5-Day Southern OH Road Trip
Set off and explore the 17th state of the U.S.A. with a road trip to some of the most interesting locations in Southern Ohio. As the land of corn and unpredictable weather, Ohio has a little bit of something for everyone!
Editor’s Note: This blog post is written by RTL Intern Landon Brown. Landon is an undergraduate student studying Professional Writing and Information Design at Cedarville University in Southwest Ohio.
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Best Time of Year to Road Trip Ohio
One could say there is no best time to take an Ohio road trip because the weather is unpredictable. In the early summer, it can feel like winter on some days, and the opposite is true, too. Ohio weather has been “memed” plenty of times and many college students you interact with will say the same thing… The weather in Ohio does whatever it wants!
But if you want a week of fine weather, then plan your Ohio road trip for the summer. (My recommendation is to visit right after Spring to catch beautiful 60-degree weather.) Out of all the seasons, May and June have the most consistent weather. Just keep an eye on the forecasts and temperatures, and you’ll have a good time.
This is not to say the other seasons don't have their appeal, too.
Fall months transform many of the mentioned locations into completely different areas, as will spring and winter months. Winter turns Ohio into a snowy wonderland and luckily, we’re good at icing the roads to get around! During spring months, you’ll get to see all the flowers bloom, so if you want a more seasonal experience, there’s truly no bad time to plan an Ohio road trip.
Where to Stay For an Ohio Road Trip
Due to how many special locations are in the general area, I would recommend staying in Chillicothe while going on an Ohio road trip. It’s central to most of the best things to do in Ohio.
When my friends come down twice a year to visit, they often stay at Christopher Inn & Suites in Chillicothe. They’ve enjoyed the service enough to stay multiple times, plus the hotel is pet-friendly and has a pool for guest use inside.
For the most part, though, there are not many special places to stay in Chillicothe, but the stay isn't what to come to Ohio for, so any hotel will do.
By making Chillicothe your home base, you can visit many places and events nearby, including Hopewell National Historical Park, Adena Mansion, Tecumseh, and Great Seal State Park.
If you prefer to stay in a bigger city during your road trip, consider Columbus or Cincinnati as well.
Day 1: Chillicothe
For being such a small city, Chillicothe has plenty going on in and around it. There are four main areas of interest that are sure to excite.
The first location is called Adena Mansion, where you can see the house of the sixth governor. The house was finished in 1807. There’s a museum behind the mansion, and in front, near the road, there's an outlook where you can see the view that inspired Ohio’s coat of arms design.
It's sometimes difficult to get to Adena Mansion by car because of the gates at the bottom of the hill, but it is within walking distance if you need to park and walk in. Plus, the gates aren't always closed; Adena Mansion opens up on the weekends for a fee. The area is dog friendly, so bring your furry friends along.
Next, visit the Hopewell National Historical Park to see a clearing with 23 massive burial mounds. You can walk next to them, but not on them, because they might break. I walked around the clearing the mounds were in and took a short trail at the opposite end of the clearing to see the river the Natives would use to travel. The trail leads you to the outer edge of the clearing so you can walk around the entire thing.
This area is not difficult to traverse and is dog friendly. One of the interesting things I got to learn while at the mounds was how they were formed and the resources used to make them. There are also events that happen on certain dates, including a murder mystery that leads you through various parts of Adena Mansion.
The next place to visit while in Chillicothe is Great Seal State Park, where my family and I enjoy hiking. The trails we like to hike often are the Shawnee Ridge (Blue Trail) and the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail (Yellow Trail).
The Blue Trail is long and has some challenges involved, but the Yellow Trail is much more difficult despite its much shorter length. While these are my favorite, there are 13 trails in total to choose from within the state park. There are also campgrounds, cabins, and lodges to stay in if you want, some of which are pet-friendly.
The last big attraction in Chillicothe comes in the form of an outdoor drama that is sure to excite and awe. The Tecumseh Outdoor Drama is one of my fondest memories of Chillicothe, and the food isn't bad either. The play always starts at 8:00 PM and ends at 10:45 with a 20-minute intermission. Have dinner and a show with the Kenton House Food & Ale. It's nothing fancy, but it's sure to satisfy your appetite, and you can grab a snack during the intermission.
They have other acts they perform besides Techumseh, usually something near Halloween and so forth. The show does get loud at times, so if you have sensitive hearing, then have a seat near the back left area. (That should be the furthest away from the cannon and the actors on stage.) After or before the show, grab a souvenir at the gift shop. You can also enjoy a backstage tour of Tecumseh from the cast members.
Days 2-3: Hocking Hills State Park
During your Ohio road trip, you can easily spend a day in Hocking Hills, which is why I recommend spending two days here to get the the full experience.
Read more about 10 fun things to do in Hocking Hills here.
