Ohio has five national parks, from the birthplace of aviation at Dayton Aviation Heritage to the historical Hopewell Culture Historical National Park.

Written by Joshua Levy

Reviewed by Kathleen Flear

Updated on Jun 1, 2022

Table of Contents

Cuyahoga Valley
Dayton Aviation Heritage
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
Perry's Victory & International Peace
First Ladies
How to prepare to visit Ohio’s national parks

Load full table of contents

Between the decadent First Ladies National Park and the awe-inspiring Cuyahoga Valley,

Ohio

has some truly breathtaking national parks to offer nature lovers.

The United States is home to a huge number of national parks that attract thousands of visitors every year. And while Ohio may not have the highest number of parks in all of the US, it still has a few unique sites that stand out among even the best-known parks in places like

California

and

Alaska

It can be hard to narrow down exactly what national parks are worth exploring in Ohio. Luckily, the car insurance comparison

super app

and broker

Jerry

is here to tell you everything you need to know about Ohio national parks! Here, we’ll cover everything from the five best parks to visit to the cost of admission.

Cuyahoga Valley

Location: Peninsula, Ohio

Hours of operation: 24 hours, year-round

Admission price: No entrance fees - $0.00

What makes Cuyahoga Valley special

When you think of a national park, the first thing that comes to mind may be enormous untamed forests like Yosemite or wide-open spaces like the Grand Canyon, but Cuyahoga is a little different.

Located in Northern Ohio, the Cuyahoga Valley has a rich history of culture dating back hundreds of years. Cuyahoga was home to Native American tribes like the Wyandot and Iroquois before its colonization in the late 1700s. After that, farmers took control of the land and incorporated vast fields into the scenery. Even into the 1970s, Cuyahoga was home to a variety of private businesses and recreational activities.

Given its unique history, the Cuyahoga Valley is one of the most culturally developed national parks in the United States.

What to do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga has all sorts of activities for energetic visitors from all over. Here are the top activities to do in Cuyahoga:

Hiking: Like most national parks, Cuyahoga Valley is home to a variety of trails that twist and turn through the natural scenery. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in nature, you can’t do much better than a hike through the valley.

Train ride: Cuyahoga is home to a beautiful train with tracks that crawl throughout the valley. If you have a little time to kill, consider exploring the Cuyahoga scenery aboard this one-of-a-kind scenic train.

Kayaking/rafting: While the valley is full of impressive sights, nothing quite beats exploring Cuyahoga’s namesake river. Visitors can rent kayaks and rafts all over the park so they can spend the day floating down the river.

Recreation: Since Cuyahoga is still largely owned by private institutions, there are spots all across the park for activities like golfing, horseback riding, or even questing. Just remember to plan—reservations may sell out if you wait too long.

When to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park

The best time to visit Cuyahoga Valley is in the spring when the weather reaches a consistent temperate state and the flowers start to bloom. Trees throughout the valley quickly grow new leaves and hiking trails start sprouting wildflowers at a rapid pace.

Springtime visitors will likely see everything from bright flowers and thriving flora to beautiful blue skies and active fauna. Between the sights and weather, there’s no question that spring is the best time to be in Cuyahoga Valley.

Pro Tip Cuyahoga Valley is fairly close to Cleveland, so visitors seeking active nightlife can find housing in the city and take day trips to the park.

MORE:

How bad is Cleveland traffic?

RECOMMENDED

Compare auto insurance policies

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

ZIP Code

Find insurance savings

Dayton Aviation Heritage

Location: Dayton, Ohio

Hours of operation: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Admission price: No entrance fees - $0.00

What makes Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park special

The Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park stands out as a place where nature is defied—it’s the birthplace of modern aviation.

Once home to the Wright brothers’ bicycle shop, Dayton is where the two innovators set forth to explore the possibility of flight and developed the first plane. Their contributions shaped the modern era and led to a new possibility of exploration.

Dayton was also once home to a renowned friend of the Wright brothers, Paul Laurence Dunbar, an African American writer who brought national attention to the African American experience—a historical moment for a mostly white literary world at the time.

What to do in Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park

While many national parks center around vast forests and natural beauty, the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park features unique museums and cultural sites. Here are the best things to do in Dayton National Park:

Paul Laurence Dunbar House Historic Site: Visitors can tour Paul Laurence Dunbar’s historic home to get a glimpse into the life of the ground-breaking author and poet.

Tour the Wright Cycle Shop: Hoping to learn more about the inventors of modern flight? Take a tour around the Wright Brothers’ last standing bicycle shop.

Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center: This visitors center features informational films and interactive displays to help visitors learn more about the lives of these historic innovators. It’s also a great place for a quick rest after you’ve toured some of the natural scenery.

When to visit Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park

Dayton Aviation Heritage National park is generally hot and humid during the summer and rainy in the winter. That said, the best time to visit the park is in the fall and spring when temperatures reach moderate temperatures with lower-than-average humidity.

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

Location: Chillicothe, Ohio

Hours of operation: 24 hours, year-round

Admission price: No Entrance Fees - $0.00

What makes Hopewell Culture Historical National Park special

Hopewell Culture Park is home to the remnants of a Native American community that thrived for 700 years (between 200 BCE and 500 CE). Throughout the park, visitors will notice earthen enclosures and mounds built into complex shapes and patterns by Indigenous people. While much of the significance has been lost, the site is full of monuments of historical, cultural, religious, and even scientific significance.

