The Best Weekend Getaways in Ohio

Whether you’re ready to be swept off your feet in romantic Marietta or get away from the city in Amish Country, Ohio has incredible options for your weekend getaway.
Written by Jessie Devine
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Whether you and your sweetheart are dying to get away for the weekend or you need a few days to get in touch with nature,
Ohio
has the best weekend getaway for you.
Life can’t always be all about the grind. Sometimes you need to take a few days off and explore the cool places around you. But if you don’t know where to go, the planning can get daunting.
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has your back. From vacations on the cheap to the bookworm’s dream weekend, we’ve made itineraries to fit anyone’s taste for the best weekend getaway in Ohio.
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Best weekend getaways for couples in Ohio

Logan

Stay at:
The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls
(cabins start at $219/night, cottages and geodomes also available)
Or:
Hocking Hills Inn and Coffee Emporium
(suites start at $85/night)
Start your weekend
Logan
right with a cup of coffee at the
Hocking Hills Coffee Emporium
, and then take a walk through
Old Man’s Cave
for breathtaking views of waterfalls and rock formations. For lunch, head over to
The Olde Dutch Restaurant
for a delicious buffet, and then hit up the
Logan Antique Mall
and find treasures to remember your trip. Finish your day with a gourmet meal at
Kindred Spirits
—and don’t forget dessert.
Begin day two with a delightful breakfast at
Penny’s Pastries
on Main Street. Then get ready to relax with your sweetheart inside a cedar sauna barrel at
Sauna Pods Hocking Hills
. A trip to Logan wouldn’t be complete without a visit to local favorite lunch spot
Pearl’s Diner
. Take a few minutes to check out the
DustyBlues Art Gallery
, and then end the day chilling at the
Hocking Hills Winery

Marietta

Stay at:
The Lafayette
(rooms start at $80/night—
Signature Romantic Getaway
suite package available for $280)
Or:
The Hackett Hotel
(suites start at $109/night)
In historic
Marietta
, start your romantic getaway with breakfast at
Jeremiah’s Coffee House
. Then visit
The Castle
to see stunning Gothic architecture and learn about Marietta’s history. Get over to
Tonya’s Country Kitchen
for lunch, and if you have room, hit
Whit’s Frozen Custard
to share a treat with your sweetie. Then tour Marietta on one of the town’s
Trolley Tours
, and visit
Austyn’s
for a fine dining dinner experience.
On day two, start with breakfast from local farm-to-table restaurant
Busy Bee
. Then get outside and walk the
Marietta River Trail
. For lunch, try the tasty fare at
The Cozy Kitchen
, and then visit the
B&O Harmar Bridge
where you and your honey can lock a padlock and toss the key into the river. Have dinner on the river at
Boat House BBQ
, and then catch a fun evening show at the
Peoples Bank Theater
.
Pro tip: Don’t let that small-town charm go to waste—take lots of pictures!

Best weekend getaways for families in Ohio

Sandusky

Stay at:
Hampton Inn Sandusky-Central
(rooms for $94/night)
Or:
Cedar Point’s Castaway Bay
(rooms for $169/night)
Bring the kids and spend the day at
Sandusky’s
famous
Kalahari Resorts Waterpark
. Then hit up
Berardi’s Family Kitchen
for dinner before taking a five-minute drive to
Toft’s Dairy Ice Cream Parlor
—Ohio’s oldest dairy.
Start day two with breakfast at
Sandusky Bay Pancake House
. Then visit the
Merry-Go-Round Museum
to learn about merry-go-round history and ride the
Stargazer Carousel
. Grab pizza for lunch at
Brick Oven Bistro
and then visit
Lagoon Deer Park
where you and your kids can feed deer and other animals by hand. Finish your mini family getaway with dinner at
Better Half Family Restaurant
.

