Sometimes the best part of living in a place is figuring out ways to leave! One of the things I love about being in central Ohio is the diversity of cool weekend trips from Columbus that we can enjoy, with everything from cultural highlights to the great outdoors.
In this article you’ll find ideas for getaways from Columbus that you can reach in 4 hours or less. Even if you’re leaving after work on a Friday and coming back Sunday night, you’ll still have plenty of time to enjoy yourself!
Check out these fun ideas to plan your next escape:
Cleveland
Distance from Columbus to Cleveland: 140 miles/2 hours 10 minutes
Best time of year: Spring through fall
What to do: Cleveland is a great destination for professional sports fans thanks to the Cavs, Guardians and Browns. You’ll find a game to check out no matter when you come visit.
But no trip to Cleveland is complete without spending (at least) half a day at the legendary Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. This shrine to America’s most iconic musicians includes everything from the costumes we all remember from their best performances to a learning lab where you can get video instruction and learn to play instruments yourself. Don’t miss the immersive video too!
While you’re there, spend a half day at Ohio’s only National Park Cuyahoga Valley. There’s plenty to do – hikes, waterfalls, even ice cream. It’s an easy day trip from Cleveland or you can visit on the way home Sunday afternoon.
Some of our other favorite things to do in Cleveland include the lovely Cleveland Museum of Art, Great Lakes Science Center and plenty of wonderful day trips from Cleveland. Be sure to find a Cleveland sign for a photo opp!
Where to stay: Speaking of photo opps, one of Cleveland’s most memorable hotels is the Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade – the entrance is in Cleveland’s first building to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places! This 1890 landmark was America’s first indoor shopping center and reflects the city’s wealth and power at the time. It’s also conveniently located for dining, attractions and strolling.
A midwestern family favorite is Drury, which has a beautiful outpost at the Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown. It’s located in the city’s former Board of Education building and comes complete with marble columns and original murals. But since it’s a Drury, you’ll also get free hot breakfast, free heavy appetizers (often enough to make a meal for kids) and drinks at 5:30 every day, an indoor pool and generously sized rooms and suites.
Cincinnati
Distance from Columbus to Cincinnati: 110 miles/1 hours 45 minutes
Best time of year: Spring through fall
What to do: As the closest Columbus weekend trip opportunity, Cincy is actually a short enough drive that we often stay for just one night. That’s sufficient time to go to the Cincinnati Zoo (a very full day) and take in a baseball game on Saturday and then enjoy the Newport Aquarium and a trip to Rhinegeist Brewery’s rooftop on Sunday.
With more time you’ll also want to check out Cincinnati’s Museum Center which includes a Children’s Museum, The Cincinnati History Museum and the Museum of Natural History and Science. Alternatively you could spend a half day at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Also allow enough time to stroll around Smale Riverfront Park and visit the nearby Krohn Conservatory.
If you choose to visit in fall (which is a more pleasant time for the zoo), don’t miss the popular Oktoberfest which is generally the third weekend of September. People travel from around the region to experience the festivities, making it the largest Oktoberfest in America!
Get more suggestions for things to do in Cincinnati with kids.
Where to stay: Stay near the riverfront to experience the best of Cincy within walking distance. The Hyatt Regency Cincinnati is a great value if you transfer points from your Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card to book – it’s as little as 9,000 points per night.
If you’re paying cash for your hotel room, we like the Hampton Inn Newport KY for a convenient stay. Despite being in a different state, it’s an easy and scenic walk across the bridge and puts you right next to Great American Ballpark!
Pittsburgh
Distance from Columbus to Pittsburgh: 185 miles/3 hours
Best time of year: Spring through fall
What to do: If you live in Columbus, you’ll probably feel like Pittsburgh is just like home… but cooler. The whole downtown is built along the three rivers the converge here: Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio. The city is made up of distinct neighborhoods that are each worth at least a few hours (if not a full day). Read my detailed Pittsburgh weekend itinerary to plan your entire visit.
