18 Road Trips to Make from Cincinnati This Fall

Put-in-Bay, Ohio

Distance: 4 hours and 30 minutes
Put-in-Bay offers an island getaway experience that’s only enhanced by the autumn colors. You’ll have to take a ferry to reach the island, but once you're there, the recreational opportunities are boundless — explore a cave, go parasailing or jet skiing and tour the island by helicopter or train. While Put-in-Bay offers an extensive list of attractions, one of the most popular has to be Perry’s International Peace Memorial, an observation deck where you can see the Detroit, Toledo and Cleveland skylines from an observation deck.

Red River Gorge, Kentucky

Distance: 2 hours and 30 minutes
For a fall full of outdoor fun, travel about two-and-a-half hours southeast to Red River Gorge in Kentucky. The area comes highly recommended by many of Cincinnati’s outdoors-people, and with good reason: The land is rich with sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, natural bridges and trails that draw in hundreds of hikers and campers every year. Among the incredible geological features are the most freestanding arches east of the Rocky Mountains. Hiking trails range from easy to difficult and some are as short as 1.5 miles or as long as 5-plus miles. You can also camp, climb or even kayak in an underground cavern here. Don’t forget to stop by Miguel’s Pizza on Natural Bridge Road while you’re there — a Red River Gorge tradition.

Granville, Ohio

Distance: 2 hours
If you long to visit New England to see the fall colors and quaint towns that conjure visions of Stars Hollow, Granville, Ohio, offers a similar experience much closer to home. Granville is a small town about 30 minutes east of Columbus that was settled by New Englanders, so the style of its historic buildings resembles those you would see in Massachusetts. Its downtown area is filled with shops like Green Velvet (home decor, gifts and jewelry) and Readers’ Garden Book Store; restaurants like the gastropub at the Granville Inn or brewpub Three Tigers Brewing Company; and lovely landmarks, like Alligator Mound, the Bryn Du Mansion estate and the Robbins Hunter Museum.

Brown County, Indiana

Distance: 2 hours
Brown County in Indiana is a fall wonderland, offering visitors everything from outdoor recreation and historic walking tours to art galleries and studios. Lace up your hiking boots to take on the 7 Vistas Challenge, hit the mountain biking trails or saddle up for a trail ride with Brown County Saddle Barn. In the cute nearby town of Nashville, you can learn to line dance, take horse-drawn tours of the historic area and drink at plenty of local breweries, wineries and distilleries. Watch live music at the historic Brown County Playhouse or enjoy some of the beautiful artwork scattered around town.

Gauley River Recreation Area, West Virginia

Distance: 4 hours and 45 minutes
For some adrenaline-pumping action this fall, the Gauley River Recreation and New River Gorge areas in West Virginia offer some quality whitewater rafting. From September through mid-October, scheduled releases from the Summersville Dam create incredible rapids on the Gauley River. The Upper Gauley offers Class V rapids, while the Lower Gauley is a tamer experience. The New River also has whitewater rafting opportunities, with the lower portion seeing Class II-IV rapids and the upper portion offering Class I-III rapids, along with shoals and calm pools, making this a more kid-friendly spot. You can explore different whitewater rafting experiences and find a qualified guide here. Not interested in rafting? These destinations also offer plenty of fishing, hiking and camping opportunities.

Yellow Springs, Ohio

Distance: 1 hour and 10 minutes
If you’re looking to do a fall road trip to a charming small town with lots of quirky, cute vibes, Yellow Springs is where you need to be. The home of Antioch College, this eclectic town boasts a plethora of art galleries and other cultural activities, plus every fall it holds the Yellow Springs Street Fair. Grab a meal and some coffee at the Sunrise Cafe, browse locally made art at Village Artisans or the shelves at Epic Book Shop and try the beer at Yellow Springs Brewery. You can also take a trip out to Young’s Jersey Dairy for some must-try ice cream, or, if hiking is more your speed, you’re also close to Glen Helen Nature Preserve and John Bryan State Park. For more cute town energy, you’re also not a far drive from Clifton, Ohio, and its popular water-powered mill.