Northeast Ohio

Stay at:
Shady Oaks Farm Bed and Breakfast
(family suite ranges $189-$220/night)
Or:
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Macedonia
(rooms start at $86/night)
Just outside of
Cleveland
, you’ll find tons of fun and family-friendly things to do. Get the best brunch in Ohio at
Blue Door Cafe & Bakery
, and then drive about ten minutes to the
Stow Community Farmers Market
. There, you can buy everything you need to have a picnic in
Cuyahoga National Park
while you and your family spend the day in nature.
The next day, have a classic breakfast at a retro cafe called
The Lamp Post
before visiting the
Little Turtle Pond
for free fishing (for kids under 15) and turtle viewing! Get some lunch at
Molly Brown’s Country Cafe
and then test your family’s logic and teamwork at
Locked in at the Lakes Escape Room
. Finish up with dinner at
Akron Family Restaurant
.
MORE: 8 pro tips for long car rides with kids

Best weekend getaways for booklovers

Columbus

Stay at:
50 Lincoln Short North Bed and Breakfast
(rooms starting at $140/night)
Or:
Graduate Columbus
(rooms starting at $83/night)
In
Columbus
, start the day with a cup of coffee and a book at
Birdie Books and Café
, and then check out the
Thurber House Museum and Literary Center
. Afterward, try
Two Dollar Radio Headquarters
bookstore and vegan lunch spot, and then hit up the
Book Loft of German Village
—Columbus’ favorite bookstore.
Day two starts with coffee (or maybe an early cocktail?) and a treat at
Kafe Kerouac
. Then you should definitely hit up the
Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum
before lunch at
Super Chef’s
, a comic-book-themed breakfast-and-lunch cafe. A book lover's visit to Columbus would be incomplete without stopping by the
Columbus Metropolitan Main Library
. Then take a short drive just out of Columbus for dinner at the
Asterisk Supper Club
—a literary-themed restaurant that serves as a big free library where you can take a book, leave a book.
If you go at the end of April, be sure to attend the
Ohioana Book Festival
.

Cincinnati

Stay at:
21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati
(rooms from $169/night)
Or:
Kinley Cincinnati
(rooms from $179/night)
Start your
Cincinnati
vacation at the
Iris Book Cafe
with breakfast and a book, and then visit the famous
Mercantile Library
. Spend some time exploring the arts district, and then visit the
Gaslight Bar & Grille
—also known as the Library Bar, which lives in a building that used to house the Clifton Branch Library.
Day two begins with breakfast at the
Sleepy Bee Cafe: Oakley
. Then take a two-minute walk to the
Blue Manatee Literacy Project
bookstore, where you’ll find independent books you won’t find at other stores. In the evening, head over to
Motr Pub
for one of Word of Mouth’s weekly live poetry events.
If you like book festivals, check out the annual schedule for
Books by the Banks
.

Best weekend getaways for foodies

Columbus

Stay at:
Hotel LeVeque
(rooms from $222/night)
Columbus is a great place to be for book lovers, but it’s also becoming a food capital of the USA. Start your vacation with Ohio’s best donuts from
Buckeye Donuts
. Then join the
Short North Food Tour
to try the culinary delights of Columbus’ arts district. When you’re finished, you’ll be just on time for afternoon tea at the
Cambridge Tea House
. If you have space for dinner, get a fine dining experience at
Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
.
Day two begins with a classic and delicious breakfast at
Scotty’s Cafe
, which was voted the #1 diner in Columbus. In the afternoon, join the
German Village Food Tour
where you’ll visit
Katzinger’s
, featured on the Food Network’s show The Best Thing I Ever Ate.

Athens

Stay at:
Ohio University Inn
(rooms from $86/night)
Or:
Deer Ridge Bed and Breakfast
(rooms from $125/night)
Start your foodie getaway with breakfast at the locally famous Mexican restaurant,
Casa Nueva
. Spend the rest of the morning at the
Athens Farmers Market
to taste locally homemade goodies. Take a break in the afternoon at
Town’s End Coffee Bar
before taking one of a variety of cooking classes at
Savoir Cooking
.
The next day begins with a delicious quiche breakfast from
Village Bakery & Cafe
. Take a stroll down to the Athens Downtown Historic District where you’ll find cobblestone streets, galleries, and the
Bubbles Tea Company
. For lunch, try the fun and funky
O’Betty’s Red Hot
hot dog restaurant, and if you still have room by dinner, finish the weekend off right with a taste of international cuisine at
Restaurant Salaam
.
Pro Tip: To find more great places to eat, ask a local on the street what their favorite is.

