Things to Do in Ohio 7 guides

Why visit Ohio

Few states pack world-class coasters, the birthplace of aviation, and hidden waterfall gorges into one easy day's drive.

Ohio is the Midwest's crossroads, where Lake Erie beaches and roller-coaster parks in the north give way to the wooded gorges of Hocking Hills, the river towns of the Appalachian southeast, and three big cities — Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati — that anchor the corners. Use this hub to plan your trip: browse our city guides below, from Sandusky's Cedar Point to Dayton's aviation heritage and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

Known for
Roller coasters, aviation & the Rock Hall
Best for
Theme parks, museums & lake towns
Capital
Columbus (also the largest city)
Main gateway
Columbus (CMH), Cleveland (CLE) & Cincinnati (CVG)
Time zone
Eastern (ET)

Trip planner Plan your trip to Ohio

Best time to visit — season by season

Spring
Mar–May

Mild and green, with dogwood and redbud coming out across the southern hills and the river valleys running high. Expect changeable, showery weather; the big lakeshore parks are only just waking up.

Summer
Jun–Aug

Peak season for the coasters and the Lake Erie shore, when Cedar Point and Kings Island run at full tilt and the islands' ferry service is busiest. Warm, humid days with highs in the 80s°F and the occasional thunderstorm are the norm.

Fall
Sep–Nov

The pick of the year: crisp air, blazing colour through Hocking Hills and the Cuyahoga Valley, and thinner crowds at the parks, several of which run popular Halloween events into late October.

Winter
Dec–Feb

Cold and grey inland, with real lake-effect snow piling up in the snowbelt east of Cleveland. Theme parks close for the season, but indoor water-park resorts around Sandusky stay busy and the cities keep their museums and theatres going.

Regions of Ohio

  • Lake Erie shore & the islands (the north)

    Ohio's summer playground, where Sandusky anchors Cedar Point, the indoor water parks and the ferries out to Kelleys Island and Put-in-Bay, with Marblehead Lighthouse and the beaches strung along the shore.

  • Greater Cleveland & the northeast

    The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the museums of University Circle and the waterfalls of Cuyahoga Valley National Park sit up here, with Canton and its Pro Football Hall of Fame just to the south.

  • Columbus & central Ohio

    The capital and largest city, pairing the Short North and German Village with the Franklin Park Conservatory and COSI, and an easy hub for reaching every other corner of the state.

  • Cincinnati & the southwest

    The Ohio River city of hills, chili and riverfront ballparks, with Mason and the Kings Island amusement park just to the north-east and Dayton's aviation heritage a short drive away.

  • Hocking Hills & Appalachian Ohio (the southeast)

    Ohio's wild corner of sandstone gorges, waterfalls and hemlock forest around the Hocking Hills, giving way to the historic Ohio River towns of Marietta and Gallipolis.

  • Amish Country & the northwest

    The rolling farm country of Holmes County in the northeast-central hills — the largest Amish settlement in Ohio, and one of the biggest in the country — plus, out west, the flat plains around Findlay and the Maumee Valley toward Toledo.

Getting around

A car is the practical way to get around: Ohio's draws are spread across the state, and while the three big cities have local transit, the parks, lake towns and hill country between them are not well served. The interstates make it easy — I-71 strings Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati together, I-75 runs north–south through Dayton and Findlay, and I-70 crosses east–west through Columbus. Columbus sits dead centre and makes a natural base, with Cleveland and Cincinnati airports serving the north and south. In summer, the Lake Erie islands are reached by ferry from the Sandusky and Port Clinton area rather than by road.

The highlights Ohio's signature sights & road trips

Ohio's headline draws

Suggested routes

The I-71 three-cities run

4–6 days

Ohio's spine, linking its three biggest cities and their best museums, ballparks and neighbourhoods along one easy interstate. Run it in either direction; this version goes north to south.

  1. Cleveland — Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and University Circle
  2. Canton — detour for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
  3. Columbus — capital, museums and the Short North
  4. Mason — Kings Island on the way south
  5. Cincinnati — riverfront finish on the Ohio

Lake Erie shore & islands weekend

3–4 days

A summer loop along Ohio's north coast, built around the amusement parks, water resorts and the ferry islands. Easy to reach from Cleveland or Toledo.

  1. Sandusky — basecamp for Cedar Point and the water parks
  2. Marblehead Lighthouse — the classic Lake Erie photo stop
  3. Put-in-Bay — ferry across to South Bass Island
  4. Kelleys Island — a quieter island day trip

Southern Ohio history & aviation loop

3–4 days

A drive through the state's south, pairing the birthplace of aviation with the Ohio River's oldest town and the gorges of Hocking Hills.

  1. Dayton — the Air Force museum and Wright brothers heritage
  2. Hocking Hills — waterfalls and recess caves
  3. Marietta — the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory
Map of Ohio
Interactive map by City Viking. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Cities in Ohio

States near Ohio

Ohio travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit Ohio?

Late spring through early autumn is the sweet spot. Summer is peak season for the Lake Erie shore and the amusement parks, when Cedar Point and Kings Island run at full tilt. September and October bring crisp air, brilliant fall colour in Hocking Hills and the Cuyahoga Valley, and thinner crowds. Winter is cold and often snowy inland, and the outdoor theme parks close for the season.

How many days do you need in Ohio?

A focused trip to one region — the Lake Erie parks around Sandusky, or the three big cities along I-71 — works well in three to four days. Combining a city or two with a couple of the state's headline draws, such as Cedar Point and the Air Force museum in Dayton, fills a comfortable week. Add Hocking Hills or Amish Country and you'll want ten days.

Do you need a car in Ohio?

For most trips, yes. The cities have their own local transit, but Ohio's parks, lake towns and hill country are spread across the state and thinly served by transit, so a rental car is the practical choice. The interstates make the driving easy — I-71 links Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati — and Columbus sits centrally as a base.

What is Ohio best known for?

Ohio is famous for its amusement parks — Cedar Point in Sandusky is often called the roller-coaster capital of the world, with Kings Island near Cincinnati close behind — plus the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, the birthplace of aviation in Dayton, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. It's also known for Lake Erie, Hocking Hills and being the home state of a record number of US presidents and astronauts.

What are the best amusement parks in Ohio?

Cedar Point in Sandusky is the headliner, a Lake Erie peninsula packed with world-record roller coasters, and it's paired with big indoor water-park resorts nearby. Kings Island near Mason, north of Cincinnati, is the other major park, known for The Beast and a large water park of its own. Both run into the autumn with popular Halloween events.

What is there to do in Ohio besides theme parks?

Plenty. Dayton has the enormous National Museum of the US Air Force and the Wright brothers' aviation heritage; Cleveland has the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Cuyahoga Valley National Park; Canton has the Pro Football Hall of Fame; and Columbus offers the Franklin Park Conservatory, COSI and the German Village district. For the outdoors, Hocking Hills' waterfall gorges and the Lake Erie islands are the standouts.

Can you visit the Lake Erie islands from Ohio?

Yes. Kelleys Island and South Bass Island (home to the village of Put-in-Bay) are reached by passenger and car ferries from the Sandusky and Port Clinton area, mainly from late spring through autumn. They're popular day trips and short getaways in summer, with the Jet Express and other ferry lines running from the mainland; service is greatly reduced or stops entirely in winter.

Is Ohio good for a fall-colour trip?

Very. Autumn is arguably the best time to visit. The sandstone gorges of Hocking Hills, the woodlands of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the back roads of Amish Country all turn brilliant colours through late September and October, and it coincides with cooler, quieter days at the amusement parks before they close for the season.