Ohio

Understand

Ohio is the 35th largest state by size, but 7th by population (11,459,011 residents in 2004 according to the US Census Bureau). The state has natural boundaries to the north (Lake Erie) and to the south (Ohio River) and is bordered by the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Ohio also shares Lake Erie as a border with the Canadian province of Ontario.

Ohio has always played and continues to play a critical role in the development of the United States history and government. One of Ohio's contributions to history was the Underground Railroad network which helped escaped slaves move to the free northern states and Canada. Many Ohioans, most notably Harriet Elizabeth Beecher Stowe and John Brown, campaigned against slavery. Ohio is in the "Heartland," which can refer to the Midwest agricultural sector and the Great Lakes industrial base.

Ohio has also been home to eight American presidents, giving it the nickname Mother of US Presidents. American Presidents from Ohio were Ulysses Grant (18th, born in Point Pleasant), Rutherford Hayes (19th, Delaware), James Garfield (20th, Orange), Benjamin Harrison (23rd, North Bend), William McKinley (25th, Niles), William Taft (27th, Cincinnati), and Warren Harding (29th, Corsica/Blooming Grove). In addition, William Henry Harrison (9th), was born in Virginia but settled (and is buried) in North Bend. Ohio is considered one of the most important states in presidential elections due to its 20 electoral votes and is often one of the few states that can go to either party. Unlike California, Illinois, and New York that lean Democratic and Texas which almost always votes Republican, Ohio's voting tendencies change from election to election. As a matter of fact between 1856 (the first time a Republican ran for president) until the 2020 election, no Republican won the presidency without also winning Ohio. (Donald Trump won Ohio in 2020, but lost the election to Joe Biden.) Given the somewhat forgettable record of some of the Ohio presidents however, there is a somewhat irreverent saying about presidents: "Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some were just born in Ohio".

The Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur, inventors of the airplane, were from Dayton in Ohio, giving the state one reason to call itself the Birthplace of Aviation (though the brothers actually flew the airplane first in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Dayton was their home and the place where they conducted their research, development, and fabrication activities, as well as test-flights of various glider prototypes). Ohio, however, has additional claims to the nickname. Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk the moon, was an Ohioan, as was late U.S. Senator and astronaut John Glenn, who was the first American to complete an orbit of the Earth from outer space. Ohio has also been home to 23 other astronauts and is home to the Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, and National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton.

Inventor Thomas A. Edison was born in Milan, Ohio. His birthplace and home have been preserved.

Tourist information

• Official Ohio Tourism website

Regions

Comprising 88 counties, Ohio can be roughly characterized by these regions:

Cities

• Columbus - the state capital and regional hub of 2 million residents
• Akron - the county seat of Summit County, used to be known as the Rubber Capital, and has made the transition from the world's tire manufacturing hub to its high-tech Polymers Research Center, now referred to as the Polymer Capital. It is also the home of the All-American Soap Box Derby.
• Canton - home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum
• Cincinnati - regional hub of 3 million residents (Cincinnati Metro and Dayton Metro), the "Queen City" is home to the Bengals and Reds. Cincinnati was the first boom town and first major inland city in the United States, and its Over-the-Rhine district is the largest National Historic District in the United States.
• Cleveland - traditionally one of the more liberal US cities, regional hub of 3 million residents, the "Rock and Roll Capital of the World" and home to one of the five richest collections of arts and culture institutions in the US
• Dayton - a mid-sized city famous for being the home of the Wright Brothers, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Dayton International Peace Museum. Dayton can be a wonderfully charming place to visit.
• Newark - a city with historical ties to the glass-making industry and the second-largest city in central Ohio, Newark is the home of the "Basket Building," a 4-story picnic basket-shaped building which is the corporate headquarters of the Longaberger Co.
• Sandusky - home to Cedar Point Amusement Park.
• Toledo - "The Glass City" is home to the Toledo Mud Hens Baseball team, a world-class art museum, a nationally ranked zoo, and the famous Tony Packo's Cafe.

