initially designated as a national recreation area, and it is the only one in the world to have done so.
Besides being the only national park in Ohio, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is also one of only three in the Great Lakes Basin, the other two being Isle Royale National Park on Lake Superior and Indiana Dunes National Park on the shores of Lake Michigan. Cuyahoga Valley is also distinct from the other national parks in the United States in that it is adjacent to two major metropolitan areas and contains a dense road network, small towns, four Cleveland Metropark reservations, eleven Summit Metro Parks, and a variety of public and private attractions.
Entrances and how to reach Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cleveland’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park is located in northeastern Ohio and stretches for 22 miles along the Cuyahoga River, which runs through the park and into the Cleveland metropolitan area. Whether you’re using the bus, the train, the airline, or the vehicle to go to these 33,000 magnificent acres, you’ll need some instructions to get there, so here are some suggestions.
By Car
From Akron, Ohio, and other southern locations
Take the I-77 northwards for approximately 12 and a half miles, then turn left at the end of the exit to switch to the OH-8 North heading towards Cuyahoga Falls for approximately 3 and a half miles, then take the Boston Mill Road/Hines Hill Road at exit 14A, turn right at the end of the exit to Boston Mills Road and head west for approximately 3 and a half miles. After a few hundred feet or so, you should be able to see the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Visitor Center on the left (it’s white with a wraparound porch), as well as the parking lot at the park’s entrance.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park may be reached from Cleveland, Ohio, and other northern locations
Continue on Interstate 77 southbound for around 15 miles to exit 147 onto Miller Road, then turn left at the end of this exit onto Miller Road for a little over half a mile, then turn right onto OH-21/Brecksville Road for a little under a mile, then left onto Snowville Road for 2.8 miles, right onto Riverview Road for 1.7 miles, and then left onto Boston Mills Road until you reach the Visitor Center parking lot entrance around 300 feet further on.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park from Columbus, Ohio, and other southwesterly locations
Take I-71 north to exit 220, then merge onto the I-271 North toward Erie, PA. Take the OH-303 exit 12 towards Richfield Peninsula, then make a right onto West Streetsboro Road / OH-303 for less than 2 miles until you reach the Cuyahoga Valley National Park entrance gate. The Visitor Center parking lot entrance is about 300 feet down the road on the left at the first traffic signal. Continue on Riverview Road for 1.6 miles, then turn right onto Boston Mills Road for 1.6 miles.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park from Toledo, Ohio, or other western locations
If you’re coming from Toledo, Ohio or another western location, take the I-80/90/Ohio Turnpike east for 108 miles, then take I-77 exit 173 toward Cleveland / Akron for half a mile, then take the OH-21 exit towards Richfield / Breckville for 0.2 miles, then right onto Snowville Road for less than 3 miles, then left onto OH-21/Brecksville Road for slightly less than 3 miles, then right onto Cuyahoga Valley Turn left into Boston Mills Road, and you’ll see the entrance to the Visitor Center parking lot on the right-hand side of the road around 300 feet down the road on the left-hand side.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park from Youngstown, Ohio, and other easterly locations
Youngstown, Ohio, and other easterly locations may reach Cuyahoga Valley National Park by taking the I-80 West for 42.7 miles, then merging onto the OH-8 South at exit 180. The Boston Mills Road, Hines Hill Ramp on the right, then turn left at the light onto Boston Mills Road going west for another 3.2 miles is the route you want to take. Following the visitor center, you will see the entrance to the parking lot on your left, which is 200 feet farther down the road, directly after the MD garage. Check out this page for addresses and GPS coordinates.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is accessible from Mentor, Ohio, and other north-eastern locations
By taking the I-90 West for about 7 miles, then turn left to take the I-271 south for 21.4 miles, passing via exit 188 on the way. Take the OH-8 South left at exit 18A towards Boston Heights / Akron and merge onto the OH-8 South. Exit 15 leads to the Boston Mills Road / Hines Hill Road, which you should take for approximately 3.2 miles west until you reach the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Visitor Center on the left. The parking lot for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Visitor Center is approximately 200 feet further along on the right.
That’s the basic directions from the general directions. For some real driving distances from a variety of major cities to the visitor center at Cuyahoga Valley National Park, have a look at the following samples.
- Drive time to Cleveland, OH is around 30 minutes due to the 22-mile distance involved.
- Although Akron, Ohio is just 18 miles away, it is recommended that you allow around 25 minutes for travel time.
- The 129-mile travel from Columbus, OH will take around 2.2 hours.
- Cincinnati, OH – is around 4 hours away from Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which is 230 miles away.
- The 113-mile drive to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will take around 2 hours.
- Allow 6 hours for the 351-mile drive from Chicago, IL to Milwaukee, WI.
- Indianapolis, IN – is 310 miles distant and takes around 5 hours to go.
- The 232-mile travel to Charlestown, West Virginia, will take around 4 hours.
By Plane
In addition to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Akron-Canton Regional Airport, which both have several daily flights to the region, you may also rent a vehicle to continue your adventure to Cuyahoga Valley National Park from either of these locations.
Traveling to Cuyahoga Valley National Park by bus or train is the most convenient option.
Downtown Akron and Cleveland both have bus terminals, as well as an Amtrak station in the heart of the city of Cleveland.