posted on May 8, 2026
Ohio surprises many first-time visitors with its variety. Within a single trip, you can explore major cities, hike through rugged landscapes, relax along Lake Erie, and discover small towns packed with history. One day might be spent at a world-class museum or amusement park, the next exploring dramatic gorges, ancient earthworks, or a hidden gem with an outstanding food and drink scene. Having a car is the best way to experience Ohio giving you the freedom to move between buzzing cities, lakeside spots, and countryside escapes at your own pace.
In this guide, we’ll be covering:
- Ohio: What you need to know
- The top things to see and do in Ohio
- Exploring Ohio: By interest
- Frequently asked questions about visiting Ohio
Ohio: What you need to know
- Location: Midwest US — bordered by Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, and Indiana to the west. Major cities: Columbus (capital), Cleveland, and Cincinnati
- Getting there: Three major airports serve the state — Columbus (CMH), Cleveland (CLE), and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG). Ohio is also a major road trip hub, within a day’s drive of roughly 60% of the US population
- Getting around: A car is essential for experiencing Ohio beyond its city centers — Hocking Hills, Amish Country, Cuyahoga Valley, the Lake Erie Islands, and Serpent Mound are all spread across the state and unreachable without a vehicle. Browse cars on Turo in Ohio.
- Best time to visit: Summer (June–August) for Cedar Point, Lake Erie, and outdoor adventures. Fall (September–October) is outstanding — Hocking Hills and Amish Country in autumn color are genuinely stunning. Spring brings wildflowers to the gorges. Winter is cold, but Ohio’s cities and indoor attractions remain appealing year-round.
- How many days: A long weekend (3 days) covers one major city and one regional attraction well. A week allows you to combine cities with countryside — the ideal Ohio road trip.
The top things to see and do in Ohio
Ohio’s best experiences are spread across lively cities, lakeside towns, national parks, and roadside surprises you’d never expect to find in the Midwest. From world-class museums and iconic amusement parks to waterfalls, underground caves, and a seriously underrated food scene, there’s a lot more variety here than most people realize.
1. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — Cleveland
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is Ohio’s most iconic attraction, an I. M. Pei-designed glass pyramid sitting on the shores of Lake Erie that celebrates the history of rock and roll from its roots to today. Inside, you’ll find the Hall of Fame Gallery filled with memorabilia like Elvis’s jumpsuits, David Bowie’s handwritten lyrics, and Prince’s custom guitars, alongside exhibits like Legends of Rock, interactive kiosks where visitors can play instruments and record tracks, and the Power of Rock Theatre screening electrifying induction ceremony performances. Exhibits rotate regularly throughout the year, and the museum also hosts live music events and special programs, giving repeat visitors plenty of reasons to come back. Located on East 9th Street on Cleveland’s lakefront next to the Great Lakes Science Center, it’s worth allowing at least 3–4 hours to explore.
Tip from the author: Buy tickets online before you go, especially during weekends and summer holidays when lines can get long. Visiting earlier in the morning is also the best way to experience the interactive exhibits before the museum gets busy.
2. Hocking Hills State Park — southeastern Ohio
Hocking Hills is Ohio’s most spectacular natural attraction, a 2,356-acre park in the sandstone hills of southeastern Ohio where thousands of years of erosion have created deep gorges, towering cliffs, recessed caves, waterfalls, and forests that feel nothing like the flat landscapes many people associate with the state. The park’s best-known stop is Old Man’s Cave, a dramatic winding gorge with cascading waterfalls and natural stone bridges, while Ash Cave is famous for its enormous amphitheater-shaped recess cave and seasonal waterfall. Cedar Falls is one of the park’s most powerful waterfalls, surrounded by towering hemlocks, and Whispering Cave offers a quieter, less crowded alternative that’s just as impressive. Located about 50 miles southeast of Columbus, Hocking Hills is best explored by car, with most visitors spending a full day here or staying overnight in one of the park’s cabins, especially during fall, when the changing maple and hemlock trees turn the gorge walls gold and orange.
Tip from the author: Start at Ash Cave or Cedar Falls if you’re visiting on a weekend, as Old Man’s Cave fills up fastest and gets crowded early. If you can, visit during the weekday shoulder season for a much quieter, more peaceful experience on the trails.
