The Circleville Pumpkin Show

City / town · Ohio

Circleville

The Circleville Pumpkin Show

Best timeApr–Oct
From you
Nearest airportLCK · 15 mi
On this page

Overview

Circleville is the county seat of Pickaway County and a city in the Miami - Scioto basins in south-central Ohio. It is located along the banks of the Scioto River. As of the 2020 Census, Circleville's population was 13,922 and is slowly increasing. It is located approximately halfway between Washington Court House (Court House, as the locals refer to it: designated as Washington CH on highway signs) and Lancaster on US 22, and about halfway between Columbus and Chillicothe on US 23.

8 sights · 7 things to do · 2 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Circleville

The Ted Lewis Museum

Pickaway County Courthouse

Pickaway County Courthouse

Circleville Memorial Hall

Circleville Memorial Hall

Mount Oval

Mount Oval

A historic farmstead

Ohio Christian University

Gregg-Crites Octagon House

Gregg-Crites Octagon House

As of 2018 this building is being restored for use as a museum. The building and its strange architecture should still be visible.

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)

Jan: 3.0 in rain3"Jan: high 37°F, low 22°F37°22°JanFeb: 2.4 in rain2.4"Feb: high 41°F, low 24°F41°24°FebMar: 3.6 in rain3.6"Mar: high 51°F, low 32°F51°32°MarApr: 3.9 in rain3.9"Apr: high 64°F, low 42°F64°42°AprMay: 4.0 in rain4"May: high 74°F, low 52°F74°52°MayJun: 4.3 in rain4.3"Jun: high 82°F, low 62°F82°62°JunJul: 4.7 in rain4.7"Jul: high 85°F, low 65°F85°65°JulAug: 3.7 in rain3.7"Aug: high 84°F, low 64°F84°64°AugSep: 3.1 in rain3.1"Sep: high 78°F, low 56°F78°56°SepOct: 2.9 in rain2.9"Oct: high 66°F, low 45°F66°45°OctNov: 2.8 in rain2.8"Nov: high 52°F, low 35°F52°35°NovDec: 3.1 in rain3.1"Dec: high 42°F, low 27°F42°27°Dec

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 — 15 mi away. Directions
  • CMH John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Columbus — 27 mi away (major hub). Directions

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (IATA: CMH) is the major air hub for Circleville. It is located on the northeast side of Columbus, about 40 minutes from Circleville. Take US 23 North toward Columbus, and in 19.5 mi, take the exit for I-270 (the Outerbelt) going east. Stay on I-270, going around the south and east side of Columbus, and follow signs for John Glenn Columbus International Airport. You'll take the exit for I-670 West (exit 35) and keep left. The Columbus airport is the next exit. Columbus International Airport provides to 31 airports via 9 airlines on 148 nonstop flights daily.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

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 Pickaway County Courthouse, Circleville Pumpkin Show, Circleville Memorial Hall
  • Lunch Goodwin's Family Restaurant
  • Afternoon Gregg-Crites Octagon House, Pickaway County Fair
  • Dinner Richie's New York Corner Deli
  • Evening Gibbys Eatery and Sports Bar

Day 2

  • Morning Mount Oval
  • Afternoon Calamus Swamp

Day 3

  • Morning Cross Mound

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

    The Circleville Pumpkin ShowTed Lewis ParkA rural storeCircleville Post OfficePickaway County CourthouseCircleville Memorial HallMount OvalGregg-Crites Octagon HouseLuthor List MoundCross MoundCalamus SwampStage's Pond State Nature Preserve

    Map

    Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.

    Get in

    By plane

    John Glenn Columbus International Airport (IATA: CMH) is the major air hub for Circleville. It is located on the northeast side of Columbus, about 40 minutes from Circleville. Take US 23 North toward Columbus, and in 19.5 mi, take the exit for I-270 (the Outerbelt) going east. Stay on I-270, going around the south and east side of Columbus, and follow signs for John Glenn Columbus International Airport. You'll take the exit for I-670 West (exit 35) and keep left. The Columbus airport is the next exit. Columbus International Airport provides to 31 airports via 9 airlines on 148 nonstop flights daily.

    Significantly smaller, newer, and closer is Rickenbacker International Airport, located on the south side of the city. It is about 25 minutes from Circleville. Take US 23 North to OH-317/London-Groveport Rd (just south of Scioto Downs) and turn right. Continue for 4 miles, then turn right onto Alum Creek Dr., and you have arrived. Rickenbacker International Airport services Allegiant Airlines to over ten destinations in the Deep South, mostly in Florida.

