13 Small Towns In Ohio To Visit For A Weekend Getaway
Deep within America’s heartland, several small towns in Ohio are perfect places to visit for a weekend getaway. Each of these destinations delivers a surprising collection of enchanting attractions for curious newcomers. From the watery expanses of Lake Erie to gently rolling hills and historic villages, the Buckeye State has no shortage of places like the charming hamlet of Sugarcreek or the sublime springs at Yellow Springs. Whether you explore the lakeside fun of Put‑In‑Bay or the timeless appeal of Granville, you will be embraced by Midwest charm, authentic experiences, and unforgettable moments. These are the many small towns in Ohio that are worth visiting for a weekend getaway in 2025.
Yellow Springs
Famous for its free-spirited vibe and connection to nature, Yellow Springs is a colorful and enthusiastic small town in southwestern Ohio. Only around 20 miles from Dayton, outdoor enthusiasts can explore Glen Helen Nature Preserve, a lush sanctuary with waterfalls and limestone cliffs. On the other hand, you can go traipsing through the verdant areas of John Bryan State Park for more connectivity and recreation in Ohio’s outdoors. The town’s eclectic heart lies in its artsy downtown filled with indie shops, galleries, and locally owned cafés, and best of all, you can attend the annual Yellow Springs Street Fair, which transforms the village into a bustling hub of live music and artisan vendors twice a year on the months of June and October. With its bohemian charm and easy access to nature, and quaint accommodation options like the Mills Park Hotel, Yellow Springs will spring you into action with its many natural and cultural wonders to enjoy.
Put-In-Bay
Located on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, the beautiful and serene town of Put-in-Bay offers a perfect mix of recreation in an out-of-the-way setting. When visiting the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, you can marvel at a towering landmark that commemorates the War of 1812, which was fought partially on this corner of Lake Erie. For panoramic island views and experiences, travelers should first pay a visit to the Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center, which enlightens newcomers on the flora and fauna one will encounter on Bass Island and other neighboring islands in Lake Erie.
On the other hand, you might be interested in touring Heineman Winery, one of Ohio’s oldest wineries, where one can sample delicious vintages. Best of all, you can delve underground within the mystical subterranean vestibules of Crystal Cave, a massive celestite geode glistening with pale blue crystals that are up to 18 inches long. Boasting historic and natural appeal, Put-in-Bay puts a lot of effort into being one of the best small towns to visit in Ohio, especially when staying in lovely abodes like the Put-in-Bay Resort Hotel.
Granville
A picturesque New England-style village, Granville is home to the tree-lined streets and red-brick edifices of the prestigious Denison University. Strolling along the charming downtown will eventually lead you to the Granville Historical Society Museum, where newcomers can learn about the town’s early settlers and its trials and tribulations in development. Just outside the village, the Newark Earthworks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcase Ohio’s ancient Native American heritage. Meanwhile, the Dawes Arboretum attracts visitors with miles of trails and treks to traverse, leading you towards a historic home and other scenic sights in the rural countryside. Only seven miles west of Newark, complete with soothing establishments to stay at such as the The Granville Inn, the town of Granville is sure to give you a grand and memorable time during a weekend vacation.
Peninsula
Peninsula is a stellar and splendid town tucked near the heart of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a magnificent refuge where the Cuyahoga River leads you towards deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands between the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron. When hopping aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, you can appreciate more of Ohio’s only national park with nostalgic trips and tours in nature’s backyard.
The Towpath Trail offers miles of peaceful hiking and biking, while art enthusiasts will enjoy Peninsula Art Academy, which extols the amazing skills and professions of Ohio’s artists. The village also hosts the Boston Mills Artfest, one of the region’s top fine arts shows each summer. As for accommodations, you can seek daily and nightly needs in places like the The Inn at Brandywine Falls or the Stanford House. With its mix of natural beauty and artistic flair, Peninsula is a perfect getaway during the weekend.
Geneva-on-the-Lake
As Ohio’s first summer resort, the lovely town of Geneva-on-the-Lake continues to charm visitors with its beautiful boardwalk atmosphere. At the Geneva State Park, travelers can soak in sandy beaches, experience soothing boating trips, and set up lovely lakefront camps in the outdoors. Meanwhile, the nearby Old Firehouse Winery provides local wine with stunning views and appreciations of Lake Erie. Families will fall in love with the vintage fun of Adventure Zone Family Fun Center, featuring go-karts and mini-golf.
