Fall in Ohio | Everything You Need to Know

Fall in Ohio is an autumnal wonderland of foliage, festivals, and all things pumpkin. An abundance of parks throughout the state make leaf peeping easy, no matter what area you’re visiting. Besides classic apple picking and hayrides around the pumpkin patch, Ohio has its own unique activities to make the season extra memorable.

Fall in Ohio | Accommodations

During the fall season, great places to stay get even better with the addition of gorgeous foliage and crisp autumn air. If you are traveling to Ohio, or just planning a local staycation, consider making it extra special with a unique hideaway. These are some of my favorites.

Hocking Hills State Park (Hocking)

One of the most popular parks in the state, Hocking Hills in Southern Ohio has some of the coolest lodging options for a seriously memorable trip. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy fall foliage than staying in a private tree house.. can you? There are cabins and cottages of all different sizes available. Once you book your cabin, check out some of the must-see spots in Hocking Hills.

Prices start at $229 per night.

The Wilds (Cumberland)

Nomad Ridge at The Wilds is famous for its trendy yurts overlooking a 10,000 acre conservation park. Guests can watch rhinos, takins, and bison sipping water from the lake below. As incredible as this is any time of year, adding fall colors to the mix is an added treat. Prices start at $325 a night.

Ravenwood Castle (Hocking Hills)

Ravenwood Castle was built in 1995 as a place for owners Sue and Jim Maxwell to celebrate their love for the British Isles. Located in Hocking Hills, the wooded grounds around Ravenwood are a sight to see in the fall. Guests can experience the feel of a fall in England without having to cross the pond. Rooms inside the castle start at $159 per night, but there are also cabins located on the property for larger groups.

Gervasi Vineyards (Canton)

At one of the prettiest vineyards in Ohio, Gervasi’s Villas have been named Best Wine Country Hotel by USA Today. The Tuscan inspired suites have special features that make them perfect for a fall getaway, like cozy fireplaces and heated tile floors. In addition to the winery, there are onsite restaurants, shops, and even a distillery. Rates start at $189 per night.

Fall in Ohio | Foliage Drives and Areas

No matter what area you are in, there is a pretty path not too far away. The state and national parks offer some of the greatest views, and many of them have lodges and cabins available to book. Some of the parks on this list were mentioned above for their special accommodations, but even if you are just passing through they are perfect spots to spend a lazy fall afternoon.

• Hocking Hills State Park
• Mohican State Park
• Cleveland Metroparks
• Geneva on the Lake
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• Salt Fork State Park
• Maumee Bay

The Ohio Department of Transportation put together four great maps of fall foliage drives all over the state.

Like anywhere else, it can be tricky to plan a trip around the changing leaves. As nice as it would be, the dates of peak color aren’t the same from year to year. There are tricks to planning a fall foliage trip, the most important being to pay close attention to the fall foliage map.

Fall in Ohio | Festivals

There is no shortage of fall festivals in Ohio. Every year dozens of unique festivals take place celebrating everything from pumpkins and apple picking to sauerkraut and covered bridges.

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio is home to North America’s largest Oktoberfest (called Oktoberfest Zinzinnati) celebrating the deep German roots of southwest Ohioans. Over half a million people turn up every year to eat traditional German food, listen to music, and of course, drink beer. In 1994, the Crown Prince of Bavaria attended, and even danced in what would earn a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest chicken dance. If you can’t make it to Munich for the real deal, this is the next best thing.

Covered Bridge Festival

Fall in Ohio is the perfect time for the Covered Bridge Festival in Ashtabula County. A leisurely driving tour around the county takes you through 18 covered bridges surrounded by colorful fall foliage. Each bridge is host to different activities and displays.A dedicated festival site hosts food trucks, live music, contests and demonstrations. Click Here to print out a free tour map before hitting the road.

 Bob Evans Farm Festival

Live music, animals from the Columbus Zoo, hog racing and a lumberjack show are just some of the events that draw people to Bob Evans Farm every fall in Rio Grande, Ohio. The event is family friendly with plenty of activities for both kids and adults. Free camping is available on site during the festival week. Festival goers have the opportunity to eat at the original Bob Evans restaurant, but should also take advantage of fall favorites served during the event like bean soup, apple dumplings, and kettle corn.

Circleville Pumpkin Show

Every fall, on the third Wednesday in October, Ohioans flock to Circleville for an annual celebration of all things pumpkin. Whether it’s to gawk at the winner of the largest pumpkin contest, fill up on pumpkin baked goods or try your hand at the pumpkin throwing contest, there are enough things pumpkin to entertain just about anyone.

