12 Best Road Trips In Ohio You Should Take In 2026
Ohio might not be the first state that pops into your head when someone mentions epic road trips, but buckle up because the Buckeye State is about to blow your mind with winding byways, stunning natural scenery, and quirky small towns that feel like stepping into a time machine.
From the rolling hills of Appalachia to the sparkling shores of Lake Erie, Ohio packs more variety into its borders than a box of assorted chocolates.
Whether you crave waterfall-hopping adventures, Amish buggy sightings, roller coaster thrills, or lazy drives along historic canals, 2026 is your year to explore the hidden gems tucked between cornfields and cities.
Get ready to discover why Ohio road trips deserve a top spot on your travel bucket list!
1. Hocking Hills Scenic Byway Road Trip
Picture yourself cruising through forest-draped hills where every bend reveals another jaw-dropping waterfall or cave shaped over thousands of years by water erosion and freeze–thaw cycles.
State Route 374 forms the heart of this spectacular loop, weaving through Hocking Hills State Park and Hocking State Forest like nature’s own roller coaster (minus the screaming and cotton candy).
Segments of SR 56 and SR 664 complete the circuit, creating a driving experience that’ll have you reaching for your camera every five minutes.
Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave, and Cedar Falls aren’t just cool names—they’re legitimate natural wonders that make you wonder why anyone ever doubted Ohio’s scenic credentials.
Spring brings wildflower explosions, summer offers shady relief, fall paints the hills in fiery oranges and reds, and winter transforms everything into a frozen fairy tale.
Pack hiking boots because you’ll want to explore the trails that branch off from nearly every parking area.
Local honey, handmade crafts, and cozy cabins dot the route, perfect for extending your adventure beyond a day trip.
This byway proves that Ohio can absolutely hang with the mountain states when it comes to natural beauty.
2. Ohio Amish Country Byway (Holmes County Loop)
Ever wonder what life looks like without smartphones, traffic jams, and the constant ping of notifications?
Holmes County delivers that answer in the form of a 160-mile loop that winds through America’s largest Amish settlement, where horse-drawn buggies share the road with your rental car.
Millersburg serves as your gateway, followed by Berlin, Walnut Creek, Sugarcreek, and the aptly named Charm—each town more quaint than the last.
Roadside stands overflow with fresh produce, homemade jams, and baked goods so delicious they’ll ruin grocery store bread for you forever.
Furniture shops showcase handcrafted wooden pieces built to outlast your great-grandchildren, and cheese factories offer samples that’ll convert even the lactose-intolerant.
Rolling farmland stretches in every direction, punctuated by white farmhouses and red barns that look like they escaped from a postcard.
Slow down (seriously, those buggies have the right of way) and embrace the unhurried pace that defines this corner of Ohio.
You’ll leave with a trunk full of treasures and a newfound appreciation for simplicity.
3. Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail
Who needs an ocean when you’ve got a Great Lake that stretches to the horizon like liquid sky?
The Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail hugs the shoreline from Toledo clear through Port Clinton, Sandusky, Lorain, and up toward Ashtabula, serving up maritime views that rival any coastal highway.
Cedar Point amusement park rises from Sandusky’s peninsula like a thrill-seeker’s fever dream, complete with record-breaking roller coasters that’ll test your breakfast’s commitment to staying put.
Fishing villages, lighthouses, and beaches pepper the route, each offering its own flavor of lakeside charm.
Port Clinton welcomes you as the “Walleye Capital of the World,” while Marblehead Lighthouse has been guiding sailors since 1822 (and looking fabulous doing it).
Fresh-caught perch and walleye dominate restaurant menus, often served with a side of stunning sunset views.
Island-hopping ferries depart regularly for Put-in-Bay and Kelley’s Island, where golf carts replace cars and relaxation becomes mandatory.
Summer brings beach weather, but fall migration transforms the shoreline into a birder’s paradise worth braving cooler temperatures.
4. Ohio & Erie Canalway & Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Back in the 1800s, canals were basically the interstate highways of their day, and the Ohio & Erie Canal originally connected Cleveland to the Ohio River at Portsmouth, with today’s byway passing through areas such as New Philadelphia.
Today, this historic corridor offers one of Ohio’s most unique road trips, with key sections passing through Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Akron.
Brandywine Falls plunges 65 feet over ancient bedrock, creating a misty spectacle that photographers dream about.
The Towpath Trail parallels much of the route, inviting cyclists and hikers to explore at ground level while you cruise the scenic roads above.
Historic canal locks stand as engineering marvels from a bygone era, while the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad chugs through the valley offering a different perspective entirely.
