Cuyahoga Valley National Park — Interstate Access, 2026 Fees & Truck Notes

01 Park overview

Cuyahoga Valley protects 33,000 acres of the Cuyahoga River corridor between Cleveland and Akron, a textbook case of post-industrial restoration. The river was so polluted in 1969 that it caught fire (the most famous of at least thirteen recorded fires); the corridor was protected as a national recreation area in 1974 and redesignated as a national park in 2000. Today the river hosts beaver, herons, and migrating bald eagles, and the towpath of the historic Ohio & Erie Canal runs the length of the park as a 20-mile crushed-limestone trail. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad runs excursion trains along the same corridor. Park entry is free and there is no entrance gate. From I-77 the closest access is Exit 145 (Steels Corners Rd), about 4 miles to the Boston Mill Visitor Center.

Established 1974 as a national recreation area; redesignated national park in 2000
Cuyahoga River caught fire repeatedly between 1868 and 1969, the 1969 fire helped spur the Clean Water Act
Park is free to enter; no entrance gate or station
Only US national park serving a major metropolitan area as a routine commute (Cleveland-Akron)
~3 million visitors per year, third-most-visited national park most years

02 Photos

A long-exposure view of 60-foot Brandywine Falls cascading over layered sandstone and shale in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio. Erik Drost / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

03 Don't miss

Brandywine Falls (60 ft, accessible boardwalk)
Towpath Trail (20 mi crushed-limestone bike/hike)
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad excursion
Boston Mill Visitor Center
Ledges Trail rock formations

04 Getting there & truck/RV access

Route from interstate

From I-77

Exit 145 (Steels Corners Rd)

4 mi to the Boston Mill Visitor Center via Steels Corners and Riverview Rd

Big rigs & RVs

Truck access

I-77 Exit 145 (Steels Corners Rd) and the local roads to Boston Mill / Riverview Rd are paved and accommodate any vehicle size. Inside the park, Riverview Rd is a 2-lane local road with multiple low bridges and tight curves through villages; not designed for through-truck traffic.

Parking: Boston Mill Visitor Center, Brandywine Falls, and Hunt Farm have RV-capable lots, but most park trailheads are designed for cars. Truck-friendly fuel is at I-77 Exit 143 (Wheatley Rd) and I-271 corridor. Truckers visiting the park typically drop the trailer in Cleveland or Akron.

Restrictions: Several park bridges have height limits (12'6" or lower); commercial vehicle traffic is discouraged on Riverview Rd. Train-track grade crossings are frequent.

05 Seasonality & road closures

Best months: April to May for wildflowers, late September to October for fall color, June to August for general access. Active year-round.

Closures: No seasonal road closures. Some trail sections close briefly after major storms or in winter ice events.

Notes: Parking at Brandywine Falls fills by 11 AM most fall weekends, arrive before 9 or after 4 to find a spot.

06 Entrance fees (2026)

Pass	Price
America the Beautiful (annual, all NPS sites)	$80 U.S. residents · $250 non-residents

2026 nonresident fee — does not apply here

The $100 NPS nonresident surcharge applies at 11 specifically named parks. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is not on that list, so non-U.S. residents pay the same standard entrance fees as U.S. residents.

No entrance fee at any time. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad excursions are operated by a separate nonprofit and priced separately.

Note: No entrance fee. CVSR scenic train excursions are $20-$45 depending on route, booked through cvsr.org separately from the NPS.

Official NPS fee page →

07 Current alerts

No active NWS weather alerts or FEMA disaster declarations in Cuyahoga Valley National Park's state(s) right now.

08 FAQ

How do I get to Cuyahoga Valley from I-77?

4 miles to the Boston Mill Visitor Center from I-77 Exit 145 (Steels Corners Rd) via Steels Corners and Riverview Rd. Most major Cleveland and Akron interstates (I-77, I-271, I-80) are within 10 miles of some park access point.

Does the park charge an entrance fee?

No. Cuyahoga Valley has no entrance fee and no entrance gate. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (an independent nonprofit) charges separately for excursion train rides.

Does the $100 nonresident fee apply?

No. Cuyahoga Valley has no entrance fee for any visitor.

What's the easiest way to see the park?

For a half-day, drive Riverview Rd north-to-south stopping at Boston Mill Visitor Center, the Ledges, and Brandywine Falls. For a full day, ride the CVSR excursion train one way and bike or hike back along the Towpath Trail.

From I-77

Truck access

2026 nonresident fee — does not apply here

Cuyahoga Valley National Park on the live map