You can spend a beautiful summer morning strolling along or taking a guided bike tour, which we loved. Drop in on one of Steel City’s well-known cultural institutions, whether you choose the Andy Warhol Museum or the Carnegie Science Center. You can also get in touch with nature at the Phipps Botanical Garden or the National Aviary.
And don’t forget about the city’s awesome dining options! You can choose from Primanti Brothers sandwiches for a budget-friendly option, DiAnoia’s Eatery for incredible Italian food or Apteka for delicious vegan Polish food that’s unlike anything you’ve ever tried. The choices are truly limitless.
Where to stay: I can’t wait to stay at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh next time we visit. We went by it several times while exploring downtown Pittsburgh, a testament to its extremely convenient location near Mellon Square Park. The building itself is more than a century old but has been completely renovated and decorated in Kimpton’s cheeky style. I’ll use my IHG Premier Rewards credit card to book it at now cost.
Louisville
Distance from Columbus to Louisville: 210 miles/3 hours 10 minutes
Best time of year: Year-round, but ideal in spring or fall
What to do: Louisville is full of mid-19th century charm that you can enjoy year-round thanks to its great mix of incredibly unique Louisville museums and beautiful public outdoor spaces. Check out our favorite itinerary for Louisville with kids.
For a dose of history and culture, wander through the Frazier Kentucky History Museum or the Speed Art Museum. Learn about hometown heroes (both human and inanimate) on a tour of the Louisville Slugger factory or the Muhammad Ali Center. Learn about Kentucky’s legendary bourbon industry at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience.
In the nice weather, don’t miss a stop at Cherokee Park – it was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted of Central Park fame, and if you look around you’ll see many similarities. Don’t miss a guided walking tour of Old Louisville’s graceful homes; you can opt for a daytime tour, or take the evening ghost tour like we did for a different flavor! If you visit Louisville for fall break like we did, it’s an extra-spooky Halloween themed tour.
If you have any interest in Kentucky’s famous horse races, be sure to plan a tour at Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum.
Where to stay: We had a fantastic stay at Homewood Suites by Hilton in Downtown Louisville! It’s walking distance to lots of great activities and eateries and the generously sized rooms are perfect for families. The lobby has video games and a pool table to keep the kids busy while you take a breather, and everyone gets a full hot breakfast buffet at no additional charge.
Lexington
Distance from Columbus to Lexington: 190 miles/3 hours
Best time of year: Year-round, but go in April or October for most horse races
What to do: Though it’s geographically close to Louisville, we felt that Lexington had a very different vibe when we visited. Its downtown is much smaller and quieter than Louisville’s, but heading out a little ways from town offers a unique experience that will show you you’re definitely not on Ohio anymore! This feels like The South.
First up, Lexington is the epicenter of American thoroughbred racing. You’ll find Keeneland, home of some of the most important races and auctions, just 15 minutes from downtown. Its primary races are in April and October but you can tour the property and learn about its inner workings all year long.
For the real horse lovers out there, Kentucky Horse Park is a perfect stop. We took our daughter there for her 8th birthday and it offered everything from demonstrations to horse and pony rides to an amazing Smithsonian-affiliated museum. Again, it’s very convenient to the rest of Lexington.
For the bourbon lovers, take a day trip to Buffalo Trace, Limestone branch or one of the many other excellent distilleries nearby. Hikers can take advantage of the beautiful trails of Red River Gorge.
Read lots of tips for planning your visit to Lexington!
Where to stay: We opted to stay at the Best Western GLO Lexington, which is just 10 minutes from Kentucky Horse Park. It’s a fun, modern take on the Best Western brand (which we already like very much for families). Our room was comfortable and spacious, the kids loved breakfast and the pool stayed open nice and late.
For a more resort-like stay, the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott offers a lovely outdoor pool, golf, a spa and more. Breakfast is not included so keep that in mind for budgeting both your money and your time!
