10 Weekend Trips from Columbus, Ohio
Looking for a weekend trip from Columbus, Ohio but not sure where to go? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We’ve broken down our 10 favorite weekend trips! We’ve included long city escapes, outdoor adventures, and small town getaway to help you narrow it down based on which vibe you are looking for!
City Escapes
Cleveland, OH
First on our list in Cleveland! Only about 2 hours from Columbus, Cleveland perfectly mixes lakeside vibes with big city nightlife and experiences. Cleveland is a bit like a choose your own adventure! You can have a relaxing weekend having brunch by the waterfront, spend the day shopping and strolling along Lake Erie, and take a sunset lake cruise. Or you can go full excitement and spend your time rooting on the Guardians or Browns between trips to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Art Museum. I love catching a game any time when I’m in the city for the weekend. Whether you’re a fan of the sport or not, a live game is still great fun! Its a pretty easy drive to get to Cleveland and the diverse activities make it a great choice for a weekend away from Columbus. The only thing to note is that because it is on Lake Erie (which is honestly one of the biggest draws for us!), the weather can be unpredictable and come attractions (like boat tours or waterfront dining) will close for the winter. And they can get heavy lake effect snow, so you would want to be mindful of the weather and seasonal items when booking!
2. Cincinnati, OH
Similar to Cleveland, Cincinnati is a waterfront city that has great sports culture and dining. If you aren’t looking for a long drive, Cincinnati is perfect being only about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Columbus right down 71. This city has no shortage of things to do: Cincinnati Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Findley Market, baseball, football! If you’re willing to drive a bit further/in to Kentucky a bit you can head to Jungle Jims or Newport Aquarium. Cincinnati also has quite a few festivals throughout the year, so check for any festivals when you book your weekend away! They also have a great food and brewery scene, so this would be great for people in to great food and drinks! The only drawback to Cincinnati is it does have some hilly terrain, so walking can be tiring and downtown parking can be difficult or expensive. I don’t think those are deal breakers, just something to keep in mind when booking your weekend!
3. Indianapolis, IN
About 3 hours from Columbus, Indianapolis is a great city for sports lovers! You can catch football, baseball, racing, or basketball games! Family friendly travel isn’t something we think about as neither one of us has kids, but I do think Indianapolis would be great if you’re looking for a weekend away with little ones (they even have a Children’s Museum!). With or without kids, Indianapolis is lots of fun! I had a great time at the Indianapolis Zoo - they do a dolphin show that I loved. And you can rent paddle boats at the White River Waterpark if you’ll be there when the weather is nice. I found the city easy to navigate (I’m horrendous with directions) which I think is always nice when visiting a new city!
4. Louisville, KY
Similar to Indianapolis, Louisville is about a 3 hour drive from Columbus. When I went for the weekend, I did a long weekend and left early Friday morning, but this is totally doable as regular weekend leaving after work on a Friday night! Louisville is the Bourbon capital of the world, so make sure you book a distillery tour while you’re in the area! I do not like bourbon, but still enjoyed the distillery vibes and would have enjoyed a tour! If alcohol isn’t your thing, don’t worry, there’s still plenty to do in the city! You can do an underground cavern tour (definitely recommend if you’re going around Christimas as they decorate it with lights!), take a tour of Churchill Downs and watch a race if you have time, or visit one of the museums (like the Louisville Slugger Museum or Muhammad Ali Center!). My favorite thing was taking a sunset river cruise! Watching the sunset with great music and a drink was so much fun! Louisville has a great food scene, such unique attractions to visit, and has a laid back southern vibe! I will say that attractions can get pretty crowded on weekends and especially if there are events happening in the city, so make sure to get any tickets in advance if you want to ensure you can visit.
Want more information on Louisville? Check out our Louisville Blog Post with information on things to do in the city! If you want more information and an itinerary, grab our Louisville Guide!
Outdoor Adventures
5. Red River Gorge, KY
Sometimes, what you need in a weekend away isn’t a city, but the clean air and green landscape of the outdoors. And I think Red River Gorge is perfect for that! It’s about 3.5 hours from Columbus, so a little bit further of a drive, but one that is worth it. Red River Gorge is know for cliffs perfect for rock climbing. Though, if you aren’t in to that (we are not haha), you can still have fun here! There is so much hiking to do, you wont be bored! My highlights include Natural Bridge State Park and the Sky Lift, Kayaking underground with Gorge Underground, and hiking followed by pizza at Miguel’s followed by ice cream at the Red River Gorge General Store. I love RRG for all of the hiking and natural beauty in the area! Since its popular, lodging can fill up pretty quickly, so to make sure you get the best hotel/airbnb/cabin rental, make sure to book in advance if you can! I’ll also note that cell service can be pretty limited, so if keep that in mind when it comes to directions and your comfortability. Most lodging will have wifi, but you won’t always have access to your phone when out exploring!
