Whether you’ve been a fan of Only In Ohio for years or just a few weeks, you might have noticed our obsession with road trips in Ohio. But what about the simple and wildly underrated day trip? With little – or no – planning, just a single free day, and as is the case here, a single tank of gas, day trips are just as fun as longer road trips, but with just a fraction of the effort.

So, to celebrate the humble day trip and kickoff summer one of the best ways we know, we recently launched our Only On A Tankful series, which features four unique day trip destination pairings across the great state of Ohio. First, there was wine and waterfalls, then antiques and ice cream, and today, we’re pulling out all the stops with tacos and tubing. Whether you live near Cincinnati, Cleveland, or anywhere in between, you’ll discover an adventurous day trip that combines two glorious activities: eating tacos and spending time outdoors in an innertube (or any other type of small watercraft). What are you waiting for? Choose your adventure, fill up the tank and enjoy a picture-perfect day spent exploring the Buckeye State.

Northwest Ohio

1. Birch Bark Canoe Livery & Condado Tacos
Birch Bark Canoe Livery/Google
Birch Bark Canoe Livery, 1455 River Rd, Urbana, OH 43078, USA
Condado Tacos, 2977 N High St, Columbus, OH 43202, USA
Condado Tacos (Clintonville)/Facebook
Start your day at Birch Bark Canoe Livery in Urbana where you will enjoy tubing along the Mad River before heading to Condado Tacos in Columbus for an incredible meal. Float along for four hours relaxing and soaking in the scenery - the waters of the Mad River are so clear, you can see to the bottom! You may encounter small shallow sets of rapids along the way but it's otherwise a smooth ride. A bus shuttles you back to the start point when you're done and it's off to Condado Tacos. From the funky decor to the build-your-own tacos and creative margaritas, this restaurant is the perfect spot to end your day.
2. Adventures on the Great Miami & Guerra’s Krazy Taco
Adventures on the Great Miami/Facebook
Adventures on the Great Miami, 1995 Ross Rd, Tipp City, OH 45371, USA
Guerra's Krazy Taco, 229 N Belmont Ave, Springfield, OH 45503, USA
pburr/TripAdvisor
This day trip is packed with everything you need for the perfect day — flavorful foods, incredible scenery, sunshine, and plenty of adventure. A two-hour adventure that leads 3.5 miles down a picturesque river, your excursion with Adventures on the Great Miami will be unforgettable You get to decide how you want to spend your time on the water: rent a canoe, kayak, double kayak, raft, stand-up paddleboard, or tube. We're obviously partial to the tube, but no matter what, you're sure to end your excursion hungry. To With a colorful interior and a mnu full of specialty tacos, plus other Mexican favorites, Guerra’s Krazy Taco will satisfy your taste buds and make for the perfect end to a quintessential summer day in Ohio.

Northeast Ohio

3. Mohican Adventures & La Cascada Mexican Restaurant
Mohican Adventures/Facebook
Mohican Adventures Campground & Cabins, 3058 OH-3, Loudonville, OH 44842, USA
La Cascada Restaurant & Bar, 375 Georgesville Rd, Columbus, OH 43228, USA
Victor Lopez/Google Maps
Mohican Adventures has a variety of attractions, including go-karts and mini-golf, but they're best known for their Mohican River trips. Visitors can choose between canoes, kayaks, tubes, or rafts, and there are a variety of packages to pick from. Whether you're out with friends or on a solo adventure, there's nothing like a trip down a river to help you enjoy a warm day - especially when you follow the adventure with tacos! The authentic menu at La Cascada Restaurant & Bar has many dishes you won't find in other Mexican restaurants. You'll feel like you just stepped into the streets of Oaxaca as you enjoy the Torta Azteca and beef tongue tacos.
4. Crooked River Adventures & Barrio
Crooked River Adventures/Facebook

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Crooked River Adventures, 13468 Main Market Rd, Burton, OH 44021, USA
Barrio Tacos, 1416 W 5th Ave, Columbus, OH 43212, USA
Barrio Tacos/Facebook
Tubing and tacos – can you think of a better pairing? Start your day with a relaxing meander down the Upper Cuyahoga River in a kayak or a canoe rental from Crooked River Adventures in Burton, a perfect adventure for a group of friends or the whole family. After your five-mile float, it's time for tacos. While it boasts the motto of "have a taco or two," once you get a bite of Barrio’s famous tacos, you’ll probably want quite a few more. The popular taco stand offers a selection of tacos, or you can custom-build your own.
5. NTR Canoe Livery & Ranchero’s Taqueria
Nick Manos/Google Maps
NTR Canoe Livery, 11358 OH-212, Bolivar, OH 44612, USA
286 E Cuyahoga Falls Ave, Akron, OH 44310, USA
Google Maps
When the temperatures climb higher and higher, stay cool with a day of tubing down the Tuscarawas River with NTR Canoe Livery, a popular family-owned and run adventure company that dates back to 1974. Enjoy a 2.5 or 6-mile float down the scenic river, then it's off to Ranchero’s Taqueria. This unassuming Mexican restaurant earns rave reviews for its authentic dishes and generous menu. Get ready for a delicious dilemma, however, because you have quite a few meals from which to choose – from classic tacos and burritos to enchiladas and quesadillas. No matter what you order, your taste buds will thank you.

