Do you enjoy road trips? Fortunately, Ohio is one of the absolute best states in the country for road trips! With our scenic byways and variety of attractions and natural wonders, there's always something new to discover in the Buckeye State. Below you'll find 10 road trips through Ohio that we've designed to show you the best of the state. From delicious restaurants to historical sites, natural wonders to covered bridges, here are the 10 best road trips you can take in Ohio:
To view the interactive Google Map of each trip in a separate tab or window, simply click on the link beneath each map photo.
You might be surprised to know that Ohio is full of beautiful waterfalls just waiting to be discovered. We’ve compiled a roadmap of some of our favorites for you in the eastern half of the state so you can make a weekend road trip out of it. From the unexpected urban waterfalls to the secluded waterfalls surrounded by nature, this road trip showcases some of Ohio’s most beautiful waterfalls. The total trip takes about 10 hours of drive time, and it's best enjoyed in the spring after heavy rainfall.
2. Epic 3-Day Restaurant Road Trip In Ohio
The only thing better than a three-day road trip is a three-day road trip revolving solely around food! From the traditional American favorites to authentic international cuisine, Ohio has some downright delicious restaurants. If you’d like to experience some of the best of the best of Ohio’s restaurants, then this road trip is for you. The total trip takes a little more than 11 hours of drive time, which can easily (and ideally) be done in three days. Bring a hearty appetite!
3. 10 Amazing Places You Can Go On One Tank Of Gas In Ohio Road Trip
The more places you can see on just one tank of gas, the better, in our opinion. The following 10 places are some of Ohio’s very best attractions -- and we’ve designed a road trip to see them that covers about 230 miles and only requires approximately 5 hours of drive time! See everything from German Village in Columbus to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland along this epic road trip.
4. Coastal Ohio Lighthouse Road Trip
Lighthouses are probably one of the last things that come to mind when you think of Ohio. However, Ohio is actually home to several picturesque lighthouses along the shores of Lake Erie. We’ve created a road trip that hits all of our favorites. (For driving purposes, we didn’t include the Lake Erie Islands lighthouses.) And we think this is one road trip that will truly make you see Ohio in a whole new light (pun intended). The total trip only takes about 3 and a half hours of drive time, so you could take the trip in one day or break it into two days if you want to really take your time and enjoy the views.
5. Ohio's Most Abandoned Places Road Trip
Exploring the creepy and long-forgotten parts of Ohio can be fun—if you like that sort of thing, anyway. From deserted amusement parks to old factories being reclaimed by nature, Ohio certainly has an interesting mix of abandoned places. The following road trip takes you to nine of those places, with a total drive time of just under 9 and a half hours. (Please note: Trespassing may be prohibited in some of these areas, so proceed at your own risk, observe from afar and always use caution.)
6. Ohio’s Most Picturesque Small Towns Road Trip
It’s no secret that Ohio is home to some really beautiful towns. But it’s the smaller, lesser-known towns (with populations less than 10,000) that are the real hidden gems. We’ve gathered a list of some of what we consider to be the most charming, picturesque small towns in Ohio and created a road trip for those of you looking to see some of the most beautiful small towns in Ohio.
7. Ohio Natural Wonders Road Trip
Ohio is home to some pretty impressive geological wonders, both manmade and natural. Many of the Buckeye State’s natural wonders are actually unique to the rest of the world – meaning you won’t find anything else like them on Earth. We’ve compiled a list of what we believe to be the most impressive natural wonders in Ohio and mapped them out in a nice little road trip loop for you.
Ohio is awash in folklore and its fair share of ghost stories. The state is full of creepy, abandoned places nature has reclaimed, haunted hotels, spooky cemeteries, and old houses that have been restored in hopes of chasing the restless spirits away. (Spoiler alert: the sprits are still around and haunting.) If you enjoy some spooky thrills, then you’ll want to pay a visit to the following haunted destinations along this road trip. But do so at your own risk, because they’re some of the creepiest places in Ohio. The total trip takes a little more than 11 hours of drive time.
If exploring abandoned, long-forgotten places is your thing (see the previous href="https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/trip-ideas/ohio/terrifying-road-trip-oh/" target="_blank">Haunted Ohio Road Trip) then you’ll definitely want to discover some of Ohio’s ghost towns. From abandoned coal mining towns to haunted small towns, Ohio has its fair share of eerie, empty towns that will bring out the explorer in you. (Please note: Trespassing may be prohibited in some of these areas, so proceed at your own risk and always use caution.) Grab a friend or two, start at the ghost town nearest you and work your way to the others... if you dare.
10. Ohio Fall Foliage Road Trip
We all know that Ohio is extra beautiful in the autumn months. So to celebrate the season, we thought it would be fitting to design a fall foliage road trip across Ohio that shows off some of the state’s most beautiful places in the autumn season. This delightful road trip clocks in at 7 and a half hours, making it the perfect weekend trip to take in mid-October, when fall colors are at their peak.
Which of these road trips in Ohio are you most excited to try? Let us know which trips catch your eye! And for more fun Ohio day trip ideas, check out these 17 hidden gems.
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