For a scenic experience, stroll part of the Lake Erie Coastal Trail, a picturesque route connecting wineries, parks, and lighthouses. In a town that accommodated famous figures like John D. Rockefeller, Harvey Firestone, and Henry Ford, Geneva-on-the-Lake thrives from spring through fall, making it a beloved warm-weather getaway for all, particularly thanks to amazing lodgings like The Lakehouse Inn.
Sugarcreek
Known as “The Little Switzerland of Ohio,” Sugarcreek combines the charms of the Old World with the ambiance and traditions of the Amish country. One ought to visit the World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock, which plays traditional tunes every half hour in the village square and harkens back to the town’s roots in Europe. Many also enjoy exploring the Alpine Hills Museum to discover more of Sugarcreek’s European influences and Amish heritage.
On the other hand, you can head over to the Ohio Star Theater for family-friendly live performances. Nearby, the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum—the largest private collection of steam locomotives in the US—delights those eager to see more trains. The blend of Swiss-inspired architecture, rolling countryside, and lodging options, such as the Sugarcreek Village Inn, makes Sugarcreek uniquely enchanting and one of the best weekend getaway destinations.
Logan
As the gateway to the Hocking Hills Region, Logan is surrounded by waterfalls, caves, and forest trails that all will enjoy. Within the Hocking Hills State Park, trailblazers will encounter a number of stunning natural landmarks and features like the Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave, and Cedar Falls. For a different perspective of the lush landscape, you can soar above the treetops on a Hocking Hills Canopy Tour.
Alternatively, you can tour the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center and Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum to learn more about the regional and natural history of Logan. Being a grandiose and gravitating small town in Ohio’s countryside, Logan’s natural beauty and small-town warmth make it a beloved and bedazzling town to visit this year, complete with lodging choices such as the Black Bear Getaway to make things nice and cozy in the rural countryside.
Loveland
With its panoramic locales and romantic atmosphere, Loveland is a favorite destination. The Little Miami Scenic Trail, one of the longest paved bike paths in the country, encourages bikers to traverse the bucolic and benevolent terrain that surrounds Loveland. The Loveland Castle Museum, also known as Château Laroche, invites visitors to explore its medieval-inspired stone halls that have amazed newcomers for generations. For outdoor relaxation, Nisbet Park offers green riverside spaces perfect for picnics and kayaking. For indoor accommodations, the Loveland Lofts are one of many choices to pick when finding a good place to stay for the weekend. Finally, the Loveland Valentine Program, a long-running tradition that celebrates love and community each February, solidifies Loveland’s status as a lovely and amicable destination for everyone. Indeed, Loveland’s blend of whimsy and warmth lives up to its name each weekend, making it a perfect getaway for couples and families alike.
Tipp City
Blending historic appeal with small-town energy, Tipp City is a compelling small town boasting charming streets filled with 19th-century architecture. Browsing the boutiques and antique stores along Main Street will lead you to favorite landmarks, such as the Tipp City Marketplace and Event Center, also known as the Tipp Center, which hosts various performances and events throughout the year. A celebrated event in the town is the Tipp City Mum Festival, held each summer, which brings the community together through parades, crafts, and live music. Outdoor enthusiasts will love touring the Charleston Falls Preserve, which features a stunning 37-foot waterfall surrounded by forested trails perfect for taking photographs. With its welcoming atmosphere and preserved heritage, in addition to wellness retreats like Harmony Farm, Tipp City captures the heart of the Miami Valley in an enchanting display.
Waynesville
In the small village of Waynesville, visitors will come across a diverse array of attractions and landmarks that make the trip worthwhile. As the “Antiques Capital of the Midwest,” you can discover various antiques and articles that predate Ohio’s creation—or even define Ohio’s development. And at the Museum at the Friends Home, you can learn about some of the articles that defined Ohio's development. Many flock to Waynesville to participate in the annual Sauerkraut Festival, held the second weekend in October and boasts plenty of fabulous shopping and scrumptious meals for all to try out.
