Akron travel guide

Akron, United States

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Akron

Introduction

Akron sits in Northeast Ohio, along the Little Cuyahoga River, roughly 40 miles south of Cleveland. It is the seat of Summit County and the center of a metropolitan area of about 702,000 residents.

As one of Ohio's larger cities, Akron anchors its corner of the state and serves as a natural base for exploring the surrounding region.

Before you go

Akron sits on the shortest line between the Cuyahoga River, which links to Lake Erie and the Great Lakes, and the Tuscarawas River, which links to the Ohio River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The Portage Path, long used to carry canoes between the two watersheds, is the reason the city grew where it did. That history shows in its nicknames: it was a pottery works, then the original home of Quaker Oats, then the Rubber Capital of the World, and it is now called the City of Invention.

For trip planning, the Akron / Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau is on E Mill Street. On safety, the city is generally regarded as safe given its size and activity, and there is almost nowhere you shouldn't go in the daytime, with very few places to avoid at night. The west side near Copley Road is considered the worst section, with more violent crime and theft, and is best avoided by outsiders. Some housing projects, most notably Joy Park near the Zoo and Elizabeth Park under the All-American Bridge, are also somewhat unsafe and worth bypassing on foot or by car. If you're visiting the University of Akron, stay west of the Market / Buchtel intersection; the bordering near-East neighborhood of Middlebury isn't necessarily unsafe but sees medium-scale drug activity and occasional assault and non-violent robbery.

Getting there

Akron-Canton Regional Airport (CAK) is the most convenient option, a small, easy-to-navigate airport with quick in-and-out access. Non-stop flights arrive from Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Fort Myers, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia and Tampa, though some routes are seasonal or operate only on certain days. From the terminal, Metro RTA bus 110 runs several times a day to downtown Akron on a local route through southern Summit County, taking roughly an hour, while SARTA Route 81 connects the airport with downtown Canton, the Belden Village area and the downtown Akron Metro RTA Transit Center via I-77 on weekdays. Catch your bus at the north end of the airport terminal. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, a hub of United Airlines, is about an hour's drive to the northwest. Akron Executive Airport is a large general aviation field with an immigration and customs office that can accept international flights.

Akron no longer has an Amtrak station, so rail travellers must go into Cleveland or Alliance instead. By car, the city has strong interstate connections: I-76 is an excellent way in from the east or west, and I-77 is an easy route between Cleveland and Akron, continuing south to Canton. Once in the city, Route 8 and Route 59 (the Innerbelt) both serve the centre, and little in Akron is more than ten minutes from an expressway. Greyhound serves the city from its station on S Broadway. For cyclists, the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail connects with Metro Cleveland.

Getting around

Getting around Akron is easiest by car. The city has strong interstate highway support: I-76 brings you in from the east or west, and I-77 connects Cleveland to Akron and continues south to Canton. Within the city, Route 8 and Route 59, the Innerbelt, both serve the center, and very little in Akron is more than about ten minutes from an expressway, which keeps rush hour short. There is no local rail, metro, or tram system, and no Amtrak station either, so if you want to arrive or depart by train you will need to travel to Cleveland or Alliance and connect from there. Taxis are available, with City Yellow Cab based on Home Ave, and ride-hailing apps are a common way to cover trips that buses do not serve conveniently. Public transit is provided by Akron METRO RTA, which is somewhat limited but adequate for reaching most Akron locations, and connects with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority to the north and the Stark County Regional Transit Authority to the south. Plan around the schedule rather than expecting frequent, turn-up-and-go service. Greyhound also operates a station in the city on S Broadway. Downtown Akron is compact enough that walking works well for local sightseeing and getting between downtown destinations, but beyond the center the city spreads out and many attractions and neighborhoods are separated by distances that are not pleasant on foot, so treat walking as a downtown mode rather than a way to cover the whole city. For cyclists, the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail runs through the area and connects with Metro Cleveland, offering a car-free route.

Where to stay

Where you stay in Akron largely depends on whether you want to be downtown or closer to the airport. In the airport area to the south, you'll find a Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites with WiFi and breakfast included, a practical base if your trip revolves around flights. Downtown, the Courtyard by Marriott on Furnace Street puts you in the middle of the city and offers WiFi, a pool, and a fitness center. Also on East Market Street, the Hilton Garden Inn provides WiFi, parking, a fitness center, a business center, and an indoor pool, making it a solid choice if you're mixing work with your stay.

