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.
Table of Contents
- Best weekend getaways for couples in Ohio
- Best weekend getaways for families in Ohio
- Best weekend getaways for booklovers
- Best weekend getaways for foodies
- Best weekend getaways for outdoor enthusiasts
- Best cheap weekend getaways
- How to get cheap insurance that covers your rental car
Load full table of contents
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.
Car insurance
super app Jerry
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.Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 App Store Rating. Trusted by 2+ Million Customers.
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)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)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
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
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
.Best weekend getaways for booklovers
Columbus
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.Cincinnati
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.Best weekend getaways for foodies
Columbus
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
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
.MORE:
Foodie road trip Midwest
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
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
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
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
.Toledo
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.“Jerryblew my mind, honestly. From start to finish, using the app took me 10 minutes and I ended up with $100 of savings a month. Best of all, customer service answered all my questions about rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance.” —Savanna R.
6 Ways to Cope with Income Loss due to Coronavirus
The Coronavirus pandemic has led to income losses for many, but there are 6 ways that help you cope
7 A.I. Companies That Can Save You $7,000 a Year for Free
Emerging A.I. technology is powering a revolution that allows people to save like never before.
Geico Policyholders Use This App to Save $853
Can a crusading app based on artificial intelligence stop insurance companies from Rickrolling? The answer: Yes.
Compare Car Insurance Quotes For Free
Jerry automatically shops for your insurance before every renewal. Members save $872/year.
Start saving money!
You might also be interested
