The Cost of a Trip Between Akron, Ohio and West Bend, Wisconsin: Navigating Gasoline Prices

Planning a road trip can be quite exciting, but it also requires careful consideration of various factors such as distance, route options, and gas prices. This article explores the cost of a trip between Akron, Ohio, and West Bend, Wisconsin, considering current gasoline prices. We'll also talk about the different route options, their respective distances, and recommend the best route.

Route Options

There are three possible routes to travel between Akron, Ohio, and West Bend, Wisconsin. These are:

Route 1: Via I-71 and I-90

This is the most direct route, covering a distance of 441 miles. It starts in Akron, Ohio, and goes through Cleveland, Toledo, and Sandusky before entering the state of Michigan. The route continues through Ann Arbor, and Detroit before entering the state of Indiana. From there, it goes through Gary before entering the state of Illinois and then to Milwaukee. To reach West Bend, the route continues north on I-43 for about 35 miles.

Route 2: Via I-75 and I-94

This route is longer than Route 1, covering a distance of 529 miles. It starts in Akron, Ohio, and goes through Toledo and Detroit before entering the state of Michigan. From there, it goes through Kalamazoo and Battle Creek before entering Indiana. The route then goes through Gary, Hammond, and Chicago before entering Wisconsin. To reach West Bend, the route continues north on I-43 for about 35 miles.

Route 3: Via US-250 and I-90

This route is the longest, covering a distance of 642 miles. It starts in Akron, Ohio and goes through Wooster, Norwalk, and Sandusky before entering the state of Michigan. From there, the route goes through Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Battle Creek before entering Indiana. The route then goes through Angola and Elkhart before entering the state of Illinois. From there, it goes through Rockford and Beloit before entering Wisconsin. To reach West Bend, the route continues north on I-43 for about 35 miles.

Gas Prices and Costs

To calculate the cost of a trip between Akron, Ohio, and West Bend, Wisconsin, we need to apply the current gasoline prices. According to GasBuddy, the current average gasoline price in Ohio is $2.15 per gallon, while in Wisconsin, it is $2.23 per gallon as of August 2021. We'll use these prices as the basis for our calculation and assume that the car's gas mileage is 25 miles per gallon.

Based on these assumptions, here's the estimated fuel cost for each route:

Route 1

The total distance of Route 1 is 441 miles. If we assume a gas mileage of 25 miles per gallon, we'd need about 17.64 gallons of gas for the trip. Thus, the estimated fuel cost for this route is $37.96.

Route 2

The total distance of Route 2 is 529 miles. If we assume a gas mileage of 25 miles per gallon, we'd need about 21.16 gallons of gas for the trip. Thus, the estimated fuel cost for this route is $44.95.

Route 3

The total distance of Route 3 is 642 miles. If we assume a gas mileage of 25 miles per gallon, we'd need about 25.68 gallons of gas for the trip. Thus, the estimated fuel cost for this route is $54.67.

Recommended Route

Based on the distance and estimated fuel cost for each route, Route 1 via I-71 and I-90 is the most efficient way to get from Akron, Ohio, to West Bend, Wisconsin. It is the shortest route and has the lowest fuel cost at $37.96, which is a difference of $16.71 and $6.72 compared to Route 2 and Route 3, respectively. Although Route 2 may be faster in certain traffic scenarios, the additional time won't be worth the extra fuel cost.

Conclusion

Planning a trip requires careful considerations, especially concerning routes and fuel costs. By using current gas prices and assuming average gas mileage, we can determine the estimated fuel cost for each possible route from Akron, Ohio, to West Bend, Wisconsin. While Route 2 may be faster in some traffic scenarios, Route 1 is the most recommended route as it covers the least distance and has the least fuel cost. Overall, the trip should take about 8 hours to complete, depending on traffic conditions. Bon voyage!