Best weekend getaways for outdoor enthusiasts

Loudonville

Stay at: The
Mohicans Treehouse Resort
(starting at $250/night)
Or:
Mohican Adventures Campground and Cabins
(camp for $30-$40/night or choose a cabin starting at $185/weekend night)
Have breakfast at
Mellor’s Family Restaurant
, and then get going with a hike in
Mohican State Park
. When you break for lunch, try out
Trail’s End Restaurant
, and then go canoeing with outfitting by
Loudonville Canoe Livery
. Pick up some takeout from
Black Fork Bistro
and get some rest for a second exciting day.
Grab some coffee and a fresh Amish baked treat at the
Mohican Country Market
before you set out on your day two adventure. Head over to
Treefrog Canopy Tours
to take an exciting zipline tour of the forest, and then get some lunch at the
Copper Mug Bar and Grille
. Spend the rest of your day chilling out riverside at the Black Fork Mohican River.

Kelleys Island

Stay at:
Water’s Edge Retreat
(suites starting at $291/night)
Or: Camp at
Kelleys Island State Park Campground
(nightly rates $24-$100 depending on the type of site)
Get to know Lake Erie with a weekend stay on Kelleys Island. Start your vacation with a lakeside breakfast at
Taste by the Lake
. Take a walk down the beach to the
Ed Curilla Preserve
to visit the red cedar forest and pools that house unique reptiles and amphibians. In the afternoon, fill up your belly with delicious barbeque at
Peeper’s
before heading south to take a boat ride onto the lake with
Seaway Marina
.
Start your day with a tasty breakfast at Captain’s Corner and then pick up picnic supplies at the
Island Market
, because you’re heading to the other side of the island. Hike around the
North Shore Loop Hiking Trail
. When you’re finished, check out the
Glacial Grooves Geological Preserve
to see 18,000-year-old deep grooves left by a glacier, plus ancient marine fossils in the limestone. Finish your weekend with the best seafood (and view) at
Portside Marina
.

Best cheap weekend getaways

Amish Country

Stay at:
Sugarcreek Village Inn
(rooms from $65/night)
Or:
Camp at Amish Country Campsites
(site for $29/night)
Start your Amish weekend getaway with a homestyle Amish breakfast at
Boyd & Wurthman’s
, where a three-egg omelet will set you back just $7.99. Then take a hike and see fascinating art installations at
Holmes County Open Air Art Museum
for free. Get a delicious and inexpensive lunch at Berlin’s
Plain and Simple Diner
. After lunch, stop by the
World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock
on the hour and half-hour for a (free) full show including Swiss polka music and dancers.
The next day, get a cup of coffee and try the famous sourdough donut for breakfast at
Amish Country Donuts
. Grab some picnic supplies at the
Dutch Valley Market
, and then spend a few hours meeting and hand-feeding exotic animals at the
Farm at Walnut Creek
for a $15 admission ticket. Make a free visit to the
Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center
for a guided tour illustrating the history of the area. Then have a nice dinner made with locally sourced ingredients at the
Olde World Bistro
.
MORE: Best fall road trips in the Midwest 

Toledo

Stay at:
Red Roof Inn Toledo - University
(rooms from $59/night)
Or:
Quality Inn Alexis Road
(rooms from $71/night)
In
Toledo
, start the day at
Mama’s Kitchen
for a cheap and tasty breakfast. Head over to the
Toledo Museum of Art
to see all the latest exhibits for free, and then grab lunch at
Monroe St. Diner
. After lunch, make a trip to the
Toledo Botanical Garden
for a relaxing (and free) stroll through breathtaking flowers, plants, and trees. Finish the evening with dinner and a drag show at
Hamburger Mary’s
.
Grab a latte and a homemade donut at
Black Kite Coffee
and take them for a walk through Toledo’s most loved historical neighborhood.
Toledo’s Old West End
serves as a showcase of Victorian and Edwardian architectural styles that are sure to please. When you’ve walked enough to work up an appetite, get lunch at
Schmucker’s Restaurant
. Plan and book ahead of time to finish your weekend with one of
Imagination Station’s
adult field trips, complete with a signature cocktail and fun, themed activities.
Pro Tip: To find more free stuff to do, check social media and community websites (like libraries) for free events on your travel dates.

How to get cheap insurance that covers your rental car 

Most of our weekend getaways involve some driving—and if you don’t live in the area, you may want to
rent a car
, and you’ll need insurance. If you’re road-tripping with your own vehicle, you probably already have insurance—but did you know you’re probably paying too much for it?
If you’re not comparison shopping with
Jerry
, you’re missing out. Why? Jerry helps users shop for cheap car insurance without the BS, and on average, our users save around $887 per year—on the exact coverage you want. That includes
insurance that’ll cover your rental
or your personal road tripper on your next getaway.
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