Outside of town, the Caesar Creek State Park invites you to explore a vibrant and vivifying nature center and campground that one can walk on foot or ride through on a horse. Finally, far to the south lies the Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that protects and promotes the ancient Native American heritage of Ohio. Waynesville accommodates everyone with its various attractions and amenities, particularly in safe and satisfying lodgings like the Creekwood Motel, ensuring that you have a fun and fulfilling weekend in this small village.
Sandusky
Around 25 miles from Put-In-Bay, Sandusky enchants tourists with its breathtaking amusement parks, which offer excellent views of Lake Erie. One of its most famous parks is Cedar Point park, popular for its thrilling roller coasters and regarded as the second-oldest operating amusement park in the US, behind Lake Compounce. Likewise, the Ghostly Manor Thrill Center is an attractive entertainment center with a haunted house, mini-golf, a 3D theater, and a skating rink. At the Merry-Go-Round Museum, meanwhile, you can gawk at a working vintage carousel and restored wooden animals.
An afternoon could also be spent wandering the Maritime Museum of Sandusky, which showcases exhibits on pirates, shipwrecks, and fishing and includes a boat-building workshop for those interested. As a former terminus of the Underground Railroad, Sandusky continues to liberate visitors with its sprawling sights and amicable airs perfect for a weekend getaway. You can certainly spend many long nights when booking rooms in amicable abodes like the Bayfront Resort at Cross View.
Marietta
Lounging on the confluence between the Muskingum River and the Ohio River—the latter separating Ohio from West Virginia—the marvelous town of Marietta entreats newcomers to a cornucopia of historic and natural delights to savor. From the Campus Martius Museum of the Northwest Territory, you can learn all about how the American Revolutionary War general Rufus Putnam, alongside his pioneer group the Ohio Company of Associates, helped establish Marietta and why they named the town after Queen Marie Antoinette of France. In contrast, the Castle Historic House Museum contains original woodwork and furnishings within its 1855 Gothic Revival home, showcasing the early pioneer lifestyle of Marietta.
Those of you eager to go on boat tours on either the Ohio or Muskingum River can seek assistance from the Valley Gem Sternwheeler. Or, for those of you coming from West Virginia, you can learn more about what the state of Ohio has to offer as a whole at the I-77 Ohio Welcome Center. Marietta is both a getaway destination for the weekends and a gateway towards the many splendid wonders in Ohio, and you will feel safe and well-accommodated at the Lafayette Hotel.
Chillicothe
Festivity, history, and beautiful outdoor sceneries are in surplus in the small and friendly town of Chillicothe. The town’s main attraction is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, where the earthworks and burial mounds from the Hopewell culture have endured since between 200 BC to 500 AD. The Ross County Fairgrounds hosts innumerable events per year, among them the quirky Ohio Jeep Fest in June and the Chillicothe Trade Days in October and May. Individuals enthusiastic for elegance can go strolling through the Adena Mansion & Gardens Historic Site, the former abode of US senator and Ohio governor Thomas Worthington.
Best of all, you can go adventuring through the 15 acres of woodlands and lakes of the nearby Tar Hollow State Forest. Resting beside the Scioto River, Chillicothe provides a peaceful and unproblematic escape with its multitude of renowned and simplistic attractions to seek out. Travelers will not find it hard to stay during the weekend when fine lodgings like The Blue Brick Inn or The Willis-James Bed & Breakfast ensure you have a memorable stay in Chillicothe.
Ohio Is Full of Towns Perfect For The Weekends
From the storybook village of Sugarcreek to the dramatic vistas surrounding Logan, many small towns in Ohio are perfect places for a weekend getaway. The lakeside pleasantries of Put-In-Bay and Geneva-on-the-Lake’s timeless boardwalks provide restorative and meditative experiences that will recharge and refresh you on the weekends. Amidst UNESCO destinations in Chillicothe or Granville, and humble dwelling places like Marietta or Sandusky, each of these Ohio towns offers fresh discoveries, warm hospitality, and memorable experiences within the Buckeye State. For travelers seeking more than the ordinary, these small towns are perfect weekend getaways for 2025.