Pro tip: Don’t leave without trying the famous pumpkin doughnuts at Lindsey’s. Be prepared to wait, lines can be over an hour long or more. If you aren’t too far from Circleville, try going on a non festival day. Pumpkin doughnuts are available all season.

Looking for something a little more offbeat? Check out these one of a kind events:

• Johnny Appleseed Festival: Lisbon Ohio
• Sauerkraut Festival: Waynesville
• Ohio Swiss Festival: Sugarcreek
• Ohio Pawpaw Fest: Albany
• Applebutter Festival: Oxford

Fall in Ohio | Pumpkin Patches and Apple Orchards

Pumpkin Patches

Leeds Farm (Paris)

Leeds Farm in Paris, Ohio, has just about everything you need for the perfect fall afternoon. Pumpkin and apple picking, corn mazes, hayrides and lots of activities for the kids makes Leeds a one stop fall shop. Besides the classic carving pumpkins you will find a great selection of Fairy Tale pumpkins (a French heirloom variety) in pretty shades of whites and blues.

Young’s Jersey Dairy (Yellow Springs)

Although Ohioans flock to Young’s Jersey Dairy year-round for their handmade ice cream, the farm gets a festive makeover every fall. The pumpkin patch and pre-picked pumpkin area are open all season along with haunted wagon rides and a corn maze. They take it one step further in October with a weekend Pumpkin Festival. The pumpkin cinnamon sugar donut holes sound like reason enough to visit.

Libby’s Pumpkin Patch (Albany)

If you want to support sustainable and organic farming, Libby’s is the place for you. The results are a huge three acre pumpkin patch full of carving, pie making, and decorative pumpkins. If you have a favorite size or shape of pumpkin (I always like the tall ovals!) you would be hard-pressed not to find it here. One of the coolest activities at Libby’s is a pumpkin carving station. Kids can draw faces onto their pumpkin and an employee will hand carve it. For anyone who hates the hassle and mess of carving at home, this is ideal. Last but not least, don’t leave without grabbing a scoop of the pumpkin ice cream made on site everyday.

Apple Orchards

Lynd’s Fruit Farm (Pataskala)

Honeycrisp apples from Lynd’s have an almost cult like following, and the u-picks usually sell out within the first weekend. If you are on the hunt for a specific variety of apple, keep a close eye on the picking schedule and check the website regularly for updates. Even if you miss the Honeycrisps, there are plenty of other orchards at Lynd’s full of tasty apples to pick.

The large market on site also sells pre-picked apples, produce, homemade jams and ciders and MUCH more. They have a huge u-pick pumpkin patch and corn maze as well.

Lynds isn’t far from Columbus, Ohio, so it’s a perfect time to check out the city too.

Burnham Orchards (Berlin Heights)

The Burnham Family Farm is a little piece of Ohio history. It dates back to the 1800’s when there were just a few orchards of apples and peaches, and were the first to bring the Fuji apple to Ohio. Two extra special spots to get you into the fall spirit; an on-site bakery and ciderhouse. Stop in Grandma Bea’s Bakery for pumpkin treats, pies, breads, and much more before heading over to Redhead Ciderhouse. They make hard cider from apples picked right out of the orchards.

Arrowhead Orchard (Paris)

In addition to pumpkins and apples, visitors to Arrowhead can bring home a bouquet from the u-pick sunflower patch. No time to pick? A small market sells fresh cider, bagged apples, and local foodie favorites.

**For a complete list of pumpkin patches and apple orchards in Ohio, click here.

Fall in Ohio | Unique Events

Ohio Mart at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

Stan Hywet Hall, a 65-room Tudor Revival Manor House is an exciting destination any time of year. Mix in the fall foliage and flowers of the 70 acre grounds and gardens and you have an ideal fall getaway. One of the best times to soak in the fall weather is during Ohio Mart, a showcase of local artisans and crafters. Shop the many booths, grab lunch at the food court or a glass of wine at Tudor Rose Pub. Tickets are $10 for adults and include a free self-guided tour of the manor house.

Zoar Ghost Tour

What’s better than a walking tour during the day? One done at night, led by lamplight of course. Take the Zoar Ghost Tour by lamplight and be entertained by haunted tales and local legends of the area while exploring historic buildings. This event sells out every year, so don’t wait too long to get your tickets!

Hocking Valley Scenic Railway

One of the most unique ways to see Ohio’s fall foliage is by train. During October, you can take a 2 hour round trip train ride through the gorgeous trees of the Hocking Valley. Heated cars are available if the weather gets chilly, but the open air cars are way more fun!