What to do in Hopewell Culture Historical National Park

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is built around what remains of the Hopewell culture. Visitors should spend as much time immersing themselves in the ancient relics as possible.

Here are a few of the best things to do in Hopewell National Park:

Explore Hopeton Earthworks: Take some time to wander through the intricate mazes left by the Hopewell tradition thousands of years ago. These feats of engineering will leave you amazed.

Explore Seip Earthworks: Wander through the mounds and take a few moments to acknowledge the cultural significance of these monuments. The sheer size of the mounded area reflects the power these mounds held for their creators.

Guided tour of the mounds: While exploring on your own can be fun, you may get more from your visit on a guided tour. Rangers can help teach you about the meaning behind the earthen monuments and answer any questions you might have during your visit.

When to visit Hopewell Cultural Historical National Park

Hopewell is in a humid zone that reaches fairly high temperatures in the summer and relatively low temperatures in the winter. To avoid the brunt of Hopewell’s humid heat and icy winter, visitors should plan their visits for early fall or mid-spring.

Perry's Victory & International Peace

Location: Put-in-Bay, Ohio

Hours of operation:

May 21 - September 11 — 10 am - 6 pm Daily

September 12 - September 30 — 1 am - 5:00 pm Daily

October 1 - October 17 — 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Friday - Monday

Admission price: $10 for adults, Free for children under 15 years old

What makes Perry's Victory & International Peace National Park special

Perry's Victory & International Peace National Park stands as a testament to the American resilience of Commodore Perry in the Battle of Lake Erie, where his outnumbered troops defeated “two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop” from the British Navy. The victory was a major turning point in the War of 1812.

What to do in Perry's Victory & International Peace National Park

The park has an intriguing history, but the activities are fairly limited. Here are the best things to do in Perry's Victory & International Peace National Park:

Explore the visitor center: The visitor center is home to an array of artifacts and displays relating to the War of 1812. Visitors can tour the center for a brief but thorough crash course on the history of the war and the significance of the Battle of Lake Erie.

Visit the observation deck: Most visitors come for a quick look at the observation deck, a beautiful spot that overlooks Lake Erie and the location of the decisive battle.

Black Powder Demonstrations: Rangers hold flint-lock demonstrations every weekend to help visitors understand a little more about what the war would have looked and felt like. Considering the evolution of firearms in the past 200 years, many visitors will find the demonstrations informative and entertaining.

When to visit Perry's Victory & International Peace National Park

The Summer around lake Erie gets unbearably hot and humid and the Winter often faces severe rainstorms. The park is only open seasonally, but you can make the most of your visit by planning to come in the fall and spring months.

First Ladies

Location: Canton, Ohio

Hours of operation: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Tuesday-Saturday, year-round (except for national holidays)

Admission price:

Adults: $7

Seniors: $6

Children under age 18: $5

What makes the First Ladies National Site special

First Ladies National Historic Site isn’t so much a park as it is two buildings in commemoration of the United State’s First Ladies. The first building is the historic home of Ida Saxton McKinley, President McKinley's devoted wife who was assassinated by an anarchist. The second building is an Education and Research Center, a museum devoted to providing public information on the impact of First Ladies throughout the history of the United States.

What to do at the First Ladies National Site

The First Ladies National Site is an impressive space with a specific purpose: to acknowledge the contributions of the First Ladies of the United States and to educate the public on those contributions. That said, there are two main activities to do at the First Ladies National Site:

Visit Ida Saxton’s historic home: Visitors can explore Ida Saxton’s historic home to see what life was like for the First Lady before she made her way into office.

Visit the Education and Research Center: Tour the Education and Research Center to learn more about America’s First Ladies and hear all about their contributions to the social-political landscape of the United States today.

When to visit the First Ladies National Site

Spring and fall are generally the best times to visit First Ladies National Site but since the main exhibits and tour areas are indoors, visitors shouldn’t worry too much about the time of year. Just be sure to check that your visiting dates don’t coincide with any national holidays before you book any tickets.

MORE:

Ohio seat-belt law

How to prepare to visit Ohio’s national parks

Before you hit the road to explore Ohio’s national parks, make sure you have the car insurance coverage you need for your trip with

Jerry

. As a licensed broker, Jerry helps users find and compare personalized quotes from over 50 top providers like

Progressive

Nationwide

, and

Allstate

for free.

Just download the app, answer a few questions, and review the list of competitive quotes the Jerry app sends straight to your phone. When you find a quote you like, Jerry can help you switch plans and even help cancel your old policy.

If you have any questions about your new plan or the provider-switching process, Jerry’s friendly customer service agents are only a call away. Users save an average of over $800 a year on car insurance with Jerry—and it only takes a minute to sign up.

“I wasn’t comfortable signing onto an otherwise cheap policy because the provider would track my miles, so
Jerry
found me a non-tracking policy with Clearcover for only $61/month! I think I made the right choice going with Clearcover. Thanks for helping my peace of mind, Jerry.” —Jorge C.

RECOMMENDED

Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry

This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍

Gabriella R.

Find insurance savings

4.7/5 Rating on App Store

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Try Jerry