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Brandywine Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Photo: Erik Drost via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Travel

10 Fall Getaways In Ohio Worth The Drive From Columbus

Updated October 7, 2026

Autumn in Ohio is absolutely stunning.

Fall in Ohio deserves to be celebrated, and I know I’m not the only one ready to get out there and explore. This year looks promising. ODNR’s fall color forester, David Parrott, said in the state’s September 24th report that Ohio is heading into autumn without drought conditions, and the 2026 forecast map has color peaking across central Ohio in mid-to-late October and in the southern hills at the end of October and into early November. The weather is usually decent, the leaves put on one heck of a colorful show, and it’s just a fantastic time in general to be an Ohioan.

I know you’re itching to start planning your next adventure, so let’s dive right into it. Here are 10 can’t-miss, beautiful fall destinations to visit around the Buckeye State this season. A second list covers fall getaways within about four hours of Columbus and reaches into Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Drive times come from Google Maps.

DestinationDrive from ColumbusGo for
Hocking Hills State ParkAbout 1 hourGorge hikes and waterfalls
Hocking Hills WineryAbout 50 minutesWine with a view, no hiking required
Clifton Gorge and Yellow SpringsAbout 55 minutesA rim trail and a walkable village
Buzzard’s Roost Nature PreserveAbout 1 hourThe South Point Lookout over Paint Creek Gorge
Wayne National ForestAbout 1 hour 10 minutesTinker’s Cave and a natural bridge
Mohican State ParkAbout 1 hour 15 minutesClear Fork Gorge and two waterfalls
Loveland CastleAbout 1 hour 30 minutesA hand-built castle on the Little Miami
Amish CountryAbout 1 hour 50 minutesFarm stands, bakeries, and back roads
Brandywine FallsAbout 2 hoursA 60-foot waterfall at peak color
Circleville Pumpkin ShowAbout 35 minutesOctober 21-24, billed as Ohio’s oldest festival

Brandywine Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Brandywine Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in late fall with the sun low over the bare trees
Brandywine Falls in late fall. Photo: Erik Drost via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

To be fair, there’s never a bad season to plan a visit to Brandywine Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. But if you want to be completely wowed, visit during the autumn. The 60-foot falls sit at the end of a boardwalk. Once the leaves start changing, the falls have an undeniably magical quality. I’m talking straight-up Rivendell vibes friends.

More info: Brandywine Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

READ MORE: Cuyahoga Valley National Park Belongs On Your Fall Bucket List

Hocking Hills State Park

The arched stone footbridge over the creek at Old Man's Cave in Hocking Hills State Park, with fallen leaves on the water
The stone bridge at Old Man’s Cave, Hocking Hills State Park. Photo: Rhododendrites via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

I know you clicked this list fully anticipating Hocking Hills State Park making the cut, and you were correct. There’s nowhere more beautiful when the leaves start to change than Hocking Hills, and I’ll stand by that statement until I die. Hike around, pack a picnic, and just immerse yourself in the raw beauty of the foothills of Appalachia.

More info: Hocking Hills State Park

Amish Country

Rolling Holmes County farmland in early fall with a white farmhouse, barn and silo along the Amish Country Byway
A farm along the Amish Country Byway in Holmes County. Photo: S. Clyde, National Archives, via Wikimedia Commons

If the pastoral scenes aren’t enough to encourage you to drive to Amish Country, then the delicious food and handcrafted gifts should be. From yummy baked goods to scenic drives, a visit to Amish Country is the definition of an escape. Leave your worries here in Columbus and enjoy the ride, my friends.

More info: Amish Country

Wayne National Forest

An autumn hillside of orange, yellow and red trees above a meadow in Wayne National Forest
Fall color along the Baileys Trail System in Wayne National Forest. Photo: Kelly Miller, U.S. Forest Service, via Wikimedia Commons

Gather up your hiking gear, it’s time for an adventure. Wayne National Forest covers about 244,000 acres of Appalachian foothills and nearly all of them are breathtaking. Once the fall colors start to pop, you’ll be able to see all of the forest’s sites in their peak. Notable stops include Tinker’s Cave near Shawnee Tower, the Irish Run Natural Bridge loop, the Baileys Trail System, and the Lake Vesuvius recreation area.

More info: Wayne National Forest

Buzzard’s Roost Nature Preserve

A hand-tinted 1910 postcard of the Buzzard's Roost rock ledge above Paint Creek near Chillicothe
Buzzard’s Roost on a 1910 postcard. Image via Wikimedia Commons (DPLA)

If a scenic overlook is right up your alley, head down to Chillicothe and visit Buzzard’s Roost Nature Preserve. From the South Point Lookout on the Lookout Trail, sandstone and shale cliffs drop straight into Paint Creek Gorge. The preserve covers more than 1,500 acres with over 7 miles of trails, and the Kid’s Nature Zone trail has 24 Storywalk stations that change almost monthly.

More info: Buzzard’s Roost Nature Preserve

Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve

A wooden trail bridge on stone piers at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve in early fall
A trail bridge at Clifton Gorge. Photo: See1,Do1,Teach1 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Just east of John Bryan State Park near Yellow Springs, Clifton Gorge is a 2-mile stretch of the Little Miami River cut through dolomite and limestone, and it’s been a National Natural Landmark since 1968. Three miles of trail run the rim and the gorge floor, and the new Exploration Center is open Friday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm through October. No pets are allowed in the preserve.

More info: Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve

Mohican State Park

A forested valley at Mohican State Park from an overlook, with the first fall color in the trees
The Mohican valley in early fall. Photo: Ibagli via Wikimedia Commons

Thousands of wooded acres mean an amazing display of fall foliage at Mohican State Park. When visiting, you’ve got to stop by Clear Fork Gorge, Lyons Falls, and the Mohican State Scenic River. The Lyons Falls Trail is a 2-mile moderate trail along the gorge, and it passes both waterfalls. If you’d like to stay overnight, you can check out the camping accommodations through the Mohican State Park Campground.

More info: Mohican State Park

Loveland Castle

The stone towers and front wall of Loveland Castle, also called Chateau Laroche, in Loveland
Loveland Castle. Photo: Antony-22 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Speaking of magical destinations, Loveland Castle is straight out of a fairytale. This remarkable property was built with stones from the nearby Little Miami River and it’s an exceptional place to visit on a crisp fall day. One thing to know before you go: from October 1st through March 31st the castle is open weekends only, from 11am to 5pm, and admission is $5 (kids 5 and under get in free).

More info: Loveland Castle

Circleville Pumpkin Show

The Circleville Pumpkin Show pumpkin tower stacked in front of the Pythian Castle building downtown
The pumpkin tower at the Circleville Pumpkin Show.

The Circleville Pumpkin Show is the one event on this list. The 119th show runs October 21-24 this year. The giant pumpkin weigh-in and the parades are free, and the show bills itself as the Greatest Free Show on Earth.

More info: Circleville Pumpkin Show

Hocking Hills Winery

We’re rounding off this list of beautiful places with the Hocking Hills Winery. Instead of hiking through the region, enjoy a delightful glass of wine and admire the beauty of the Hocking Hills from the comfort of the winery. Outside food and drinks aren’t allowed, but the winery kitchen does pizza and charcuterie boards. It’s at 30402 Freeman Road in Logan, closed Tuesdays, and open until 10pm on Friday and Saturday.

More info: Hocking Hills Winery

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Chelsea Wiley

Written by

Chelsea Wiley

Chelsea Wiley, first of her name, Queen of the Seven Andals... wait. That's not right. Joking aside, Chelsea is a writer and photographer born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. She is an avid reader and a lover of animals.