25 Ohio Weekend Roadtrip Destinations to Explore This Fall

Explore the simpler side of life in the Amish town of Millersburg

Millersburg, Ohio
Just over 3 hours from Cincinnati, the quaint town of Millersburg offers a glimpse into traditional Amish culture. Take a trip down its historic downtown strip built along the Amish County Byway and find the Victorian House Museum, shops with handmade furniture and quilts, as well as artisan cheese-makers, bakeries and refreshments at Millersburg Brewing. Stables, farms, and the nearby Black Diamond Golf Course are just a short drive from the town center.
Photo via historicdowntownmillersburg.com

Take a self-guided tour of the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield

100 Reformatory Road, Mansfield
Originally constructed in 1886, this sprawling 250,000-square-foot prison was once the set of the 1994 classic film The Shawshank Redemption, along with several other big-budget movie productions. Explore the grounds and interior through a self-guided audio tour to learn about Mansfield’s troubled past, book a paranormal activity tour or experience the prison while guided by a former inmate.
Photo via Facebook.com/OhioStateReformatory

Go underground at the Ohio Caverns in West Liberty

2210 East State Route 245, West Liberty
The Ohio Caverns, the largest in the state, are a privately owned, two-mile stretch of stalactites, stalagmites, unusual rock formations and fossils. Rain and cold temperatures can’t reach the cave, so the weather won't spoil your visit. Guided tours are offered every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the fall season.
Photo via Facebook.com/ohiocaverns

Explore Warren County via train on the LM&M Railroad

16 E. South St., Lebanon
Perhaps the greatest way to soak in the stunning colors of fall is by train ride, and the LM&M Railroad, based out of Lebanon, is ready to share the sights of Southwest Ohio. The railroad operates over 5-15 miles, traveling through Lebanon, Turtle Creek Township and Union Township (and occasionally Mason or Monroe). LM&M Railroad hosts several special rides throughout the year, including the currently sold-out Pumpkin Express and the winter North Pole Express.
Photo via Facebook.com/lmmrailroad

Explore Fairfield County’s Trail of Scarecrows

Various locations throughout Fairfield County, Ohio
See some scarily creative scarecrows in Fairfield County this fall. During the month of October, more than a dozen communities in Fairfield County erect homemade scarecrows to get in the spirit of the season — they're dubbed “the scarecrow capital.” Take a self-guided tour, snag some selfies and vote on your favorite one in each community.
Photo: Belle Communication

Go fossil hunting at the Trammel Fossil Park

10900 Reading Road, Sharonville
Named after the Trammel Family, this undisturbed hillside draws newcomers and paleontology enthusiasts alike for Ordovician-age fossil hunting. The park offers a pavilion with a kiosk to help learn about and identify fossils, as well as a nearby geocaching site. Because the slope is exposed, be sure to bring sun protection for an undisturbed, all-day rock-hunting experience.
Photo via Trammel Fossil Park’s Facebook

Get lost in the Book Loft of German Village

1631 South Third St., Columbus
Wind and weave your way through 32 rooms full of books at this German Village bookstore. The shop opened its doors in 1977 and expanded eight times before becoming the eclectic literature maze it is today.
Photo via bookloft.com

Take a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House

1340 E. High St., Springfield
This historic stop was designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1906, and was later renovated into apartments in the 1940s. In 2005, the home was restored back to its original Prairie-style design and currently features a lily pond, lush gardens, and beautiful interior design. Guided tours are offered Tuesday through Sunday.
Photo via Facebook.com/westcotthouse

Visit the National Museum of the United States Airforce

1100 Spaatz St., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton
Pay a visit to the National Museum of the United States Airforce at the Wright-Paterson Air Force Base in Dayton and explore military aviation history. The museum features over 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles, plus historical and interactive exhibits that show the impact of Dayton’s Wright brothers on today’s aircrafts. Admission is free and guests can visit daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Photo via Facebook.com/AFmuseum

Explore ancient earthworks at Serpent Mound

3850 State Route 73, Peebles
History buffs will love a visit to Serpent Mound, the largest ancient earthworks site in the world. At over 1,300 feet long and dating between 1,000-2,000 years old, this mound was built by people of the Adena culture and has been carefully studied, yet still baffles some scientists. With a shelter area for picnicking, several additional archeological sites, and beautiful wooded grounds, a trip to Serpent Mound promises a full-day getaway.
Photo via arcofappalachia.org

