Discover Brick Streets and Fall Hikes at This Charming College Town in Ohio

Every year, the slight chill in the air and changing foliage colors that announce autumn have me craving a stroll through a college campus. My alma mater, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, happens to be one of the most charming campuses in the country to visit in any season. Don’t take my word for it. The poet Robert Frost once described Miami as, "The most beautiful campus that ever there was."

Fall is an exciting time in Oxford, as the town buzzes with the energy of 20,000 students returning to campus, sporting events, and seasonal activities. Oxford is a small town near Cincinnati, located 40 miles outside of the city in the rolling hills of southwest Ohio.

Start your visit by exploring Miami University’s campus. Founded in 1809, it is the state’s second-oldest university. Walking paths crisscross wide green lawns that join the many Neo-Georgian red brick buildings and historic landmarks. Learn about the 19th-century professor and author of the McGuffey Eclectic Reader schoolbooks at the William Holmes McGuffey House and Museum, built in 1833. Admire 17,500 artworks in a more modern setting at the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum, designed in 1978 by Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill. 

Wander the meandering paths and stone bridges of Western Campus, which was the Western College for Women before merging with Miami University in 1974. An outdoor amphitheater is dedicated to hundreds of voter registration volunteers who trained at Western College during the "Freedom Summer" of 1964, including three who were killed by the Ku Klux Klan. You can learn more about Freedom Summer '64 and other aspects of Oxford’s history on a self-guided tour.

Oxford’s abundance of trees inspired the poet Percy MacKaye to pen a work called “The Trees of Miami.” Catch the changing colors as you stroll through oak, maple, birch, and more over 23 miles of trails on more than 1,000 acres of natural areas. If you really want to stretch your legs, head five miles north to Hueston Woods State Park to hike 12 miles of trails, take a guided horseback ride, or discover fossils of ancient marine animals.

Enjoy the picturesque red brick streets of Oxford’s Uptown, the central business district located at the top of a hill. Grab a seasonal latte at Kofenya and shop for fall fashion and gifts at local boutiques like Juniper and the Apple Tree. Cram in line with the students at Bagel and Deli to choose from nearly 100 steamed bagel sandwiches. You can’t go wrong with my favorite, the “Messy Katie.” Wash your sandwich down with a beer on the patio at Skipper’s Pub or taste your way through 22 German beers at Steinkeller Bier Hall and Restaurant.

Fall means football and the opportunity to cheer on the Miami University Redhawks at Yager Stadium. Miami is known as "the cradle of coaches" where legends like Woody Hayes and Paul Brown started their careers and are honored with bronze statues. Dig into fall flavors at Oxford’s annual Apple Butter Festival in early October where you can watch how apple butter is made, and more importantly, taste it. November brings the chance to launch your leftover pumpkins into the sky at the Oxford Parks and Recreation Pumpkin Catapult.

Oxford is a small college town that is big on autumn charm. From history to hiking and brick streets to beer halls, it is an ideal place to soak in the fall season.

Plan your own trip to Oxford, Ohio, with Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner.