Weekend Getaways in Ohio

by Ben ·

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Getting away for the weekend is easy in Ohio, and there are many options. The state is small enough that you can drive across the entire state in three or four hours. Beaches, woods, and even some mountainous areas attract people to visit for weekend getaways in Ohio. Weekend getaways in Ohio could be whatever you want it to be.

Larger metro areas, such as Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland, are home to concert venues, art museums, delicious restaurants, and professional sports teams. Suburban cities and towns offer easy access to these larger cities, but may give you a slower pace for the weekend. Plenty of small towns and rural areas allow you to really slow down and spend time rejuvenating yourself.

State Parks

Ohio is home to 75 state parks with many of them having camping options for weekend getaways. Whether you plan to tent camp, park a camper, or use a hammock, there are a lot of great places to visit in the state park system. Some of the more popular parks that make for great weekend getaways are Hocking Hills, East Harbor, South Bass Island, Maumee Bay, and Mohican. Nine of Ohio’s state parks have lodges with rooms available to rent. Most of them have hotels or vacation rentals nearby as well to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

National Park

One national park is located in Ohio. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is located in northeastern Ohio, not far from Cleveland and Akron. Cuyahoga Valley is a perfect spot for those that want to spend some time in nature but not be too far away from one-of-a-kind restaurants and entertainment. Take a stroll or a bike ride on the Towpath Trail to experience the route of the Ohio and Erie Canal. Like with many of Ohio’s state parks, Cuyahoga is also nearby hotels and vacation rentals on top of campgrounds near the park.

Tourist Attractions

Several tourist attractions in Ohio make for enjoyable weekend getaways. Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island is one such place. Put-in-Bay is sometimes dubbed “the Key West of the North,” featuring entertainment venues, restaurants, unique lodging options, museums, Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, and two state parks. Visiting Put-in-Bay is a different experience than visiting anywhere else in Ohio. On top of the location and the uncommon atmosphere, getting around Put-in-Bay is normally done by walking, bicycling, or by golf cart.

Another weekend getaway that can be a lot of fun is spending a couple of days at one of Ohio’s famous amusement parks. Cedar Point in Sandusky and Kings Island in Mason are well-known by thrill seekers. Both parks are owned and operated by Cedar Fair. Cedar Point boasts eighteen roller coasters while Kings Island has fifteen. Dozens of other attractions, kiddie rides, and games make either amusement park an enjoyable place to spend a weekend.