    By car

    The backbone of Circleville's transportation system is the two major US Highways running through it.

    US 22 runs WSW-ENE through the city and forms Main Street through downtown. It continues WSW to Washington CH and Wilmington before terminating in downtown Cincinnati. It travels east past Ohio Christian University to Lancaster, Zanesville, Cambridge, and Steubenville before continuing into West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

    US 23 runs N-S through Circleville, just west of downtown. It is a two lane divided highway for most of its length through town, but has a freeway-style exit at US 22/OH-56 into downtown Circleville. It continues north to Columbus, Delaware (Ohio), Marion, Upper Sandusky, Fostoria, and on to Toledo and Michigan. It continues south to Chillicothe, Waverly, Portsmouth, and Huntington (W. Va.) metro, before winding through the Appalachians.

    Numerous state highways service the city as well, the most major being OH-56, providing access to I-71 to the northwest.

    Get around

    By car

    Because the city is relatively small, it isn't difficult to get around. The major streets in Circleville are:

    • Main Street (US 22/OH-56) runs ESE-WNW through downtown. The two highways merge just west of town, then they cross the Scioto River into town. They split just to the east of downtown.
    • Lancaster Pike (US 22) when US 22/OH-56 splits to the east of town, US 22 goes northeast to Lancaster, about 20 miles away. This is a major road, and it has many businesses along the road. The Pickaway County Fairgrounds are also along Lancaster Pike.
    • Court Street (partially OH-188) is another major street in Circleville. The intersection of Main and Court is the center of downtown, and north of Main Street, Court Street becomes OH-188. It continues south to the main shopping district.
    • Northridge Rd (OH-188) to the north of town, OH-188 turns northeast onto Northridge Rd, which goes toward Lancaster.
    • Nicholas Dr is a major N-S road starting at US 22 and continuing to Northridge Rd. Mostly through residential, but is near Circleville Public Schools and the YMCA.
    • US 23 is the main transportation corridor in Circleville. To the south of town, it runs through a major shopping district with a Walmart, many restaurants, and a few hotels.

    See

    Attractions

    See The Ted Lewis Museum

    📍 133 W Main St💲 +1 740-477-3630⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    Architecture

    Pickaway County Courthouse

    See Pickaway County Courthouse

    ⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    Maps
    Circleville Memorial Hall

    See Circleville Memorial Hall

    ⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    Maps
    Mount Oval

    See Mount Oval

    A historic farmstead

    ⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    Maps

    See Ohio Christian University

    ⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite
    Gregg-Crites Octagon House

    See Gregg-Crites Octagon House

    As of 2018 this building is being restored for use as a museum. The building and its strange architecture should still be visible.

    ⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    Maps

    Indian Mounds

    Luthor List Mound

    See Luthor List Mound

    ⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    Maps
    Cross Mound

    See Cross Mound

    ⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    Maps

    Do

    Events

    Do Circleville Pumpkin Show

    ⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    Maps

    Do Pickaway County Fair

    📍 415 Lancaster Pike⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    Parks & sports

    Calamus Swamp

    Do Calamus Swamp

    A nature preserve that is good for bird watching.

    ⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    Maps
    Stage's Pond State Nature Preserve

    Do Stage's Pond State Nature Preserve

    A kettle lake surrounded by trails

    ⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite
    A. W. Marion State Park

    Do A. W. Marion State Park

    Has a lake that allows small boating and fishing, as well as a campsite and a trail around Hargus Lake.

    📍 7317 Warner-Huffer Rd☎ +1 740 467-2690⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    Do Mary Virginia Crites Hannan Park

    Has a dog park and a bird watching blind.

    📍 1230 Pontius Rd⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    Maps

    Do Martha Hitler Park

    Has a 22 acre disk golf course and picnic area. Like other features in Circleville named "Hitler", it is named after a local family that came here in the 1700s, and is of no relation to Adolf Hitler.

    📍 23338 Bolender Pontious Rd⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    Maps

    Buy

    Shop Pickaway County Flea Market

    📍 415 Lancaster PikeFairgrounds Colosseum.🕒 First full weekend of the month.⚠ Last checked Nov 2018 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    Eat

    Drink

    Sleep

    Go next

    Nearby

    My experience

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