Other destinations

• Cuyahoga Valley National Park - The only national park in Ohio.
• Lake Erie Islands - north of Sandusky (between Cleveland and Toledo), a group of picturesque and festive islands in Lake Erie are accessible via ferry. In addition to several Ohio state parks on the islands, there is plenty to do including visiting wineries, restaurants, bars, marinas and beaches. One of the Islands, Put-In-Bay, is known as the "Key West of the North" for its party atmosphere, especially during the summer months.
• North Coast Beaches - Along the southern shore of Lake Erie are a large number of public beaches. The largest natural sand beach in Ohio, Headlands Beach State Park, is east of Cleveland, in Mentor. Cleveland Lakefront State Park also includes a large beach at its Edgewater Park, just west of downtown Cleveland. Many other beaches are available throughout Northern Ohio, including Huntington Beach, Euclid Beach and Fairport Harbor. In addition, Maumee Bay State Park, near Toledo, boasts an extensive Lake Erie Beach as well as an inland beach and various resort and banquet facilities, not to mention a challenging Scottish-links style golf course.
• Holmes County - halfway between Columbus and Cleveland, Holmes County is home to the world's largest population of Amish residents, along with famous attractions like Heini's Cheese, Skyview Ranch, the Amish Door and dozens of other historical Amish attractions.
• Warren County - Warren County, Ohio is the ultimate getaway for Ohio family fun. As the home of attractions such as Kings Island, Great Wolf Lodge, the Beach Waterpark and Ozone Zipline Adventures, Warren County is truly "Ohio's Largest Playground".
• Ohio to Erie Trail A mostly paved, 325-mile trail from the Ohio River to Lake Erie
• Camp Chase Trail

Get in

By plane

By car

Ohio is served by many interstate highways. The Ohio Turnpike (Interstate 80/90, Toll Road) is the main East-West route in the northern part of the state, linking Toledo and Cleveland, while Interstate 70 is the primary East-West thoroughfare in the Central section, linking Columbus and Dayton.

The principal North-South routes are Interstate 75, linking Toledo, Dayton, and Cincinnati, while Interstate 77 links the Greater Cleveland area, Akron, Canton, and Marietta on the Ohio River. In addition, a major highway linking Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati is Interstate 71, which takes a diagonal path through the state from Northeast to Southwest.

Travelers should be advised that the Ohio State Highway Patrol has a reputation for strict enforcement of traffic laws with frequent patrols and little tolerance. Drive safe!

By train

Ohio is a bit under served by rail, however a few Amtrak routes crosses through the state. Notice however that most trains arrive at inconvenient times, often in the middle of night. The city of Columbus is the world’s largest city without rail-based transport.

• Capitol Limited: Daily between Washington D.C. and Chicago, calls at Alliance, Cleveland, Elyria, Sandusky and Toledo.
• Cardinal: Runs three times per week between Washington D.C. and Chicago, taking a more southerly route via several cities in West Virginia. Its only stop in Ohio is in Cincinnati.
• Lake Shore Limited: Daily between New York City/Boston and Chicago. Calls at Bryan, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria and Cleveland.

By bus

Greyhound and Megabus offer intercity bus service.

By boat

Many boaters use the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway and their connection points as a travel route. There are many marinas and public boat ramps available for this purpose. Also, Victory Cruise Lines provides cruises that include Cleveland on the itinerairies (as of 2025). There are also steamboat and cruise options connecting points along Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.

By foot

• The American Discovery Trail connects Ohio with Indiana, West Virginia and both coasts.

Get around

Most points within Ohio are easily accessible by auto with longest distances across the state of about 300 miles (480 km) and less than 5 hours in driving time. For instance, driving from Cleveland-to-Columbus and Columbus-to-Cincinnati via I-71 takes about 2 hours (give or take 15 minutes). The larger cities in the state all have public mass transit systems.

