Overview
Canton is a mid-sized city in Stark County, Northeast Ohio. It is best known as the birthplace of professional American football, since the Canton Bulldogs were the first professional football team.
8 sights · 10 things to do · 10 places to eat · 6 bars & cafés · 7 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Canton
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Hosting the world's largest collection of pro football memorabilia, this site also features the Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery and GameDay Stadium theater, which shows the deep archive of NFL Films documentaries. It is un…
Canton Memorial Civic Center
Numerous events are held at the Canton Civic Center, such as sporting events, car shows, and circuses.
Canton Museum of Art
Known for collections of watercolors and ceramics.
National First Ladies' Library
The Victorian family home of US Presidential First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley now serves as an educational center on the subject of contributions by the wives of US presidents and other women with significant roles in hist…
Wm. McKinley Presidential Library and Museum (McKinley Monument)
Climb the 108 steps to the top. The memorial for the 25th U.S. President William McKinley is free, but the museum has a charge.
Basilica of Saint John the Baptist
Roman Catholic minor basilica, built in 1875.
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.
- CAK Akron Canton Regional Airport, Akron — 8 mi away. Directions
- CLE Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Cleveland — 49 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $90–$97 a night (typical $97), from 3 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $12 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$120, mid-range ~$160, comfortable ~$220.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range, Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Pro Football Hall of Fame, Wm. McKinley Presidential Library and Museum (McKinley Monument), Italian-American Festival
- Lunch Bender's
- Afternoon Stark County Fair, Canton Classic Car Museum
- Dinner The Desert Inn
- Evening George's Lounge
Day 2
- Morning Canton Memorial Civic Center, Canton Museum of Art, Cultural Center for the Arts
- Lunch Sunrise Cafe
- Afternoon Center Ice Skating Arena, Hall of Fame Enshrine ment Parade
- Dinner John's Grille
- Evening 410 Lounge
Day 3
- Morning National First Ladies' Library, Canton Palace Theatre, Basilica of Saint John the Baptist
- Lunch Tim's Tavern
- Afternoon AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game, National Ribs Burnoff
- Dinner Country Cafe
- Evening O's Diner
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
It is also the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, and National First Ladies' Library. Canton still lives and breathes football.
About 20% of Canton residents report German ancestry, and about 10% report Irish ancestry. The influence of these two ancestries can be seen throughout Canton.
Visitor information
Get in
By plane
Go Akron-Canton Regional Airport (CAK)
It is in neighboring Summit County about a ten-minute drive from Canton.
By car
- Interstate 77. Canton can be accessed primarily by I-77 which provides connection to Akron and Cleveland to the north, runs through New Philadelphia and Marietta, Ohio to the south, ultimately running its course through West Virginia and the Carolinas.
- U.S. Route 30. Route 30 also runs through Canton. It heads to Wooster in the west and East Liverpool in the east.
By bus
Get around
By bus
Go Stark County Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) (SARTA)
SARTA provides reliable public bus service throughout Stark County. Transfer Centers are in: Alliance, Massillon, and Canton. There is a bus to the Akron/Canton Airport (Route 115) and an express bus between Canton and Downtown Akron (Route 81). Buses on main routes generally depart each stop every hour. SARTA buses run 365 days per year. On holidays, buses run the Sunday schedule. Check website for details. Additionally, Lakefront Lines, a private bus company, operates an office in SARTA's Canton Transfer Center. Lakefront Lines goes through Canton on its route between Cleveland and Charleston, SC.
By taxi
If you want a cab in Canton, or anywhere else in Stark County, you have to call for one. At the minimum you should call 30 minutes before you need a ride.
See
See Pro Football Hall of Fame
Hosting the world's largest collection of pro football memorabilia, this site also features the Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery and GameDay Stadium theater, which shows the deep archive of NFL Films documentaries. It is undergoing a mammoth expansion in preparation of the NFL's centennial in 2020. The Hall hosts an induction ceremony and Pro Football Hall of Fame Game to kick off the preseason each year.
See National First Ladies' Library
The Victorian family home of US Presidential First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley now serves as an educational center on the subject of contributions by the wives of US presidents and other women with significant roles in historical US politics. Call ahead for tour reservations.
Do
Do Canton Palace Theatre
The Palace Theatre is a restored 1920s theater. Be sure to look up and check out the "real" sky, complete with stars and moving clouds. Over 300 events are played at the palace each year, from musicals to matinées. On the first Wednesday of every month $1 matinées are shown.