Southeast Ohio

6. Hocking Hills Adventure & Tacos El Fogoncito
C Cortina/Google Maps
Hocking Hills Adventures, 31251 Chieftain Dr, Logan, OH 43138, USA
Taqueria El Fogoncito, 1909 OH-256, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068, USA
Bibhabasu Nayak/Google Maps
Ohio is full of outdoor adventures, but we're particularly fond of the "lazy floating down the river" method of enjoying the scenery and luckily, Hocking Hills Adventures offers all kinds of fun for the whole family. You're sure to work up an appetite after all that time enjoying nature, and about an hour away is the delicious Tacos El Fogoncito. Serving up a variety of authentic dishes from tacos and tortas to burritos and quesadillas, you'll want to wash down your meal with Mexico's favorites soda, Jarritos, straight from a glass bottle. This perfect pairing makes for one epic day trip, that's for sure.

Southwest Ohio

7. Little Miami Canoe Rental & Mazunte Taqueria
Ashley Halsey Hemingway/Flickr
Little Miami Canoe Rental, 219 Mill St, Morrow, OH 45152, USA
Mazunte Taqueria, 5207 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45227, USA
management/TripAdvisor
Discover something new on this road trip to two perfectly paired locations: Little Miami Canoe Rentals and Mazunte Taqueria. Although Little Miami Canoe Rental has two locations along the river, Oregonia is the place where tubing is offered. If you are in the mood to relax and let your cares float away as you effortlessly float downstream, you'll love enjoying peaceful scenic views along this two-mile stretch of river. After a few hours of effortless relaxation along the Little Miami River, it's taco time! Order authentic street tacos made with the freshest ingredients. The menu isn't huge but there are enough options to try from pork to chicken, steak, and fish. Each bite is an adventure for your taste buds.

So, tell us, which of these epic tacos and tubing road trips in Ohio will you be embarking on first?

Don’t forget to check back in two weeks to discover our fourth and final epic day trip destination pairing – only in Ohio, and only on a tankful. Any guesses as to what we have planned? If you liked this, please follow Only In Ohio on Facebook and sign up for Ohio’s daily newsletter so you can discover even more fun and unique things to do throughout the state.

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More to Explore

Road trip in Ohio

Sarah M. | May 14, 2022

What's another fun road trip to take this summer in Ohio?

We mentioned this attraction above, but Hocking Hills really is one of the best day and road trip destinations in Ohio... especially during the summer! This inexpensive road trip in Ohio is amazing because not only can you explore literally dozens of caves and waterfalls within this Eastern Ohio wonderland, but you can also enjoy some truly amazing camping and glamping here, too! Hocking Hills State Park in Logan, Ohio, features seven hiking areas, as well as mountain biking trails and a plethora of other amusements and amenities. We love that many of the hikes and waterfalls here are super accessible, so hikers of all ages and skill levels can wander the trails. Many are handicap-accessible, too, which only makes us love Hocking Hills all the more. If you're looking for a fun and scenic day trip destination in Ohio this summer, this is it!

What are some hidden gems to visit in Ohio?

Ohio is full of one-of-a-kind sites places to stop you dead in your tracks. From amazing roadside attractions to magnificent natural wonders, themed restaurants to places that simply defy explanation, the Buckeye State is home to some wholly unique sites that simply must be experienced in person. So of course, we’ve designed an amazing road trip to do just that! Buckle up, prepare your playlist, and get ready to visit some of the most iconic landmarks in Ohio. Of course, if you're looking for singular destinations for your summer road trip bucket list, we definitely recommend visiting hidden gems in Ohio such as Giant Serpent Mound, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, the Loveland Castle, Sugarcreek MetroPark, Clifton Mills, Young's Jersey Dairy, Topiary Park, Franklin Park Conservatory, the Schoolhouse Restaurant, the American Sign Museum... and that's just the beginning of the amazing treasures that you'll find in the Buckeye State!

 

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