Plan An Aviation-Themed Road Trip to Greene County, Ohio

Greene County, Ohio is filled with aviation history! From museums, to monuments, to airplane rides there is so much to do and see!

Thanks to Ohio. Find it Here. and Greene County for sponsoring this post.

We recently took a trip to Greene County, Ohio to explore Ohio’s history of aviation and to take flight ourselves! 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!

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!

1. National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

• 1100 Spaatz St., Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433
• Visit Website

We are so lucky to have the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force here in Ohio! Did you know that the museum is free to visit?! It is such a gem and if you have kids who are at all into airplanes or space, they will love it!

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is the world’s largest military aviation museum! There are 4 galleries covering over 19 acres of exhibits! We spent around 3 hours at the museum and we were moving at a pretty good pace.

My boys LOVED the opportunities to sit inside cockpits and to tour the insides of planes! That was their absolute favorite part of the museum! My youngest son rode on the Flight Simulator and thought that was really fun, too! (There is an additional cost for the Flight Simulator.)

One of the things I personally enjoy at the museum are the life-sized displays of historical moments. There are many of these throughout the museum depicting war scenes, early flight and even the Berlin Wall!

Tips for visiting the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force:

1. Admission and parking are free. There is a charge for extra activities like the flight simulators and the Air Force Museum Theatre.
2. Museum hours are 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM every day. The museum is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
3. No outside food or drink is allowed inside the museum. Sealed water bottles are allowed.
4. There is a snack area where you can purchase a snack and/or drink but they cannot be taken out of the dining area.
5. Strollers are allowed and a few strollers are available to borrow on a first come, first served basis.

2. Huffman Prairie Flying Field

• Pylon Rd., WPAFB, OH 45433
• Visit Website

One of the really cool things to visit in Greene County is the Huffman Prairie Flying Field. This is the actual field where the Wright Brothers perfected the art of flight! Though Orville and Wilbur Wright accomplished straight line flights in Kitty Hawk, they came back here to Huffman Prairie to practice flying and perfect the invention of the airplane!

The area is part of the National Park Service and includes a trolly stop where the Wright Brothers used to get off to head to the field to practice, a replica of the 1905 Hangar where they stored their tools and aircraft and a replica of the catapult they used to launch their airplane!

3. Wright Brothers Memorial

• 2380 Memorial Rd., Dayton, OH 45424
• Visit Website

It wouldn’t be a complete aviation-themed trip without a visit to the Wright Brothers Memorial!

This site is home to the monument, an overlook where you can see the Huffman Dam and the Huffman Prairie Flying Field and several burial mounds made by the Mound Builders.

4. Goodfolk & O’Tymes Biplane Rides

• Visit Website

If you’re serious about exploring the aviation history of Ohio and experiencing it all first hand, you’ll definitely want to schedule a biplane ride with Goodfolk & O’Tymes Biplane Rides!

Take a ride in the 1930 D-25 New Standard, a 4 passenger biplane operated by local pilot Dewey Davenport! The plane is open cockpit and the experience is really incredible!

What’s even better than climbing in the cock pit of a stationary, museum airplane? Riding in one yourself! My whole family enjoyed this but my boys especially LOVED doing this!! I am sure this is an experience they will never forget!

What You Need to Know About Biplane Rides with Goodfolk & O’Tymes Biplane Rides:

1. Rides are offered May 1-October 30, during the week and weekends.
2. Rides are available for as short as 18 minutes or up to 60 minutes and prices vary based on length of flight and number of passengers.
3. Reservations can be made by calling 937-877-0837.

5. Flyby BBQ

• 2733 Fairfield Commons Suite A, Beavercreek, OH 45431
• Visit Website

If you’re doing an aviation themed trip then you’re going to need a meal that goes with the theme! Enter Flyby BBQ in Beavercreek, Ohio! With airplane decor and a unique take on BBQ, this stop will fuel your adventures!

Flyby BBQ allows you to create your own BBQ dish, similar to how you might order at Chipotle. Choose a bowl, salad, sandwich or mac and cheese and then add your toppings! They also have a good selection of kids meal options that include a side and a drink!

What Else is there to do in Greene County?

While it’s hard to escape the history of aviation when visiting Greene County, there are are few other non-airplane things you should add to your itinerary when you visit! Check out these additional family-friendly activities to include!

Owen’s Place

• 2260 Dayton Xenia Rd, Dayton, OH 45434
• Visit Website

Owen’s Place is an accessible playground for kids of all ability levels! It is awesome! There is a wooden play structure that includes wheel-chair accessible ramps, houses and climbing elements. There are also fun slides built into the hill and musical instruments for kids to play!

Russ Nature Reserve

• 2380 Kemp Rd., Beavercreek, OH 45431
• Visit Website

Russ Nature Reserve includes a super fun natural play area! Kids can climb, run and jump to their hearts’ content. Make sure to continue on down the path for a second play area that includes sandboxes and a pretend general store.

More Restaurant Recommendations in Greene County, Ohio:

Milano’s Pizza, Subs & Taps

• 2260 N. Fairfield Rd., Beavercreek, Ohio 45431
• Visit Website

The pizza at Milano’s Pizza, Subs & Taps got two thumbs up from our whole family! This is a great family-friendly option that you won’t regret including on your trip! There’s something for everyone here!

Ritter’s Frozen Custard

• 2531 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Beavercreek, OH 45434
• Visit Website

It wouldn’t be a complete trip for our family if we didn’t try out a local ice cream shop! We chose Ritter’s Frozen Custard and were not disappointed. Beyond a wide selection of custard and Italian ice options, there was a huge patio and every table had an umbrella for shade! There is also a small playground on site!

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If anyone in your family is interested in aviation or obsessed with airplanes, you should definitely plan a trip to Greene County! Just around an hour from Columbus, it makes for a really doable and entertaining road trip with kids!

Read more: 6 Easy Road Trips from Columbus, Ohio

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