Food & drink

For a quick, fresh meal, head to Aladdin's on West Market Street in Highland Square, a casual Middle Eastern spot that's popular for takeout. Mary Coyle Ice Cream Parlor, also in Highland Square, serves homemade ice cream and oastas, with an outdoor patio and takeout available. In the mid-range, Crave downtown offers an eclectic menu ranging from gourmet sandwiches to rum and vanilla glazed halibut in funky, contemporary surroundings. Mr. Zubs Deli and Bar serves pizza, wings and sandwiches named after movie characters, and stays open late. Beau's Grille is a steakhouse and seafood option with banquet rooms, live music and a bar, while Ken Stewart's Grill offers contemporary seafood and steakhouse cuisine. House Three Thirty is an entertainment and dining venue with memorabilia on display.

Highland Square, the city's cultural district, has a number of bars along West Market Street, and younger locals are your best source for figuring out which one suits you. Downtown, between Exchange and Cedar Streets, you'll find a couple dozen college-oriented bars, clubs and lounges, while Kenmore Boulevard, accessible from I-76, has its own unique establishments. The Lockview specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches alongside a constantly changing beer selection, and 69 Taps offers a solid range of beers on tap. Angel Falls Coffee Co. is a hip coffeehouse, and The Matinée is a well-lit bar with decent beer prices. Square Nightclub is an LGBTQ+ owned and patronized nightclub. For local beer, try Lock 15 Brewing, Thirsty Dog Brewing Company Taphouse, Hoppin Frog Tasting Room, Missing Falls Brewery, or Buzzbin in Kenmore, a bar and arcade that regularly hosts live music.

What to see and do

Akron's museums and historic homes anchor a visit. The Akron Art Museum occupies a modern glass-and-steel facility, while the Akron Zoo houses more than 700 animals, including snow leopards, Humboldt penguins, Galapagos tortoises, and an Andean condor. The Home of John Brown, where the abolitionist lived before his 1859 Harper's Ferry raid, offers guided tours. Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, the former estate of Goodyear executive F.A. Seiberling, is a 65-room early 20th-century mansion with grounds and outbuildings open to tour. The University of Akron's Hower House is a Victorian mansion built by one of the city's rubber barons, and Hale Farm & Village in nearby Bath demonstrates 19th-century rural life through heritage farming, glassblowing, blacksmithing, basket making, spinning, weaving, pottery, candle making, broom making, and brick making. For arts and culture, catch a performance at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall or the Akron Civic Theater, see new releases at the historic Highland Square Theater, hear live music at Musica on the Northside, or visit Summit Artspace. Sports fans can take in an Akron RubberDucks minor league baseball game or University of Akron Zips college sports. Outdoors, Portage Lakes State Park offers campsites, boat launches and rentals, fishing, hunting, a beach, hiking trails, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and a basketball court, while Sand Run, Cascade Valley, Firestone, and Goodyear Heights metro parks provide further green space. Annual events include the All-American Soap Box Derby, the WGC Invitational at Firestone Country Club, Founders Day celebrations marking Akron as the birthplace of Alcoholics Anonymous, PorchRokr in Highland Square, the Made in Ohio Festival at Hale Farm & Village, and ZipCon, a local anime convention.

When to go

Akron has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons, so your experience of the city depends heavily on when you visit. Winters are cold and dry, with a mix of rain, sleet, and snow, occasional heavy snowfall, and icing. January is the coldest month, with temperatures dropping to or below freezing on a few days and staying at or below freezing for roughly forty days a year. Snowfall is substantial but lighter than in the nearby snowbelt.

Spring transitions toward fewer weather systems that produce heavier rainfall, and because the last freeze typically falls in late April, early spring can still bring cold nights. Summers are very warm and humid, with July the warmest month and heavy rain possible. Autumn is relatively dry, with many clear warm days and cool nights; the first freeze usually arrives in late October.

Three days in Akron

Day one: Start in downtown Akron, where the Ohio and Erie Canal and the Little Cuyahoga River shaped the city's early growth. Walk the Portage Path, the historic trail that marks the divide between the Cuyahoga River and Tuscarawas River watersheds. In the afternoon, explore the city's heritage as the Rubber Capital of the World and its ties to Quaker Oats, then head to Summit County's Mill Street for a meal. If you have time, visit the Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau for maps and local tips.

Day two: Head to Copley Road and Joy Park for a morning outdoors, then continue to Elizabeth Park. In the afternoon, visit the Akron Zoo, a family-friendly stop in the city. For a longer outing, drive north to Cleveland on Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes, and explore its lakefront. Return to Akron for the evening.

Day three: Explore the University of Akron area and the nearby Buchtel and East neighborhoods, where the city's academic and residential character meet. Cross the American Bridge if you are heading toward the Cuyahoga River valley. End your trip with a drive through Summit County toward the Ohio River and, eventually, the Gulf of Mexico, following the waterways that connect Northeast Ohio to the wider region.

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