Overview
Ashland is a city in Northeast Ohio. It is the county seat of Ashland County.
4 sights · 3 things to do · 3 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 7 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Ashland
Ashland University
Ashland County Historical Society
Former Farmers Bank Bldg
This former private bank was started by the Freer Brothers in 1874 which was known as The Farmers Bank by 1917. It is now occupied by the Crosby Advisory Group, a local financial planning and advisory company. It served …
Shawshank Redemption Bus Station Film Site
The former thrift store that served as a faux Trailways bus station in Shawshank Redemption where Red bought his bus ticket to Ft Hancock, Texas (a real place mentioned in the script but was not in the film). It is marke…
Ashland BalloonFest
Early July of each year. Hot air balloons fill the Ashland skies; this event runs until after dark when they light up the balloons. Family event, food. Free admission.
Ashland County Fair
Mid-September each year. There are other events held at the county fairgrounds at other times of the year that may be of an interest. Check the calendar on the website link.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 20°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Akron)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CLE Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Cleveland — 45 mi away (major hub). Directions
- CAK Akron Canton Regional Airport, Akron — 46 mi away. Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Ashland County Historical Society, Former Farmers Bank Bldg, Shawshank Redemption Bus Station Film Site
- Lunch The Dairy Bar
- Afternoon Hugo Young Theater, Ashland University
- Dinner Lyn-Way Restaurant
- Evening O'Bryan's Pub
Day 2
- Morning Ashland County Fair
- Lunch Buehler's Fresh Foods
- Afternoon Ashland BalloonFest
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Tourist office
Get in
By car
- Interstate 71, Ashland can be accessed by I-71 (U.S. Route 250 exit 186) which provides connection to Cleveland to the northeast and Columbus and Cincinnati to the southwest, running its course into Kentucky southwest to Louisville.
- U.S. Route 42 goes in and around the southern and eastern outer edges of the city of Ashland. It provides connection to Mansfield to the southwest and Medina to the northeast.
- U.S. Route 250 can be accessed by Interstate 71 exit 186 just east outside of the city limits of Ashland. The highway goes in and around the eastern and northern outer edges of the city of Ashland. It provides connection to Norwalk and Sandusky to the northwest and Wooster to the southeast.
- Ohio State Route 58 goes north to the city of Lorain from U.S. Route 250 on the northern edge of the city of Ashland.
- Ohio State Route 60 goes through Ashland and through the downtown business district. It provides connection to Hayesville to the south and New London to the north.
- Ohio State Route 96 goes through Ashland and through the downtown business district. It provides connection to U.S. Route 42 and U.S. Route 250 to the east and the city of Shelby to the west.
- Ohio State Route 511 goes through Ashland and through the downtown business district. It provides connection to Perrysville to the south and Oberlin to the north.
By plane
See
See Former Farmers Bank Bldg (Crosby Advisory Group)
This former private bank was started by the Freer Brothers in 1874 which was known as The Farmers Bank by 1917. It is now occupied by the Crosby Advisory Group, a local financial planning and advisory company. It served as the fictional Maine National Bank, in Shawshank Redemption (1994), one of several banks in the Portland area where Andy went in to cash out on the warden's money following his escape from prison. The other Shawshank Redemption filming site is located in a former thrift store three blocks north on Orange St (see below).
See Shawshank Redemption Bus Station Film Site (formerly Revival Thrift Store)
The former thrift store that served as a faux Trailways bus station in Shawshank Redemption where Red bought his bus ticket to Ft Hancock, Texas (a real place mentioned in the script but was not in the film). It is marked with an orange/white "Shawshank Trail" sign.
Do
Buy
Eat
Grocery stores
Restaurants
Eat Lyn-Way Restaurant
A bit difficult to find, but worth the effort. Reasonable prices, daily until 10PM.
Eat The Dairy Bar
One of the greatest greasy spoons in the entire universe. not easy to find, but well worth going out of the way for.
Drink
There are plenty of choices for alcohol. Most grocery stores carry it, as well as the gas stations, drive-throughs and convenience stores.
Sleep
Except the Mohican Lodge and Surrey Inn most of the listed hotels in the below are located 3 mi SE of town at US Hwy 250 & I-71 (Exit #186):
Stay Mohican Lodge & Conference Center
Surrounded by 6,000 acres of Mohican State Forest and borders Pleasant Hill Lake. Hiking, swimming and boating are nearby. 96 guestrooms offering a private balcony. The dining room is also open Sundays with a great buffet for $12.95. An Ohio Department of Natural Resources facility.
Go next
- Charles Mill Lake
- Loudonville Recreation area.
- Mohican State Forest
- Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
- Pleasant Hill State Park and Lake
- Mansfield is about 30 minutes southwest on U.S. Route 42.
- Wooster is about 35 minutes southeast on U.S. Route 250.
- Canton is about 1 hour and 10 minutes southeast on U.S. Route 250 and east on U.S. Route 30.
- Cleveland is about 1 hour and 15 minutes northeast on I-71.
- Columbus is about 1 hour and 25 minutes southwest on I-71.
Nearby
West Salem
City / town · 6 listings · 13 mi away
Mansfield
City / town · 97 listings · 13 mi away
Ontario
City / town · 21 listings · 17 mi away
Loudonville
City / town · 14 listings · 17 mi away
Shelby
City / town · 14 listings · 18 mi away
Burbank
City / town · 7 listings · 19 mi away
Lexington
City / town · 23 listings · 19 mi away
Bellville
City / town · 16 listings · 20 mi away
My experience
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