Annual events
Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival
The Annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival is the biggest event in Canton each year. These events occur for about 10 days each summer last July to early August.
Do AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game
This preseason classic is held annually at Fawcett Stadium in Canton.
Do Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement
Do Hall of Fame Enshrine ment Parade
This parade follows a 2.2-mile route and attracts more than 200,000 spectators.
Do National Ribs Burnoff
Do Concert and Fireworks
Itineraries
- Lincoln Highway — Travel a section of the historic Lincoln Highway through Canton on Tuscarawas Street.
Learn
Buy
Shop Canton Centre Mall
Eat
Budget
Eat Sunrise Cafe
Diner with reasonable prices for breakfast.
Drink O's Diner
Breakfast and lunch. Casual.
Mid-range
Eat Baker's Cafe
While the setting may not be what one would expect, from its location in an industrial area and the plain brick exterior, Baker's has the best steaks in the area.
Eat The Desert Inn
Order a meal "family style" where everyone orders their own meat and shares salad, rice, potatoes and bread. Belly dancers on Fridays.
Splurge
Eat Bender's
One of the more upscale restaurants, be prepared to spend around $100 for dinner and wine for two.
Drink
Drinking beer outside on public sidewalks is allowed in Canton, but only from plastic cups not cans or bottles. Most bars in downtown will sell beers to-go, though there is no discount.
Drink Harmon's Pub
This Irish pub is a local favorite. Harmon's is known for their Irish Fries, potatoes sliced chip-thin, deep fried, and coated with a special seasoning. Harmon's motto, "Good luck, good cheer, good friends!" really describes the atmosphere.
Drink Tozzi's Restaurant of Magnolia
Established in 1914. Offering steaks, seafood, chicken and pasta. Join family and friends in the heart of Magnolia. Original tin ceilings, fresh roses and white table cloths make Tozzi's classic atmosphere. Full bar and attentive service. Call for reservations.
Drink George's Lounge
A locally owned bar since 1959. MC/Visa accepted.
Drink 410 Lounge
Full bar specializing in fresh cocktails, offering finger foods Tu-Sa evenings. Lunch F only. No outside sign.
Drink Mapleton Cider Mill
Unpasteurized sweet apple cider. Sales start in late September using an honor system.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Stay safe
Dial 911 from any telephone for emergency police, medical, and fire services.
Areas that are not recommended for travelers:
- Highland Park - Now known as Skyline Terrace - Cherry Ave. south of 14th Street
- Newton Zone - Newton Ave. between Tuscarawas and 5th Street
- Deuce Block - 2nd St. NE by Harrisburg
Go next
- Amish Country centered in Holmes County to the southwest of Stark County.
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This park is primarily north of Canton, and follows the course of the Cuyahoga River and the historic Ohio & Erie Canal between Cleveland, Akron and Canton. A number of older buildings are preserved here. The Cuyahoga Scenic Railroad, with train cars from the 1940s and 1950s also runs through the park from Cleveland and Akron. The Canal Byway extends from Lake Erie in Downtown Cleveland through the southern suburbs past Akron, Canton, New Philadelphia and into rural Bolivar and Historic Zoar.
- Hall of Fame Cycle. Tourists can plan visits to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Inventure Place (the National Inventors Hall of Fame) in Akron, and The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.
- Hartville. About 15 minutes to the north, Hartville offers two flea markets, antique stores and a handful of restaurants.
- Zoar Village State Memorial, 2½ miles east of I-77 (exit 93) on State Route 212. It is between New Philadelphia and Canton in Tuscarawas County. Referred to as: The quaintest, most interesting and unique village, in this country. Zoar Village was founded by German religious dissenters called the "Society of Separatists of Zoar", in 1817 as a communal society.
- Zoar School Inn Bed and Breakfast take one or two nights for a stay in the historic first school of Zoar. Step back in time circa 1836. Enjoy fireplace and Jacuzzi suites, full gourmet breakfast and explore Zoar Village. +1 216-927-3700
Nearby
North Canton
City / town · 27 listings · 5 mi away
Louisville
City / town · 10 listings · 6 mi away
Massillon
City / town · 28 listings · 8 mi away
Green
City / town · 11 listings · 9 mi away
East Sparta
City / town · 7 listings · 10 mi away
Hartville
City / town · 11 listings · 11 mi away
Waynesburg
City / town · 7 listings · 11 mi away
Magnolia
City / town · 7 listings · 11 mi away
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