Mansfield, Ohio

Distance: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Mansfield, Ohio, is best known for its historic Ohio State Reformatory — a spooky former prison constructed in 1886 and made famous by serving as the set of The Shawshank Redemption, plus some other big-budget movies. Its penchant for paranormal activity and transformation into the Blood Prison haunted attraction each autumn makes it a popular spooky season adventure. Outside the Reformatory, visitors can also traverse the Shawshank Trail, walking in the steps of the movie’s characters Red and Andy to see 15 authentic sites; ride the Richland Carrousel; or visit Malabar Farm State Park, a 900+-acre farm in Lucas once owned by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Bromfield.

Bardstown, Kentucky

Distance: 2 hours and 20 minutes
Nothing will warm you up on a crisp autumn day the way a good Kentucky bourbon will, and Bardstown is swimming in good bourbon. A prominent stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Bardstown is considered the Bourbon Capital of the World, where visitors can visit and tour 11 local and regional bourbon distilleries, including Bardstown Bourbon Company, Maker’s Mark and Barton 1792. Bardstown is also home to some great wineries, including McIntyre Family & Winery, which has some fantastic fruit wines (mix their apple wine with some Fireball for a great fall cocktail, trust us), and Springhill Winery and B&B. For a drier Bardstown experience, shop at some of the cute boutiques in downtown Bardstown, take a historic walking tour or visit the Kentucky Railway Museum. If you want to stay at a haunted B&B in honor of Halloween season, the Jailer’s Inn was a former jail and is plenty spooky.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Distance: 4 hours and 40 minutes
Gatlinburg is the mecca of tourism for Midwesterners because it has almost everything you could want for a fun vacation with the family or a getaway with friends, especially in the fall. The city is the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so you can hike to see the changing leaves, go horseback riding or even go whitewater rafting. In town, you can keep yourself entertained for days at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, adventure park Anakeesta and numerous other attractions like Hillbilly Golf and mini golf, arcades and mirror mazes. You can also get a bird’s eye view of the mountains and take a ride on the Ober Mountain Aerial Tramway. Note: Gatlinburg was not heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene and is open to tourists.

Waynesville, Ohio

Distance: 45 minutes
If fall is all about spooky season for you, be sure to visit Ohio’s most haunted town: Waynesville. This charming, rural town is older than the state of Ohio, having been founded in 1796, so you know there are some ghost stories that have accumulated there over the years. The Hammel House Inn and Restaurant (which is currently closed temporarily) is said to be the most haunted building in the town, with tales of a ghostly male figure appearing in Room 4 and the sounds of an unseen girl crying being reported. The Stetson House and Friends Boarding Home, now a museum, are also said to be inhabited by spirits. For some spooky fun, take the ghost tour at the Friends Boarding Home, or join them this October for the annual Ghost & Goblet Dinner.

If ghost hunting isn’t your thing, Waynesville also offers plenty of antiquing, earning it the nickname “the Antiques Capital of the Midwest.” There are also tons of specialty shops, the annual Sauerkraut Festival in October and the Ohio Renaissance Festival nearby.

Ohio Caverns, Ohio

Distance: 2 hours
If you ask us, there’s something about exploring a cave that just screams fall adventure — the darkness, the dripping, the unique formations that are almost otherworldly; it’s got the scary movie aesthetic with all of the thrill and none of the danger. If you’re looking to go spelunking, Ohio Caverns is located just two hours north of Cincinnati in West Liberty, Ohio. This privately owned cavern is the largest in the state and features a two-mile stretch of stalactites, stalagmites, unusual rock formations and fossils. Rain and cold temperatures can’t reach the cave, so the weather won't spoil your visit. Guided tours are offered every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the fall season. 2210 OH-245 E, West Liberty.

Saugatuck, Michigan

Distance: 5 hours
For a beautiful fall getaway along the shores of Lake Michigan, travel to Saugatuck, Michigan. Hit the water in the Star of Saugatuck paddlewheel boat for a tour of fall colors this October, or head out to Saugatuck Dunes State Park to hike the beaches. You can also explore the dunes in a buggy with Saugatuck Dune Rides. For a more relaxed trip, go on a wine-tasting tour at spots like Modales and Fenn Valley Vineyards, or indulge in some retail therapy at downtown Saugatuck’s boutiques.

