The Ultimate Ohio Hidden Gem Road Trip Will Take You To 9 Incredible Little-Known Spots In The State
The Buckeye State is full of surprises, and one of our favorite things to do is get out and explore the most bizarre and amazing hidden gems in Ohio — via an epic road trip, of course! That’s why we created this beauty, The Ultimate Ohio Hidden Gems Road Trip. From ideal family day trip destinations to little-known natural wonders, the following trip leads to some of our absolute favorite hidden gems in Ohio. See which ones you’ve visited before and which ones you need to add to your Ohio bucket list:
The total trip covers about 280 miles and takes almost 6 hours of drive time total. To view a Google map of the trip in a a separate tab or window, click here.
Most people don’t know there’s an impressive replica of an Old West town tucked away in the hills of southern Ohio. Dogwood Pass in Beaver, Ohio was built to look and feel as authentic as possible, complete with bath houses, saloons and gun fights. Show and event schedules begin in May.
2. Great Serpent Mound (Peebles)
Serpent Mound Historical Site, 3850 OH-73, Peebles, OH 45660, USA
The largest (and most strangely shaped) effigy mound in the entire world can be found right here in Ohio in Adams County. The 1,348 feet long uniquely shaped mound depicts a snake, with an oval shape at its head. Although no artifacts or written records were found near the mound to determine who built it, a nearby village site shows evidence of occupation by both the Adena and the later Fort Ancient Cultures. The original purpose of the mound remains a mystery, though there is some evidence for astronomical correlations.
3. Loveland Castle Museum (Loveland)
Loveland Castle Museum, 12075 Shore Dr, Loveland, OH 45140, USA
April Dray/Only In Your State
If we told you there was a real-life castle in southern Ohio operated by modern day knights, would you believe us? Close to Cincinnati, you can find just that. The Château Laroche, (more commonly known as the Loveland Castle,) is a museum on the banks of the Little Miami River in Loveland, Ohio—and it’s truly charming.
4. American Sign Museum (Cincinnati)
American Sign Museum, 1330 Monmouth Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45225, USA
Discover America's largest collection of signs at this Cincinnati museum. It's a hidden gem few people know is hiding in Ohio. The American Sign Museum is truly one of a kind, featuring surprises around every corner.
5. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum (Hamilton)
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Rd, Hamilton, OH 45013, USA
Year-round, this is a unique and fun day trip destination you can spend hours exploring. Within this outdoor museum, you'll find a wide variety of sculptures standing in meadows, forests and gardens. The park also features an indoor Ancient Sculpture Museum, which displays Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Etruscan sculptures that are thousands of years old. We absolutely love this hidden gem in Butler County!
6. Sugarcreek MetroPark (Bellbrook)
Sugarcreek MetroPark, 4178 Conference Rd, Bellbrook, OH 45305, USA
Most people are surprised to find out that Ohio has a tunnel of trees you can hike through—and it’s simply stunning. Sugarcreek MetroPark in Bellbrook, Ohio features the Osage Orange Tunnel, and it’s a magical place. The tunnel was formed by large arching branches of old Osage orange trees, which were purposefully planted in rows in the late 1800s to serve as a farm fence.
7. Hartman Rock Garden (Springfield)
Hartman Rock Garden, 1905 Russell Ave, Springfield, OH 45506, USA
Observe a mixture of history, religion, and depression-era pop culture via this unique garden, built by Harry "Ben" Hartman between 1932 through 1944. It's a backyard folk art display that's downright mesmerizing. And, okay, a bit bizarre, but that just makes us love it all the more!
8. Topiary Park (Columbus)
Topiary Park, 480 E Town St, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
Few people know about the quaint, seven-acre topiary park in Columbus that features one of Ohio’s most unique gardens, where art and plant life blend. Topiary Park is a "landscape of a painting of a landscape," according to the park’s website. Specifically, the topiary garden depicts Georges Seurat’s famous painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grand Jatte"—and it is the only known topiary representation of a painting.
9. The Ohio Railway Museum (Worthington)
The Ohio Railway Museum, 990 Proprietors Rd, Worthington, OH 43085, USA
The Ohio Railway Museum is a great day trip destination for train enthusiasts and the whole family to enjoy. It’s a train station, museum and railroad that offers fun, round-trip demonstration rides on some of the streetcars and interurbans.
What do you think? Would you take this road trip? What other hidden gems in Ohio would you add to this trip? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
Address: Dogwood Pass, 722 Adams Rd, Beaver, OH 45613, USA
Address: American Sign Museum, 1330 Monmouth Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45225, USA
Address: Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Rd, Hamilton, OH 45013, USA
Address: Sugarcreek MetroPark, 4178 Conference Rd, Bellbrook, OH 45305, USA
Address: Hartman Rock Garden, 1905 Russell Ave, Springfield, OH 45506, USA
Address: Topiary Park, 480 E Town St, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
Address: The Ohio Railway Museum, 990 Proprietors Rd, Worthington, OH 43085, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Hidden gems in Ohio
May 14, 2022
Sarah M.
What are some hidden gems in Ohio even the locals don’t know about?
We love our hidden gems here at Only In Ohio, and are always thrilled to share some new-to-us places that our readers might not know about. And while there are some well-known roadside attractions Ohioans know and love, there are some that even the most in-the-know Buckeye State residents might not know about. For example, in Southwest Ohio, did you know that the world’s largest horseshoe crab has taken up residence? Put this one down as one of Ohio’s more bizarre attractions: a 28-foot wide and 68-foot long horseshoe crab known as “Crabby” (of course!). You’ll find this incredible crustacean in the fields of Hillsboro, and he’s absolutely something you must see to believe. Another Ohio oddity is an actual ghost town in Findlay. That’s right: a ghost town in Ohio! Most people don’t know about Findlay’s Ghost Town, a unique roadside attraction adults and kids alike will enjoy exploring. (And during the Halloween season, it gets extra spooky.) If you’ve never been to this one-of-a-kind landmark before, you’ll want to visit soon. Created by the Galitza family, this unique roadside attraction in Findlay features a replica of an 1880s-era ghost town. It was first open to the public in the 1950s. Since then it has closed, been renovated and is now up and running again. It’s truly one of the most bizarre places in the state, which makes it the very best kind of hidden gem in Ohio, if you ask us!
Address: Dogwood Pass, 722 Adams Rd, Beaver, OH 45613, USA
April is the Ohio staff writer for Only in Your State. She is an Ohio native with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. With more than 10 years of writing experience and a background in news reporting for Ohio newspapers, she's published pieces in multiple print and online publications. When she's not on deadline or chasing after her toddler, she's hunting for hidden gems in Ohio or getting lost in a good book.