By bus

• Greyhound connects over 39 of Ohio's cities. The following cities have a dedicated Greyhound station: Akron, Ashtabula, Cambridge, Canton, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Lorain, Dover, Elyria, Findlay, Warren, Lima, Mansfield, Maple Heights, Marietta, Marion, Sandusky, Springfield, Toledo, Van Wert, Lima, Port Clinton, East Liverpool, Vermilion, Amherst, Napoleon, Wooster, Youngstown, Zanesville, Blakeslee, Leavittsburg, Kellys Island, Put-in-Bay, Mogadore, Defiance, Euclid.

Information on transit can be found here.

By car

North Coast Scenic Byway (OH-2) is a principal route between Sandusky and Cleveland that provides easy access to the Lake Erie Islands and one of the world's most famous amusement parks Cedar Point.

By thumb

Like most of the midwest, highways are long, straight, and flat, and drivers are often going long distances--in other words, a hitchhiker's dream. Be aware that most if not all interstate highways are closed to pedestrians, so you're probably better off trying to catch a ride from an on-ramp. I-80 is the preferred route for those trying to travel across the state east or west.

Stay safe

In general, Ohio is a fairly safe state. During the day most places are completely safe, however, take normal precautions against crime. The biggest threats to visitors are the winter weather and potential for traffic accidents. If you travel by car, be safe while driving in inclement weather and always be aware of traffic alerts around major cities.

Stay healthy

Smoking

Smoking is banned in most public areas with very few exceptions. Hotels, motels, and other lodging facilities may still allow smoking in designated rooms. Restaurants and bars are forbidden from allowing smoking or ashtrays on their premises unless they have an outdoor patio.

If you're at a place that is in violation of the law you can report the violation to the Ohio Department of Health by calling the toll-free number: +1-866-559-6446. Alternatively, you can email a complaint to [mailto:NoSmoke@odh.ohio.gov NoSmoke@odh.ohio.gov]. You must include the following information for a complaint to be followed up on: the business' name, nature of the complaint, a complete address; including the street number, street name, city and zip code.

Winter weather

Even if you are driving through Ohio, in the winter months you want to make sure that you have enough clothes to keep you warm in the event you have difficulties. Temperatures often get below 0°F. Drivers heading into Ohio from the South will want to make sure their vehicles are prepared for freezing weather. Have the antifreeze in your radiator checked, and replace the window washer solvent with a product that will not freeze. Be prepared with extra warm clothes, shoes, head cover and gloves.

Respect

Ohioans are somewhat defensive over their state's reputation as a boring, forgettable "Flyover State." If you ever call their state "boring" within earshot, Ohioans will be sure to provide you with a list of the state's finest attractions, along with a thorough explanation of why you are mistaken.

Ohio's population is very representative of the country as a whole. You will encounter staunch conservatives and progressives alike, as well as sizable Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, and African communities. Columbus has a thriving LGBT scene.

Ohio has an intense rivalry with Michigan, most notably between the Ohio State University Buckeyes and the University of Michigan Wolverines. Wearing University of Michigan gear in Ohio, (especially in Columbus,) will generally only result in jeers or taunts at the worst. However, doing so around major rivalry games could potentially result in harassment or confrontation.

Go next

Ohio is geographically in the Heartland of the United States-- which makes it easy to take a trip to much of the United States of America and even Canada.

• Indiana- State directly to the west, home of Indianapolis and the Indy 500.
• Kentucky- State directly to the south, home of Louisville and Lexington, the Kentucky Derby, bluegrass music, and Kentucky Bourbon.
• Pennsylvania - State directly to the east, home of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Known for its revolutionary war era historical sites (mainly in Philadelphia) and its steel industry.
• Michigan - State to the north, home of Detroit and Mackinac Island. Has about 12,000 inland lakes, 38 deep-water ports, more miles of coastline than any state but Alaska, and more lighthouses than any other U.S. state.
• Ontario - Canada's most populous province, directly across Lake Erie. Its capital, Toronto, is Canada's largest city, and it hosts the capital of Canada Ottawa.
• West Virginia - State to the southeast, home of Charleston and New River Gorge National Park. It's often called the "Mountain State", being the only state in the USA to lie completely within a mountain range (in this case, the Appalachians).