3. Cedar Point — Sandusky
Cedar Point has earned its title as the Roller Coaster Capital of the World thanks to its huge lineup of 69 rides, including record-breaking roller coasters like Top Thrill 2, Steel Vengeance, Millennium Force, and Maverick, all set on a peninsula stretching into Lake Erie. But it’s more than just a thrill-seeker destination, the resort also includes the Cedar Point Shores waterpark, live entertainment, family-friendly rides, a mile-long beach, and multiple on-site hotels that make it feel like a full vacation destination rather than a simple day trip. The park operates from May through October, with Halloween Haunt becoming one of the biggest draws during fall, while summer weekends are by far the busiest time to visit. Located on the southern shore of Lake Erie, about an hour west of Cleveland, Cedar Point is best reached by car.
4. Cuyahoga Valley National Park — between Cleveland and Akron
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of Ohio’s biggest surprises, a 33,000-acre national park tucked between Cleveland and Akron that somehow feels completely removed from city life despite being only minutes away from both. The park is filled with forests, waterfalls, historic sites, and more than 125 miles of trails, with highlights including the 65-foot Brandywine Falls, the dramatic sandstone formations at The Ledges, and the Towpath Trail, a scenic walking and cycling route following the old Ohio and Erie Canal. One of the most unique ways to experience the park is aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, which runs through the valley and offers themed rides, including wine tastings and seasonal excursions. The park is free to enter and easily accessible from both Cleveland and Akron, with the Boston Mill Visitor Center making a great starting point.
5. Pro Football Hall of Fame — Canton
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is worth visiting even if you’re not a huge NFL fan, thanks to its immersive exhibits and deep dive into the history of American football from its earliest days through to the modern game. Inside, you’ll find the Hall of Fame Gallery with bronze busts of every inductee, game-used memorabilia and equipment, the massive 41,000-square-foot GameDay Stadium theater experience, and a rotating lineup of special exhibits celebrating legendary players, coaches, and defining moments in the sport. Every August, the museum becomes the center of the football world during the Enshrinement Festival, a huge week of events ending with the Hall of Fame Game and Enshrinement Ceremony, one of the biggest events on Ohio’s sports calendar. Located about an hour south of Cleveland, the museum is in Canton and is worth allowing at least 3–4 hours to explore.
6. Columbus — Ohio’s underrated capital
Columbus deserves far more attention than it usually gets, with a vibrant mix of excellent restaurants, creative neighborhoods, arts institutions, and attractions that easily justify a dedicated couple of days. The city’s standout areas include the Short North Arts District, a lively stretch of galleries, boutiques, bars, and restaurants along High Street, alongside the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, known for its tropical collections and stunning Chihuly glass installations, and the Columbus Museum of Art. Families should also make time for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, one of the highest-rated zoos in the US, home to more than 7,000 animals and widely respected for its conservation work and family programming. Columbus also has one of the Midwest’s best food scenes, from the local vendors at North Market to an impressive craft brewery culture that rivals much larger cities.
Tip from the author: Head to the Short North on a Saturday morning before the crowds arrive, it’s the best time to browse galleries, grab breakfast, and explore the North Market at a more relaxed pace. By the afternoon, the neighborhood gets much busier, especially on weekends.
7. Ohio’s Amish Country — Holmes County
Ohio’s Amish Country is one of the state’s most distinctive experiences, with Holmes County home to the world’s largest Amish community and a landscape of rolling farmland, horse-drawn buggies, roadside produce stands, and hand-built barns that feel completely removed from modern city life. Visitors can take guided tours run by local operators with long-standing ties to the community, eat at Amish-run restaurants like Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen, browse handcrafted furniture and quilts in the village of Berlin, or simply spend the day driving the quiet country roads. The region is also famous for its food: homemade bread, fresh butter, hearty comfort meals, and pies that locals swear can’t be replicated anywhere else, with Hershberger’s Farm & Bakery well worth a stop. Located roughly halfway between Cleveland and Columbus, Amish Country is best explored by car, especially during the fall when the countryside turns brilliant shades of gold and orange.