A fun option in downtown Lexington is the 21C Museum Hotel. This small chain is popping up around the region and each location is different; this one is in a former bank and features striking modern art and a cool vibe. The location is ideal if you want to spend lots of time soaking up the city vibes and checking out the restaurant scene. You’ll be on your own for breakfast and parking so keep that in mind.
Seven Springs
Distance from Columbus to Seven Springs: 220 miles/3 hours 25 minutes
Best time of year: Winter (mostly)
What to do: The biggest reason to visit western Pennsylvania’s Seven Springs is to take advantage of some of the region’s best skiing and snowboarding close to Columbus. We kicked off winter break this year with two full days on the slopes and it was great!
Seven Springs offers plenty of lessons for novices as well as lots of greens and blues for those who have some experience under their belts. Our instructor Will was clear, encouraging and patient and has us newbies confidently tackling the beginner area as well as our first greens.
Notably, in December only about one third of the runs were open – mostly beginner/intermediate. But by early January over two thirds of the runs were open, including plenty of blacks and blues.
If you want to balance exertion with culture – or if you’re visiting outside of winter – Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Fallingwater is just 20 minutes away. For the best experience, book several months ahead to take a guided house tour. It’s even more special in person than it is in photos, though be warned that interior tours are only open to ages 6 and up. Because we visited with younger kids, we opted to stroll the grounds instead – in addition to the stunning exterior of the house, there are about 20 miles of trails to cover!
Where to stay: This awesome condo was perfect for two families staying together! There’s plenty of room to spread out and beds for everyone. The kitchen was well-equipped for preparing breakfast and dinner and there’s a huge closet of games to play at night while you rest your sore muscles. In the heart of ski season it’s ski in/ski out if you bring your own gear, or there’s a shuttle stop 30 seconds from the front door.
Indianapolis
Distance from Columbus to Indianapolis: 175 miles/2 hours 45 minutes
Best time of year: April to September
What to do: While I’m sure there are lots of great things to do in Indianapolis (like the zoo and the art museum), to me the big draw is the genre-defining Indianapolis Children’s Museum.
It was the first of its kind and still remains the best! More than any place I’ve ever seen, it really caters to every aspect of a child’s mind and body and leans into their curiosity. The entire floor dedicated to dinosaurs is always a hit and let’s kids see a real paleontologist doing real work, and kids can even touch real fossils. There are also great exhibits on diverse topics like China’s terracotta warriors, the water cycle, carousels and more. One my most recent visit with the kids, we participated in a hands-on engineering workshop too.
While the museum is open year-round, in the warmer months you’ll also have access to the outdoor Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience. This massive, well-staffed area lets kids try out tons of different sports and activities in a lightly competitive environment. There are tons of Indiana favorites like basketball, football, cart racing and more. Be sure your kids have closed-toed shoes for this area or they may not be able to participate in some activities.
Where to stay: If your primary aim is the Children’s Museum, know that it’s not in downtown Indianapolis. It’s up to you if that matters – you’ll be driving around no matter where you stay.
For a great value in downtown, stay at the Hyatt Place or Hyatt House using points transferred from a Chase Sapphire Preferred card. These two hotels share a building, breakfast and facilities but have slightly different room configurations, so pick whichever one you prefer. Award nights start at just 9,000 points per night but you’ll have to pay for parking – that’s the trade-off if you want to stay within walking distance to the shops, restaurants and parks of downtown Indy.
I’ll be honest that I don’t recommend either of the places our family stayed on our visits to Indy. One (now closed) was north of the Children’s Museum in an area that didn’t feel very safe, while the other was near the airport due to low availability on a last minute booking.
Sandusky
Distance from Columbus to Sandusky: 215 miles/2 hours 20 minutes
Best time of year: mid-May to late September
What to do: The big draw of the Sandusky area is its famous amusement park, Cedar Point. It’s earned the title of “roller coaster capital of America” and keeps building taller and faster rides to keep the crown. Read these helpful Cedar Point tips and tricks before you go.
