Plan an easy day trip from Columbus Ohio from this list featuring 8 road trips from Columbus that are within a one hour drive AND great for families!
There really are so many fun things to do with kids in Ohio! I’ve put together this list of easy road trips from Columbus, Ohio that are great for families. These are all trips you can do in a day.
Even though there is so much to do in Columbus, sometimes we need a little change of scenery! I love when we discover a cute little downtown area, an amazing park or a great museum that is just outside of Columbus! It’s like being on vacation, even though you’re just a short drive away!
Check out the incredibly creative Hartman Rock Garden in Springfield, Ohio, learn all about Ohio’s aviation history in Greene County or let the kids get hands on with science at The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art and Technology in Newark, Ohio!
With one of these road trips from Columbus, you can spend a day exploring an Ohio town that is guaranteed to be filled with surprises! We have had so much fun taking these trips!
The criteria for this list is that they are a one hour or less drive from downtown Columbus! So if you’re looking to break up the weekday routine or want a weekend getaway from Columbus, pick one of these nearby cities and go exploring!
Easy Day Trips from Columbus for Families
If you're looking for ideas for easy day trips from Columbus, Ohio, this list is a great place to start! These family-friendly road trips from Columbus feature destinations that are all less than one hour away!
My family spent a day exploring Bellefontaine including mini golf, pizza, and, of course, coffee! Plus we found one of the most adorable and inspiring toy stores I have ever been in! Set aside a day for a trip from Columbus to Bellefontaine and enjoy what this cute town has to offer!
We were pleasantly surprised to find that Springfield is only 45 minutes from Columbus, which makes this trip an easy day trip! With a unique rock garden, a booming farmer's market and a kid-friendly art museum, it's easy to fill a day in Springfield!
Lancaster, Ohio has a population of around 40,000, has a cute, walkable downtown area, nice parks, its own collection of local restaurants and a decent sized mall. So, something for everyone!
Lancaster is also home to a really fun, hands-on museum for kids! You can't miss it!
Just 45 minutes from Columbus, Yellow Springs, Ohio makes the perfect day trip with your family! There’s a little bit of something for everyone in the family: from food and shopping to animals and nature!
Home to Young's Jersey Dairy, a funky and eclectic downtown and a nature preserve, it's easy to fill a day in Yellow Springs!
Delaware is around 40 minutes from Columbus and home to the famous "dinosaur park" - one of the most unique parks and splash pad combos I have ever seen! A trip to Delaware also includes a great downtown area and a great children’s bookstore! Oh, and don't forget cupcakes!
With a carousel and amazing children’s museum, downtown Mansfield, Ohio makes for a fun day trip from Columbus!
It's easy to spend a whole day in downtown Mansfield, also known as the Carrousel District. If you’re looking for a fun road trip this summer, I think this outing is worth the drive – which is only about an hour from downtown Columbus.
Plan a trip to Greene County, Ohio to explore Ohio’s history of aviation and to take flight yourself! Greene County is where the Wright Brothers developed aviation and took the first circular flight! It’s also home to several historical landmarks related to the birth of aviation including museums, monuments and airplane rides!
Plan a trip to Greene County using our itinerary here as a guideline and introduce your family to the incredible role that Ohio played in the development of flight and airplanes!
Newark, Ohio offers several attractions for families to enjoy! A definite highlight is The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art and Technology, an awesome museum for kids featuring hands-on activities that teach kids about science, history and more!
A visit to Newark should also include a stop at the Dawes Arboretum! The beautiful gardens and natural play area for kids will round out your trip!
Plan your Newark, Ohio itinerary by choosing a couple of stops listed in this blog post and have a fun day out with the kids!
Ohio has so much to explore! Central Ohio is in the middle of all of it and I’m so happy we can take mini vacations to some pretty cool places! I hope you are inspired to plan a day trip to one of these places with your kids! Tag me in your pictures on Instagram @whatshouldwedotoday_cbus !
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