8. The Lake Erie Islands — Put-in-Bay and Kelleys Island
The Lake Erie Islands are one of Ohio’s best-kept summer secrets, a cluster of islands off the state’s northern shoreline that feel far more like a relaxed lakeside vacation destination than most first-time visitors expect. Reached by ferry from Sandusky or Port Clinton, the islands offer sandy beaches, wineries, hiking trails, and historic sites, all with a surprisingly strong island atmosphere. Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island is the livelier option, known for its summer nightlife, wineries, and the towering Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, while Kelleys Island has a slower, more nature-focused feel with scenic biking trails and the remarkable Glacial Grooves State Memorial, home to some of the world’s largest accessible glacial grooves carved during the Ice Age. Ferries from Sandusky make Kelleys Island an easy side trip if you’re already visiting Cedar Point. While cars aren’t permitted on the island, getting around by golf cart is part of its laid-back appeal. Late-summer weekdays typically offer the best combination of warm weather and lighter crowds.
9. Serpent Mound — Adams County
Serpent Mound is easily Ohio’s most extraordinary and underappreciated attraction, a 1,348-foot prehistoric earthwork in the shape of an uncoiling serpent, created by Indigenous peoples more than 1,000 years ago for reasons archaeologists still debate today. The mound is aligned with the summer solstice sunset in a way that suggests remarkably sophisticated astronomical knowledge, and walking the surrounding trail reveals just how precise and enormous the structure really is. An observation tower gives visitors a full overhead view of the serpent shape, while the visitor center explores the many theories surrounding who built it and what purpose it served, adding to the site’s genuinely compelling mystery. Located about 75 miles east of Cincinnati, this UNESCO Tentative World Heritage Site sits far from Ohio’s main tourist trail, part of what makes it feel so peaceful, moving, and unforgettable.
10. National Museum of the US Air Force — Dayton
The National Museum of the US Air Force is one of the best free museum experiences in the country, with four enormous hangars housing more than 360 aircraft and missiles tracing the full history of American aviation, from the Wright Brothers, who were from Dayton, through to the Space Age and beyond. Standout exhibits include the Presidential Gallery featuring multiple retired Air Force One aircraft, the Space Gallery, and the Research and Development Gallery filled with experimental planes that look straight out of science fiction. Admission is free, and the museum is open daily at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, located about an hour west of Columbus.
Exploring Ohio: By interest
Whether you’re traveling with kids, chasing outdoor adventures, or planning a food-focused road trip, Ohio has a surprisingly wide mix of experiences to build an itinerary around.
Things to do in Ohio for families
Ohio is packed with family-friendly attractions, from huge amusement parks to interactive museums and outdoor adventures:
- Cedar Point in Sandusky — the roller coaster capital of the world; thrilling for older kids and teens, with family-friendly rides and a waterpark for younger visitors
- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium — one of the best zoos in the country; Fiona the hippo is arguably Ohio’s most famous resident
- Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden — another top-tier zoo with outstanding botanical gardens and a hippo habitat that will delight younger children
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park — accessible trails, wildlife spotting, and the scenic railroad make this an excellent family day trip from Cleveland or Akron
- Lake Erie Islands (Put-in-Bay) — ferries, beaches, and a relaxed island atmosphere that suits families well in summer
Things to do in Ohio for outdoor adventurers
From waterfalls and sandstone gorges to cycling trails and lakefront escapes, Ohio has far more outdoor adventure than most people expect:
- Hocking Hills State Park — hiking through gorges, caves, and past waterfalls in one of the most dramatic landscapes in the Midwest
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park — 125+ miles of trails, cycling on the Towpath Trail, and winter snowshoeing
- Kelleys Island — hiking the glacial grooves trail and biking the island’s quiet roads
- Caesar Creek State Park (southwest Ohio) — hiking, kayaking, and fossil hunting at one of Ohio’s most varied state parks
- The Wilds (southeastern Ohio) — a 10,000-acre wildlife conservation center with open-range safari tours through one of the largest wildlife areas in the eastern US
Things to do in Ohio for history and culture lovers
Ohio’s mix of music history, Indigenous heritage, aviation milestones, and standout museums makes it a surprisingly rich destination for culture-focused travelers:
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland — celebrating the artists, songs, and moments that shaped modern music.
- Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton — a surprisingly engaging museum even for casual sports fans
- Serpent Mound, Adams County — one of North America’s most significant and mysterious archaeological sites
- National Museum of the US Air Force, Dayton — a world-class aviation museum that’s free to visit
- Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Chillicothe — the world’s largest collection of Indigenous burial mounds, offering a window into ancient Ohio civilizations
- National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati — a powerful and important museum dedicated to the history of the Underground Railroad
Things to do in Ohio for food and drink lovers
Ohio’s food scene ranges from Amish comfort cooking and historic public markets to craft breweries, inventive restaurants, and classic Midwest diners worth planning a road trip around:
- Short North Arts District, Columbus — Ohio’s best concentration of independent restaurants and the North Market for local produce and artisan goods
- Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati — a revitalized 19th-century neighborhood with Findlay Market (Ohio’s oldest public market), craft breweries, and excellent dining
- Ohio’s Amish Country — hearty home-cooked food, fresh-baked pies, and a food culture rooted in tradition rather than trend
- Ohio wine country — over 600 wineries and craft breweries statewide; the Lake Erie shoreline appellation and the Hocking Hills area are particularly well-regarded
- West Side Market, Cleveland — a 100+ vendor public market operating since 1912, with an extraordinary range of meats, produce, and ready-to-eat foods
Frequently asked questions about visiting Ohio
What is Ohio most famous for?
Ohio is best known for attractions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cedar Point, and its deep ties to aviation history through the Wright Brothers and the National Museum of the United States Air Force. It’s also famous for college football culture, Amish Country, and surprisingly beautiful outdoor areas like Hocking Hills State Park and Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
What is the best time of year to visit Ohio?
The best time to visit Ohio is usually from late spring through fall, especially between May and October, when the weather is mild and most attractions are fully open. Fall is particularly beautiful, with colorful foliage in places like Hocking Hills State Park and Cuyahoga Valley National Park, while summer is ideal for visiting Cedar Point and enjoying Lake Erie. Winter can be cold and snowy, but cities like Cleveland and Columbus still have great museums, restaurants, and indoor attractions year-round.
Do I need a car to visit Ohio?
Yes, having a car is the best way to experience Ohio. While cities like Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati have some public transportation and rideshare options, many of Ohio’s best attractions, including Hocking Hills State Park, Amish Country, and Serpent Mound, are spread out and difficult to reach without driving. A car gives you the flexibility to move between cities, national parks, small towns, and roadside stops at your own pace.
How many days do you need to see Ohio?
You could see some of Ohio in a long weekend, but 7–10 days is ideal if you want to properly experience the mix of cities, outdoor attractions, and smaller towns. That gives you enough time to visit places like Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati while also making time for destinations like Hocking Hills State Park, Amish Country, and Cedar Point. Ohio is larger and more varied than many visitors expect, so having extra time makes the trip feel much less rushed.
Is Ohio worth visiting?
Yes, Ohio is one of the most underrated states in the US. It combines major attractions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cedar Point with beautiful outdoor destinations like Hocking Hills State Park and Cuyahoga Valley National Park, plus great food, music, sports culture, and exciting road trip potential. It’s the kind of place that tends to surprise people once they actually spend time there.
Explore Ohio by car with Turo
Ohio is a state best explored by car. One day might take you to Serpent Mound, an Amish bakery tucked away in Holmes County, or Ash Cave at sunrise; the next could be spent following the scenic roads through Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Its most memorable experiences aren’t concentrated in one place, but scattered across a surprisingly varied landscape that rewards exploration.
Browse cars on Turo in cities like Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, then use your rental to explore everything in between at your own pace. Whether you’re planning a spring break, a national park getaway, or a longer Midwest road trip, having your own car is the key to unlocking the best of Ohio.
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Maddison Stewart
Maddy Stewart is a Sydney-based writer originally from Aotearoa, New Zealand, with a love for road trips and discovering places off the beaten track. Having driven the length of New Zealand many times, her favourite journeys are through the bottom of the South Island - especially Central Otago, which she considers a dream. She’s also explored parts of Australia by car and is currently looking forward to discovering Europe’s best vintage shops, seaside towns, and hidden gems on her next adventure.