Hocking Hills State Park is a grand place to visit, and despite being a state park, it is one of the most frequented parks in America, gathering over 5 million people a year. Hike many of the famous trails and explore the various caves and falls in the area, including some trips to the Cantwell Cliffs and Lake Hope; the latter also has activities for you to go boating and kayaking.
The main lobby and conference center also have a nice dining area and pub, and there's even a place near the entrance where you can grab a cup of coffee to wake yourself up or recharge your batteries. I enjoyed the Catfish Po Boy at the Rock House Restaurant.
After spending the night in Hocking Hills in either a cabin, lodge, or campsite, enjoy breakfast and continue hiking. I would recommend going to Old Man’s Cave first because it gets very crowded later in the day. Then complete your time in Hocking Hills with anything else you want to see and do that you didn't get to yesterday, including a sauna pod you can book.
Here are 10 fun things to do in Hocking Hills State Park!
Day 4: Thrill Seekers Itinerary
This is going to be a very exciting day, just make sure you bring extra clothes!
Welcome to Paintball Country, where there are a variety of areas to play, you guessed it, paintball and matches that come in quick succession, so you’ll get a workout too.
Paintball Country is a paintball destination located about an hour and a half from Chillicothe, Ohio, in between the cities of Dayton and Cincinnati. It’s the next suggested stop along your Ohio road trip and shares an area with the Niederman Family Farm, another great destination in Ohio.
Once you arrive, you’ll be able to rent a paintball gun and buy some ammo; you’ll also have to rent a mask. The mask is mandatory, but be warned, if you can't see far away and use glasses, then you are not going to like the mask.
I went not long after some rain fell, so the areas were muddy next to the cover, so it might be best to wait for the ground to dry up unless you don't mind getting dirty. Whatever the weather, I recommend having fun with it… Get out there and nail ‘em good.
You’ll need to bring extra clothes with you because of all the paintballs you will be catching, and they have areas where you can change. The paint will dissolve in water, so cleaning stains out will not be an issue.
The other thrilling location guaranteed to delight is Kings Island, a place with good food and better rides. This option is more convenient for an Ohio road trip because there's not as much preparation involved.
Kings Island is Ohio’s Disney World with rides, food, and gift shops. I would recommend going to Kings Island during school days to avoid the majority of the crowd, and don't go on weekends. Mondays are typically not crowded.
There is also a water park within Kings Island where you can cool off after a hot day, plus lockers for your belongings, towels, and changing rooms. I haven't been to too many water parks, including this one, but it's always bustling when I’m there.
The rides are the main and biggest attraction of Kings Island, with some of the rollercoasters being famous. The Diamond Back is one of the top steel roller coasters in the world. The roller coaster that got me to enjoy the exciting thrill of speeding fast in a cart was The Beast, a wooden roller coaster that is the longest and fastest in the world.
There are many shows and other events and attractions within Kings Island, so keep an eye out for anything that strikes your interest. You will not need to leave for food because there are many places to have lunch and dinner, there are also a few places for some spirits, such as Outpost Frozen Cocktails.
Enjoy some rides and have a drink, just be sure your stomach settles first.
Day 5: National Museum of the USAF
Nearing the end of your Ohio road trip, go back in time and learn all about the flying machines of the world, from the Wright Brothers all the way to modern engineering.
Within this massive museum, you will be able to get a close-up view of various aircraft and will even be able to hop in some cockpits. You can also walk through the massive jets our past presidents used to get around.
Besides aircraft, there are also various rockets you can walk around and a life-sized model of a NASA shuttle. This includes a space suit and some satellites.
On your way out, there's a gift shop that includes model kits of some of the featured aircraft within the museum. I really enjoy building model kits, and some of my passion for it is having some knowledge of what I’m making.
If you like planes and rockets, or if you love history, then this is the place for you.
Suggested Itinerary
For Day One, I would recommend going to Hopewell Culture National Historical Park first to see the Indian burial mounds and then head to Adena Mansion to visit the mansion and the museum and maybe participate in an event if time permits. Next, head to Great Seal State Park for some proper hiking trails and enjoy the nature trails. Before ending the day, get dinner and a show at Tecumseh and take a backstage tour.
For Day Two, head to Hocking Hills for a two-day experience and enjoy the sights, activities, and food there.
We’re on day four, and I would recommend Kings Island because it's less exhausting than paintball, and you don't need to bring your own food or an extra set of clothes unless you plan on visiting the water park. I still think paintball is a great way to spend the day, but Kings Island is convenient.
We’re on Day Four, and I would recommend Kings Island because it's less exhausting than paintball, and you don't need to bring your own food or an extra set of clothes unless you plan on visiting the water park. I still think paintball is a great way to spend the day, but Kings Island is convenient.
For Day Five, spend as much time at the National Museum of the USAF as possible because it doesn't stay open for long, and there's so much to see when visiting.
Then make your way back to Chillicothe to complete your jolly good Ohio road trip!