Overview
Newark is the county seat of Licking County in the Greater Columbus area of Ohio.
5 sights · 3 things to do · 1 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Newark
Flint Ridge State Memorial
3 miles south of Cynthia, near (south/east) Newark, Ohio, off of SR 668. Flint Ridge is a restored prehistoric quarry pit with a museum that explains both the digging and shaping of flint. It is a site well worth the vis…
Dawes Arboretum
Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve
Midland Theatre
Moundbuilders Earthworks
This site covers most of Newark. Two main areas have been preserved, and as of 2023 both are part of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks covering eight such sites around Ohio. One area is at the park where you will find a…
The Octagon Earthworks
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.
- CMH John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Columbus — 26 mi away (major hub). Directions
- LCK Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus — 33 mi away. Directions
From Columbus: take Interstate 70 east to exit 129B (State Route 79 north). Newark is 9 miles to the north on State Route 79.
Full “Get in” guide ↓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 The Octagon Earthworks, Wright Earthworks, Midland Theatre
- Lunch Don & Sue's Pizza
- Afternoon The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology, Dawes Arboretum
Day 2
- Morning Flint Ridge State Memorial
- Afternoon Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve
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
Located about 40 miles (64 km) to the east of Columbus, Newark is an industrial center for the aerospace, lighting and fiberglass insulation industries. It is the home of the Newark Campus of the Ohio State University and Central Ohio Technical College.
In 2020, it was home to 50,000 people.
The basket-shaped building which served as the headquarters for the now-defunct Longaberger Company, makers of baskets and other products for the home from 1973-2018, is on the eastern edge of the city.
Get in
From Columbus: take Interstate 70 east to exit 129B (State Route 79 north). Newark is 9 miles to the north on State Route 79.
Alternately, take State Route 161 east to Granville, where it meets State Route 16. Continue east on State Route 16 another 5 miles to Newark.
By plane
The Newark-Heath airport (KVTA) is in Heath and is open for civil aviation traffic. There is no scheduled air service to Newark-Heath. The nearest airport to Newark with scheduled air service is Port Columbus (CMH).
By train
Newark has no scheduled passenger train service, but there are 4 Amtrak stations within 100 miles of Newark.
- Alliance, OH (ALC) - 92.3 miles north
- Elyria, OH (ELY) - 94.5 miles north
- South Portsmouth - South Shore, KY (SPM) - 95.4 miles south
- Sandusky, OH (SKY) - 99.6 miles north
By car
From Columbus: take Interstate 70 east to exit 129B (State Route 79 north). Newark is 9 miles to the north on State Route 79.
Alternately, take State Route 161 east to Granville, where it meets State Route 16. Continue east on State Route 16 another 5 miles to Newark.
By bus
Although there is no service to Newark, Greyhound bus service is available in Columbus and Zanesville.
By bike
The Thomas Evans Bike Trail connects to Granville.
See
See Moundbuilders Earthworks
This site covers most of Newark. Two main areas have been preserved, and as of 2023 both are part of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks covering eight such sites around Ohio. One area is at the park where you will find an embankment that is 1,200 feet in diameter with earthen walls from 8 to 14 feet high enclosing a 26-acre area. The other more impressive site (Octagon Earthworks) has a golf course located in it with some efforts of preservation, there is an observation stand.
See Flint Ridge State Memorial
3 miles south of Cynthia, near (south/east) Newark, Ohio, off of SR 668. Flint Ridge is a restored prehistoric quarry pit with a museum that explains both the digging and shaping of flint. It is a site well worth the visit. There is a flint knap-in (teaching, exhibiting flint knapping, swap flint) every Labor Day week end. At the opposite end of the park there is a camping area that has a fossil swap the same week end.
Do
The Works museum complex is in downtown Newark. It features hands-on historical and technology exhibits, along with a permanent glass-blowing display and a permanent exhibit showcasing the history of the communities of Licking County.
High school sports are an important part of community life in Newark. The Newark High School Wildcats have a loyal following and the Newark Catholic High School Green Wave have many state championships.
Do Dawes Arboretum
Eat
Sleep
Go next
East of Newark (5 miles) off Route 16 is Blackhand Gorge. Hiking and bike trail, canoeing on the Licking River. South of Newark (13 miles) Route 79 is Buckeye Lake; large boating, swimming and fishing areas. Hebron is nearby.
Nearby
Heath
City / town · 11 listings · 3 mi away
Granville
City / town · 12 listings · 6 mi away
Hebron
City / town · 6 listings · 8 mi away
Gambier
City / town · 21 listings · 22 mi away
Reynoldsburg
City / town · 7 listings · 22 mi away
Pickerington
City / town · 11 listings · 22 mi away
Zanesville
City / town · 25 listings · 23 mi away
Mount Vernon
City / town · 32 listings · 23 mi away
My experience
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