Peninsula and Hudson provide charming downtown stops where antique shops and local eateries fuel your journey.
Bald eagles nest along the river in winter, while summer brings festival season to the valley’s outdoor amphitheater.
This route brilliantly blends industrial history with natural beauty, proving they can absolutely coexist when given the chance.
5. Ohio River Scenic Byway (Southern Ohio)
Southern Ohio’s personality shifts dramatically as the land buckles into Appalachian foothills and the mighty Ohio River becomes your constant companion.
The Ohio River Scenic Byway traces this natural border from Cincinnati eastward through Portsmouth, Gallipolis, Marietta, and finally East Liverpool, creating a journey through time and terrain.
Serpent Mound, a prehistoric earthwork shaped like a giant snake, sits within driving distance of the route and makes for a worthwhile detour.
Marietta claims the title of Ohio’s first permanent settlement, and its historic downtown still oozes 1788 charm from every brick storefront.
River towns cling to the banks like they’re afraid of missing something, their Victorian homes watching barges push cargo upstream just like they have for generations.
Floodwalls in Portsmouth showcase incredible murals depicting local history in vivid detail spanning entire city blocks.
Fall foliage explodes across the hillsides in October, reflected perfectly in the river’s surface on calm mornings.
Riverboat history comes alive in museums, while modern-day paddlewheelers offer dinner cruises that let you experience the byway from water level.
6. Historic National Road (US-40 Across Ohio)
America’s first federally funded highway cuts straight through Ohio’s heart, and US-40 still follows much of that original 1800s route from the Indiana border eastward past Springfield, Columbus, and Zanesville.
This isn’t just a road, it’s a living museum of American road trip culture, complete with vintage diners, classic motels, and roadside attractions that refuse to fade into history.
S-shaped bridges built specifically for the National Road still span creeks with their distinctive stone arches, while mile markers count down your progress like breadcrumbs through time.
Springfield’s historic downtown and Zanesville’s famous Y-Bridge (yes, it’s shaped like a Y) provide quirky stops that break up the drive.
Mom-and-pop restaurants serve pie that tastes like your grandmother’s kitchen smells, and antique malls overflow with treasures from every decade of the 20th century.
Columbus brings big-city energy to the route before it returns to rolling farmland and small-town charm.
Driving the National Road feels like flipping through America’s photo album, where every mile reveals another chapter of westward expansion and automotive evolution.
7. Hocking Hills Wilderness & Small-Town Loop
Combine Columbus’s urban energy with the wilderness magic of Hocking Hills by building a loop that hits Lancaster, Logan, Nelsonville, and circles back through Athens or Chillicothe.
Lancaster’s Fairfield County Fairgrounds host events year-round, but the real star is Sherman House, birthplace of Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman.
Logan serves as Hocking Hills’ unofficial capital, where outfitters rent zipline adventures and cave exploration gear to visitors ready to embrace their inner adventurer.
Nelsonville’s Stuart’s Opera House has hosted performers since 1879, and its downtown square looks frozen in time (in the best possible way).
Athens brings college-town vibrancy courtesy of Ohio University, with coffee shops, bookstores, and music venues that buzz with youthful energy.
Chillicothe, Ohio’s first capital, showcases that heritage through historic sites and a downtown that’s undergone a remarkable renaissance.
Each town offers distinct personality while the wilderness areas between them provide hiking, canoeing, and nature photography opportunities that’ll fill your memory card.
This loop perfectly balances civilization’s comforts with nature’s raw beauty, never straying too far from either.
8. Appalachian Byway & Wayne National Forest
Ohio’s wildest corner hides in the southeastern counties where the Appalachian Byway weaves through Monroe, Washington, and Athens counties, plus backcountry roads cutting through Wayne National Forest.
Forget everything you thought you knew about Ohio being flat—these hills roll and tumble like frozen ocean waves covered in hardwood forest.
Wildlife outnumbers people in many stretches, with white-tailed deer and wild turkeys commonly seen, while the occasional black bear may wander through.
Covered bridges pop up in unexpected places, their weathered wood and stone foundations testifying to pioneer craftsmanship that modern engineers still admire.
Hiking trails branch off into wilderness areas where cell service becomes a distant memory and birdsong replaces traffic noise.
Small communities like Woodsfield and McConnelsville offer genuine Appalachian hospitality, where strangers wave from porches and local diners serve comfort food that sticks to your ribs.
Spring wildflowers carpet the forest floor, while autumn transforms every hillside into a painter’s palette of reds, oranges, and golds.
This route rewards slow exploration and zero expectations, revealing Ohio’s untamed side to those willing to venture off the beaten path.