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Distance: 5 hours
If you thought Cincinnati embraced its German heritage, wait until you experience Frankenmuth, Michigan. Known as “Michigan’s Little Bavaria,” Frankenmuth features tons of Germanic architecture throughout the town. Spend your days at the Bavarian Inn, eating the famous chicken, browsing its numerous shops for collectibles and gifts or splashing around in its new water park, set to open later this fall. In town, you can also walk around in search of the 15 gnomes hidden at local businesses (if you find all of them, you’ll get a prize at the Visitor Center). Be sure to visit Frankenmuth Clock & German Gift Company to see a unique collection of over 150 cuckoo clocks. You can also visit the Frankenmuth Historical Museum or Michigan’s Military and Space Heroes Museum, take an adventure on the Cass River on the Bavarian Belle Riverboat or by kayak or, if you’re ready to celebrate the Christmas season a little early, visit Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland to see the world’s largest Christmas store for ornaments, decorations and Yuletide joy.

Geneva on the Lake, Ohio

Distance: 5 hours and 15 minutes
Name a more relaxing fall activity than settling in an Adirondack chair with a glass of wine and a view of the changing leaves — maybe add a fire pit and a good book and now we’re talking. In Ohio’s wine country, a.k.a. Geneva on the Lake, just about an hour away from Cleveland, wine and relaxation are ripe for the picking, just like the grapes. With over 30 wineries in this small area (many award-winning), it’s an oenophile’s dream. Visit popular spots like Ferrante Winery & Ristorante or South River Vineyard, or go on a tour of several wineries by utilizing Geneva on the Lake’s shuttle service. And with Lake Erie as your backdrop, it’s the perfect destination to see the beautiful fall foliage.

Hocking Hills, Ohio

Distance: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Voted as one of the best places to see fall colors, the Hocking Hills region is a must-do trip in autumn. Hocking Hills State Park offers seven trail systems with beautiful sites like the waterfalls at Cedar Falls and Old Man’s Cave, the rocky arches of Rock House and the gorges of Ash Cave. Outside the park are even more trail systems, including Airplane Rock, Conkles Hollow and Zaleski State Forest — which is a must-visit if you want to add a little spookiness to your trip: Nearby is the Moonville Tunnel, once part of the Marietta and Cincinnati (M&C) Railroad and one of the few remainders of the ghost town of Moonville. (It’s also allegedly haunted). To unwind after a day of exploring, be sure to visit Logan, Ohio’s Hocking Hills Winery for a glass of wine and a charcuterie board, or fuel up for your day of hiking, climbing or kayaking with a delicious breakfast sandwich at the fantastic Coffee Emporium (no relation to Cincinnati’s own Coffee Emporiums).

Marblehead, Ohio

Distance: 3 hours and 45 minutes
Marblehead peninsula, dividing Lake Erie from Sandusky Bay, is home to the small village of Marblehead. This quaint lakefront hamlet is in a region known as “vacationland” for its sport fishing and boating community during the summer months. In the fall, Marblehead hosts the Lakeside-Marblehead Lighthouse Festival, which includes tours of the lighthouse, which has been operational since 1822, as well as the Wolcott Keeper’s House; live entertainment, crafts for kids, a pumpkin-decorating contest, artisan vendors, a farmers market, hayrides and more. You’re also just 20 minutes from Cedar Point and its HalloWeekends.

Hoosier National Forest, Indiana

Distance: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Hoosier National Forest, located in the hills of south-central Indiana, is a 204,000-acre forest that offers a lot of fall adventures for the outdoorsy and nature lovers. The property features over 260 miles of hiking trails for both day hiking and backpacking, 200 miles of trails for horseback riding and over a dozen areas for mountain biking, plus areas for fishing, boating, paddling and hunting. This massive piece of land also has lots of special attractions, including Patoka Lake, which is the second-largest reservoir in the country, and the Rickenbaugh House, a sandstone home built in 1874 that opens periodically.

Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana

Distance: 4 hours and 30 minutes
Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Indiana Dunes is the state’s only national park. It features a 15-mile coastline, 50 miles of trails over 15 distinct trail systems of varying difficulty and several sand dunes on the shore. Camping, boating and fishing are popular ways to relax at this national park. There are also six bike trails ranging from 3.6 miles to 19 miles round-trip to allow you to get out and enjoy the fall colors. Bird watching the fall migrations is also a popular activity at Indiana Dunes this time of year. Just an hour away is Chicago if you want to grab some deep-dish pizza and take funny pictures in front of The Bean on this trip too.