See the giant “Field of Corn” in Dublin

4995 Rings Road, Dublin
This quirky art installation greets viewers with 109 human-sized ears of corn, each weighing 1,500 pounds, built of white concrete, and arranged in rows to mimic an actual field of corn. Originally commissioned by the Dublin Arts Council, the project was designed by Malcolm Cochran, a sculpture professor at the Ohio State University. Whatever your reaction upon seeing the installment, this Ohio landmark is certainly worth a visit.
Photo via Facebook.com/dublinohio

Get a taste of fall at Hidden Valley Orchards

5474 North State Route 48, Lebanon
This 60-year-old fruit farm (formerly Hidden Valley Fruit Farm) got a makeover as Hidden Valley Orchards, with a coffee bar, bakery and cider bar. Fill up on all things apple — cider, dumplings, cobbler, fritters, donuts and custard. They also have an actual bar — The Crate Room — with housemade hard cider, craft beer and farm fresh food.
Photo via Facebook.com/HiddenValleyOrchard

Visit the Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve and take a walk through Yellow Springs

2381 State Route 343, Yellow Springs
A getaway to Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve is sure to stun visitors, no matter the season. Dolomite and limestone cliffs tower over 2 miles of the Little Miami River and trails traverse the vast, 268-acre forest. After a picture-perfect hike, take a stroll through the nearby town of Yellow Springs to visit a cafe, peruse a quirky bookstore or purchase products crafted by local artisans.
Photo via greenecountyohio.org

Stargaze at the John Glenn Astronomy Park in Hocking Hills

20298 OH-664, Logan
Star-gazing programs have been suspended at the John Glenn Astronomy Park for now due to the pandemic. But the observatory still welcomes socially-distanced, individual star-gazing. A visit to the astronomy park is a perfect addition to a camping excursion at nearby Hocking Hills. Purchase a parking pass online.
Photo via Facebook.com/JohnGlennAstronomyPark

See giant outdoor works of art at the Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum in Hamilton

1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton
Once the grounds of Harry T. Wilks’ Pyramid House, the sculpture park was opened to the public in 2007 as both an outdoor and indoor art experience. Visitors are welcome to walk among 300 acres of greenery and admire more than 80 sculptures and art installments. The interior of the home serves as a museum, mimicking the style of an ancient Roman residence, and exhibits contemporary works by artists both local and international. Pyramid Hill is open daily; adult admission costs $8.
Photo: Provided by Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park

See the ancient mounds at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

16062 State Route 104, Chillicothe
Though the Visitors Center of the Hopewell Culture National Historic Park is currently closed, the grounds are still open to tourists. The 2,000-year-old mounds featured at the park were built by Native Americans as sacred sites. Today, visitors can walk the grounds, appreciate its massive, ancient man-made structures, and learn what may have been used for.
Photo via Facebook.com/hopewellohionps

Take a Women in History Road Trip across Ohio

Multiple Ohio stops
The 19th Amendment, which granted women's suffrage (aka gave women the right to vote), was officially ratified on Aug. 18, 1920. And to celebrate its centennial, Ohio. Find It Here. has created a Women in History Road Trip with eight stops throughout Ohio. The eight stops take avid history and suffrage fans from Sauder Village’s 1920’s Main Street Experience in Archbold to the International Women’s Air and Space Museum in Cleveland and even makes a stop in Cincinnati at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House. There's no time like the present — right before a pivotal election — to remember how your ancestors fought for your right to vote.
Photo: Greg Hume

Pay a visit to the Early Television Museum

5396 Franklin St., Hilliard
Take a journey through broadcast history with a visit to the Early Television Museum in Hilliard, Ohio. With TV sets dating between the 1920s and 1950s, this throwback to the era of live teleplays and variety shows will be a fond memory to older visitors and eye-opening to younger ones. The museum is open on the weekends or by appointment during the week.
Photo via Early Television Museum’s Facebook

Take a breezy cruise on the Ohio River with BB Riverboats

101 Riverboat Row, Newport
Cincinnati was once a hub for steamboat-powered trade and travel, a legacy that lives on in the BB Riverboat fleet. A dinner or sightseeing cruise on one of their ships will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Mark Twain novel.
Photo via Facebook.com/bbriverboats

Feel like royalty at the Historic Loveland Castle & Museum

12025 Shore Drive, Loveland
World War I army medic and Boy Scout troop leader Harry Delos Andrews built Chateau Laroche over the course of 50 years with handmade bricks (formed with quart-sized paper milk cartons) and stones from the nearby Little Miami River. Modeled after European castles, it features towers, a dry moat, hand-tiled ceilings, murder holes and a collection of period weaponry. The castle grounds are available for picnics, overnights and parties and are rumored to be haunted by a variety of ghosts. The castle is open daily, seasonally, for self-guided tours. Tickets cost $5 for adults; children 5 and under are free.
Photo: Brittany Thornton