Overview
Chillicothe is a city in Ross County in South Central Ohio and is the county seat of Ross County. In the 1800s, it was designated as the capital of the "eastern section" of the Northwest Territory. Later the State Constitutional Convention was held in Chillicothe, and in 1803, Ohio entered the Union, Chillicothe became the first state capital of Ohio. The name of the city was derived from a Shawnee word meaning "principal town". It is located along the Scioto River and Paint Creek.
14 sights · 11 things to do · 5 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Chillicothe
Adena Mansion and Gardens
Home of Thomas Worthington (1773-1827). He was the sixth Governor of Ohio and one of the first United States senators from Ohio. There is a newer museum and education center. The view from the north lawn to the Logan Ran…
Chillicothe Railroad Museum
James A. Thomas Telephone Museum
Dr. John D. Harris Dental Museum
Located in Bainbridge, Ohio, Hours vary.
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
A group of 23 earthen mounds built by the Hopewell culture, 200 BC to AD 500, destroyed by the US Federal Government to build Fort Sherman in 1913 and then partially rebuilt/restored and turned into a National Historic P…
Chillicothe Paints
Single A, Frontier League Baseball - 90 game schedule
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Columbus)
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.
- LCK Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus — 33 mi away. Directions
- CMH John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Columbus — 46 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Chillicothe Railroad Museum, Ohio University-Chillicothe, High Bank Works
- Lunch Giovanni's Pizza
- Afternoon Pump House Center for the Arts, Dr. John D. Harris Dental Museum
- Dinner Crispie Creme
- Evening Dock at Water
Day 2
- Morning Adena Mansion and Gardens, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Mound City
- Lunch Old Canal Smokehouse
- Afternoon Hopewell Mound Group, Dard Hunter Studios
- Dinner Carl's Townhouse
Day 3
- Morning Seip Earthworks, James A. Thomas Telephone Museum, Majestic Theater
- Lunch The Old Home Place
- Afternoon Paint Valley Jamboree, Ross County Fair
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.
Get in
By car
- Approx 45 miles south of Columbus along US-23 or SR-104
- Approx 80 miles southeast of Dayton along US-35.
- Approx 100 miles east of Cincinnati along US-50
- Approx 44 miles north of Portsmouth along US-23 or SR-104.
By plane
See
See Pump House Center for the Arts
The Pump House was constructed in 1883 as a municipal pumping station for distribution of water from the deep well field in Yoctangee Park. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Pump House is an example of Victorian Gothic architecture housing an ever changing collection of painting, sculpture and art.
See Dard Hunter Studios
The Mountain House was built in 1850 by a German family named Meggenhofen who operated a winery here for many years, tending the terraced vineyards below the house. Gift shop is open M-F 9AM to 5PM. Reservations are required for a tour. Call at least 24 hours in advance to schedule an appointment.
See Adena Mansion and Gardens
Home of Thomas Worthington (1773-1827). He was the sixth Governor of Ohio and one of the first United States senators from Ohio. There is a newer museum and education center. The view from the north lawn to the Logan Range is depicted on the Great Seal of Ohio. Quite a place.
See Chillicothe Railroad Museum
See James A. Thomas Telephone Museum
- Ross County Heritage Center, 45 W 5th St, +1 740-772-1936. Hours vary.
Hopewell sites
Five out of the eight components of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks is in or relatively close to Chillicothe:
See Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
A group of 23 earthen mounds built by the Hopewell culture, 200 BC to AD 500, destroyed by the US Federal Government to build Fort Sherman in 1913 and then partially rebuilt/restored and turned into a National Historic Park. In 2023 it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
See Mound City
See High Bank Works
See Hopewell Mound Group
See Seip Earthworks
Do
Do Charity Bed Race
Do Easy Rider Rodeo
Do International Sunflower Festival
Do Mountain Heritage Camp out
- Fall Festival of the Leaves Bainbridge. 3 days in mid-Oct
Learn
Buy
Shop History Store
Eat
Eat Giovanni's Pizza
Locally owned and operated, New York style pizza
Eat Carl's Townhouse
Carl's is a family owned, hometown diner style restaurant. Great food for breakfast and lunch... but don't expect dinner there, because they close at 5PM.
- County Crust Bakery, 4918 SR 41 South, Bainbridge.
Eat The Old Home Place
1/4 mile north of U.S. Route 35. Amish Bakery - Troyer Meats - Cheese - Bulk Foods.
Drink
Sleep
Stay Hampton Inn & Suites' Chillicothe
Place Scioto Trail State Park
55 campsites, 40 with electricity, latrines, water, fire rings, picnic tables are provided. A secluded hike-in camp near Stewart Lake has 18 non-electric sites. Two rustic camper cabins are available. Fishing, hunting, twelve miles of hiking trails, 17 miles of bridle trails, nature center, basketball, horseshoe courts, playground, games and sporting equipment to registered campers, basketball, horseshoe courts and volleyball court.
Go next
- Tar Hollow State Park, east part of Ross County, east of Chillicothe, at 16396 Tar Hollow Road, Laurelville, 71 sites with electrical hookups, 11 non-electric sites, 12 walk-in sites, and 5 primitive sites along a backpack trail. Equipped with showers, laundry facilities, pit latrines and a dump station. The beach is close by. Boating with electric motors only, permitted on the 15-acre Pine Lake. Perfect for canoes and rowboats.
- Columbus
- Lancaster
- Portsmouth
Nearby
Circleville
City / town · 22 listings · 19 mi away
Hocking Hills State Park
Park · 19 listings · 25 mi away
Jackson
City / town · 23 listings · 27 mi away
Lancaster
City / town · 14 listings · 33 mi away
Canal Winchester
City / town · 8 listings · 36 mi away
Pickerington
City / town · 11 listings · 40 mi away
Portsmouth
City / town · 29 listings · 41 mi away
Nelsonville
City / town · 14 listings · 41 mi away
My experience
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