If you want a more detailed post about Red River Gorge, check out our blog post about our weekend: A Weekend in Red River Gorge.
6. Mammoth Cave, KY
Mammoth Cave is about 5 hours from Columbus, so I like to visit here on long weekends, but think it could be doable if you don’t have a long weekend! Mammoth Cave is perfect for outdoor lovers looking for adventure. You can explore the largest cave system in the world while also having access to great hiking and kayaking! It’s been a couple of years since either of us have visited, but the last time we visited we camped at the campsite in the park and loved it! It gave us access to pretty much everything we wanted to do while there! There are many different cave tours you can do and the do book up pretty quickly, so make sure to get your tickets in advance! Again, you might find areas that have limited cell service, so keep that in mind while you’re out! If hiking isn’t your thing, there are also scenic drives in the area you can explore as well.
7. Niagara Falls, NY
Niagara Falls is a must see! The natural power behind Niagara Falls is mesmerizing and it has some amazing history as well! Being about 5 hours from Columbus, I like visiting as a long weekend, but again totally doable if you’re visiting after you get off work on Friday! If you want to get up close to the falls I recommend both the Maid of the Mist Boat Tour as well as the Cave of the Winds tour. I’ve done both and think they’re both fun! If getting up close to the falls isn’t your thing, try Niagara Falls State Park or Niagara Scenic Parkway to see the falls/gorge from a bit more of a distance! I also visited both in addition to the boat tour and enjoyed both for difference reasons! Though for a weekend where you might have to be a little more picky about what you do, I would recommend one of the tours! As an iconic travel destination, Niagara Falls can get pretty crowded during peek season and is a pretty tourist heavy area, so keep that in mind when booking. I also want to note that this is specifically about Niagara Falls, NY, but if giving the opportunity, I would definitely recommend crossing in to Canada to get a look at the falls from the other side!
8. Hocking Hills, Ohio
Hocking Hills is probably one of the more popular weekend trips from Columbus, so you know it has to be on the list! About an hour from Columbus, Hocking Hills offers the perfect outdoor escape every city dweller dreams of. It has cozy cabins, beautiful waterfalls, and plenty of hiking trails! Growing up in the Columbus area, I’ve been to Hocking Hills more times than I can count so you can trust me when I say its worth a visit! Not only is there great hiking trails, but there’s also plenty of wineries and breweries to explore during your weekend there! Overall, we think this is a great weekend getaway because the drive from Columbus is relatively easy and short (making it perfect for heading down Friday after work) with great hiking trails and opportunities to relax. Because its so close and easy to get to, it can get very crowded with nice weather (people will drive down to hike for the day!) as well as lodging/cabins can book up pretty quick! Even when busy, the area is still wonderful, so don’t let that discourage you! Just make sure to book lodging and any activities in advance.
Small Town Getaways
9. Port Clinton, Ohio
As someone who loves the beach and day dreams about moving to a small beach town every day, Port Clinton is where I go when I want to go to the beach, but don’t have the time to drive to the east coast! Being only about 2.5 hours from Columbus, it’s much more accessible than beaches like the Outer Banks, Myrtle Beach, or Hilton Head that folks from Ohio typically visit. The city encapsulates the small beach town vibes I’m often looking for with great waterfront views, access to island life, and the laid back summer vibes you want in a summer weekend getaway. The town features many water activities (like lake cruises, kayaking, etc) as well as beaches to relax on and a state park to explore! Again, neither of us have kids, but I think Port Clinton would be a great place to go as a family getaway! Since it is on Lake Erie, a lot of activities are seasonal from Memorial Day to Labor Day so keep that in mind when booking!
10. Millersburg, Ohio
If you’re looking for a truly relaxing weekend, Millersburg might be the city for you! Only about 2 hours from Columbus, Millersburg is in Ohio’s Amish Country so there is a slower pace to life and you will be surrounded by farms and open land. My favorite thing to do is get a peaceful cabin/hotel and shop in the area for local, handmade items and cheese! You can even visit the worlds largest cuckoo clock! Don’t want to window shop all weekend? No worries! If you’re willing to drive a little bit, you can find walking and hiking trails in the area as well! Obviously, this type of weekend is not for everyone! Night life is pretty nonexistent and a lot of places are closed on Sundays. But it truly is a great place to relax and unwind!
Conclusion
As you can see, Columbus is perfectly positioned to explore so much of the area, You can have an adventure in the woods, explore the city, or relax on a beach all within a couple hours of home! We hope you found this helpful and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to us, we’d be happy to chat! Now, get out there and plan your weekend away!