But for those of us who prefer both feet on the ground, there’s still plenty to do in the area. Right near Cedar Point there are some excellent beaches to enjoy like Nickel Plate and Kelleys Island, along with the famous Marblehead lighthouse. Lake Erie also boasts several lovely little islands in the area that are perfect for a charming summer getaway!
Where to stay: Consider staying at Cedar Point’s Hotel Breakers. Not only does it get excellent reviews and come with access to a nice pool and beach, but staying on-site also gets you early entry into the park!
Ashtabula County
Distance from Columbus to Ashtabula: 195 miles/2 hours 55 minutes
Best time of year: summer
What to do: If you need a kid-free weekend getaway from Columbus without flying, Ashtabula County in the far northeast corner of Ohio could be just the ticket! It truly couldn’t feel more different from the urban life of Columbus (or the other C’s). It’s also an easy day trip from Cleveland in case you’re looking to tack it on.
Split your time between hopping to different wineries and enjoying the broad, peaceful beaches, hiking trails and lighthouses of the coastline. We particularly enjoyed Hundley Cellars, which looks straight out of California, along with the beach in Geneva. In the future we’d love to check out M Cellars, Biccia Vineyards and Rosabella as well. Don’t miss Walnut and Conneaut beaches!
Where to stay: Most of the nice places along the shore in Ashtabula County are vacation rentals. Book this beautiful lakeview condo if you have a large group or this cozy cabin for a smaller group.
Ann Arbor
Distance from Columbus to Ann Arbor: 195 miles/3 hours 10 minutes
Best time of year: Art Fairs weekend (typically the third weekend of July)
What to do: For a summer weekend trip from Columbus, put the rivalries aside temporarily to give Ann Arbor a try. The town is adorable and it truly comes alive during Art Fairs, a weekend-long gathering of nearly 1,000 vendors and the largest of its kind in the Midwest thanks to the convergence of three different events. Even if you aren’t in the market to buy, it’s really fun to browse and see the diversity of styles and materials. You’ll find traditional artists like painters alongside “makers” and performance artists.
While you’re in town, be sure to go to the famous Zingerman’s Delicatessen for lunch. Their sandwiches and so good that you’ll want to order ahead to avoid the wait – the Art Fairs attract 400,000+ people, and everyone loves a good sammie. Allow time to browse their gourmet grocery section too! Ann Arbor offers plenty of other cute shops to check out while you’re there, or for an active trip you can rent bikes at Sic Transit and ride around the beautiful University of Michigan campus or along the scenic Border to Border trail that traces the Huron River.
On Sunday morning if you’ve already had your fill of Art Fairs, hop over Detroit before you go back to Columbus. Depending on your interest, you can visit the Motown Museum (tickets sell out in advance, so don’t make the mistake I’ve made and procrastinate!) or The Henry Ford, which includes the Museum of American Innovation as well as historic Greenfield Village.
Or if you’re looking for a longer trip, follow our lead and use A2 as. thelaunch point for an amazing Michigan road trip!
Where to stay: If you’re visiting during Art Fairs, know that accommodations can get really pricey and book up fast. To be in the heart of the action (and not have to worry about driving around) check out the aparthotels of Exhibit A2 – note that this building doesn’t have its own parking – or the sweet Ann Arbor B&B Inn with on-site parking.
Need more ideas?
I’ll keep adding more awesome weekend getaways from Columbus as we continue exploring our new home region. In the meantime, don’t miss these articles with even more ideas around Ohio and beyond:
- 12 Day Trips From Columbus, Ohio That Everyone Should Take
- Things to do in Columbus in Winter to Avoid the Blues
- Fun Things to do in Columbus, Ohio With Kids
- 8 Day Trips From Cincinnati, Ohio You Won’t Want To Miss
- 10 Wonderful Day Trips from Cleveland, Ohio
- 13 Awesome Fall Break Destinations for Families
- 11 Perfect East Coast Spring Vacations for Families
- Niagara Falls: 4 Mistakes to Avoid & What to do Instead
- 9 Tips for Visiting Niagara Falls in the Winter (by a Local)