Here Are The 10 Best Road Trips You Can Take In Ohio
By April Dray|Updated on January 29, 2021(Originally published January 24, 2021)
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April Dray
Author
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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/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.
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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Road Trips In Ohio
Sarah|January 29, 2021
What's Ohio's most scenic byway?
The Buckeye State is a natural beauty, full of several beautiful country, coastal and riverside roads just waiting for your vehicle to travel. The most magnificent scenic country roads in Ohio can be found throughout every region of this vast state, and they’re an absolute treat no matter the season. Immerse yourself in the majesty of stunning windshield views along these scenic routes. One of our favorite is the Amish Country Byway, a leisurely drive that harkens back to a simpler time in life, complete with rolling farmland and horse-drawn buggies. This byway is one that really forces you to slow down and enjoy the views.
Does Ohio have any covered bridges?
Yes! Ohio is full of covered bridges, and one of our very favorites just so happens to be part of a road trip! Drive through America’s shortest and longest covered bridge along the Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Byway, which features a total of 19 covered bridges. Begin your drive at the Windsor Mills Covered Bridge near Orwell and end your journey at Creek Road Covered Bridge near Kingsville, seeing a total of 10 beautiful covered bridges in our road trip.
Are there any road trips in Ohio that can be done in a day?
With our scenic byways and variety of attractions, there’s always something new to discover in the Buckeye State. And if you're short on time, you can easily enjoy one of these 14 Ohio road trips that can be done in a day (or two).
