Best Ohio Fall Foliage Routes

State route 3 angles across Ohio from Cleveland and Lake Erie through Columbus leading to Cincinnati and the Ohio River. From Wooster state route 250 winds across many rolling hills, up and down on this two lane highway to pass through many forested areas on its way to New Philadelphia and eventually to the Ohio River. These small state routes travel through many small towns and villages as they wind their way through several large cities. Along the way you will encounter fantastic fall foliage and outstanding scenery of small towns, historic places, farms and fields. Many small streams, creeks and rivers will be crossed with each one offering a blaze of color reflecting in the smooth, glasslike surface of the water. Deer or farm animals may return your gaze as you take in the beauty of the countryside.

Route 3 Tour

Before you leave the Cleveland area you may want to visit the Cleveland Botanical Garden or enjoy a cruise on the Goodtime III. Leaving the city of Cleveland, Route 42 south will take you to Medina where you can join State Route 3 South to begin your fall foliage route. As you travel through Medina County into Wayne County you will leave the city behind entering many small towns and eventually roads which lead through farm land. As you pass through Wooster you may wish to visit Secrest Arboretum and the OARDC Campus. There will be mostly forests and farm land with magnificent color as you leave Wayne County. As you approach Loudonville you may be tempted to rent a canoe at the livery or to visit Mohican State Park to hike one of the many paths. If you stick to your plan and travel on to enjoy the fall foliage you will soon pass through Mount Vernon on your way towards Columbus. Here you will be tempted to visit the Franklin Park Conservatory or the German Village Haus and enjoy a Garden Tour. But the beauty of the autumn color beckons you to travel on and you leave Columbus headed for Cincinnati and the promise of the Ohio River lined with fantastic color. Again you may be tempted in Cincinnati by a chance to Ride the Ducks Newport or to visit the Krohn Conservatory. Chances are you have enjoyed the scenery so much that the trip from Cleveland to Cincinnati seemed much shorter than 252 miles. Maybe you left Cleveland with plans to spend the night in Cincinnati and to stop in Columbus on your way back for sightseeing. Or maybe you began your trip in Cincinnati with plans to spend the night in Cleveland. Either way this fall foliage route offers you spectacular color with many options for sightseeing or family activities.

Route 250 Tour

You may wish to leave Route 3 at Wooster and to head south east towards New Philadelphia on Route 250. This route will take you from the farmland of Wayne County to Holmes County and the Amish farms and small villages which surround them. The Amish Door restaurant in Wilmont is famous for family style dinners and great Amish cooking. As you pass through Dover, New Philadelphia and Uhrichsville you will delight at the autumn color and scenery. You may choose to continue on to the Ohio River or to return to Wooster and to continue south on Roust 3 to Columbus and Cincinnati. The fall foliage along Route 250 is spectacular and the trip from Cleveland to Wooster and down 250 to New Philadelphia may be enough for one day and you may enjoy spending the evening in a lovely B&B.