9. Cuyahoga Valley & Northeast Ohio Waterfalls Route
Northeast Ohio hides a shocking number of waterfalls within easy driving distance of Cleveland and Akron, and building a loop through Cuyahoga Valley National Park plus nearby metroparks creates a waterfall-chasing adventure worthy of the Pacific Northwest.
Brandywine Falls leads the pack with its 65-foot drop, but Blue Hen Falls, Buttermilk Falls, and countless seasonal cascades reward explorers who venture beyond the main attractions.
Hudson’s downtown square oozes New England charm despite being solidly Midwestern, with clock towers, brick sidewalks, and shops selling everything from fudge to fine art.
Peninsula sits literally in the middle of the national park, offering a tiny downtown where the scenic railroad stops and cyclists refuel before tackling more Towpath Trail miles.
Metroparks in Summit and Cuyahoga counties protect additional gorges, ravines, and waterfalls that locals guard like precious secrets.
Spring runoff creates the most dramatic waterfall displays, but fall foliage frames each cascade in colors that make photographers weep with joy.
Pack your hiking boots because most waterfalls require short trails, and bring layers since shaded gorges stay cool even in summer.
10. Northwest Ohio Art & Glass Road Trip
Northwest Ohio might seem like an unlikely art destination until you remember Toledo’s nickname: Glass City, earned through decades of glass manufacturing that evolved into world-class artistic traditions.
The Toledo Museum of Art houses one of the world’s finest glass collections, and its Glass Pavilion showcases contemporary pieces that bend light and reality in equal measure.
Building a loop through Findlay, Tiffin, and Fostoria reveals additional artistic treasures tucked into small-town galleries, historic theaters, and public art installations.
Fostoria’s glass heritage lives on through collectors and dealers who specialize in vintage American glassware that your grandmother probably owned.
Tiffin’s Ritz Theatre underwent stunning restoration, now hosting performances in an Art Deco setting that transports audiences back to Hollywood’s golden age.
Findlay’s downtown murals transform ordinary building walls into outdoor galleries celebrating local history and culture.
Each town maintains distinct personality while sharing northwestern Ohio’s agricultural roots and small-town pride.
This route proves that culture and creativity thrive everywhere, not just in major metropolitan areas, and that sometimes the best discoveries happen in unexpected places far from tourist guidebook recommendations.
11. Theme Parks & Thrills: Cedar Point to Kings Island
Adrenaline junkies, rejoice—Ohio hosts two of America’s premier theme parks, and connecting them creates the ultimate roller coaster pilgrimage.
Cedar Point in Sandusky claims the title “Roller Coaster Capital of the World” with 17 coasters ranging from classic wooden scream machines to cutting-edge steel monsters that defy physics.
The park juts into Lake Erie on a peninsula, meaning coaster rides often feature water views between moments of sheer terror and exhilaration.
Driving south through Columbus provides a breather (and maybe some Dramamine) before reaching Mason and Kings Island, home to The Beast, the world’s longest wooden roller coaster.
Kings Island balances thrills with family-friendly attractions, plus a water park that offers cooling relief from summer heat and coaster-induced sweating.
Optional stops in Dayton showcase aviation history at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, while Cincinnati adds urban exploration and incredible chili culture to your itinerary.
This route demands multiple days unless you possess superhuman stamina and an iron stomach.
Pro tip: visit on weekdays during spring or fall when crowds thin and wait times shrink dramatically.
12. Wally Road & Mohican Country Scenic Byway
The Wally Road Scenic Byway curves through the Mohican River valley near Loudonville, affectionately dubbed “Ohio’s Canoe Capital” for reasons that become obvious the moment you spot the river.
Crystal-clear water winds through forested valleys, creating perfect conditions for canoeing, kayaking, and tubing adventures that range from peaceful floats to mild rapids.
Mohican State Park anchors the region with hiking trails, a covered bridge, and a lodge perched on a bluff overlooking the forest canopy like a treehouse for grown-ups.
The byway itself delivers curves that motorcycle enthusiasts dream about, with elevation changes and forest tunnels that make every mile feel like a discovery.
Loudonville’s downtown caters to outdoor enthusiasts with outfitters, gear shops, and restaurants serving hearty meals designed to refuel tired paddlers.
Zip-line canopy tours let you soar above the treetops, while mountain bike trails challenge riders with technical terrain and rewarding views.
Fall colors absolutely explode here in October, painting the valley in shades that seem too vivid to be real.
This route combines scenic driving with outdoor recreation opportunities, making it perfect for active travelers who can’t sit still for long.