Overview
West Central Ohio includes Allen County, Van Wert County, Auglaize County, Mercer County, Ashland County, Crawford County, Richland County, Hardin County, Marion County, Morrow County and Wyandot County.
1 things to do
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about West Central Ohio
Richland B & O Bike Trail
The bike trail is over 18 miles long, paved on the abandoned Ohio B & O Rail Road bed. It is well maintained and protected. It runs from Mansfield to Butler through one of Ohio's most scenic areas.
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 — 43 mi away (major hub). Directions
- LCK Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus — 55 mi away. Directions
Sample 3-day trip
- Day 1: Mansfield — 179th Airlift Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard, Biblewalk, Bissman Building.
- Day 2: Indian Lake Region — Sandy Beach Bridge, Indian Lake, Indian Lake Spillway.
- Day 3: Celina — Lake Area Arts Group (LAAG), Celina Area Photo Club, Rotary Lighthouse.
Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.
Photos
Places in West Central Ohio
Mansfield
City / town · 97 listings
Indian Lake Region
City / town · 46 listings
Celina
City / town · 43 listings
Wapakoneta
City / town · 39 listings
St. Marys
City / town · 34 listings
Marion
City / town · 31 listings
Ada
City / town · 29 listings
Ashland
City / town · 26 listings
Bucyrus
City / town · 24 listings
Lexington
City / town · 23 listings
Lima
City / town · 23 listings
Ontario
City / town · 21 listings
Upper Sandusky
City / town · 18 listings
Van Wert
City / town · 18 listings
Bellville
City / town · 16 listings
Galion
City / town · 14 listings
Loudonville
City / town · 14 listings
Mount Gilead
City / town · 14 listings
Nevada
City / town · 14 listings
Shelby
City / town · 14 listings
Kenton
City / town · 11 listings
Delphos
City / town · 9 listings
Cities
- Lima - An industrial city and seat of Allen county.
- Van Wert
- Delphos
- Wapakoneta - The birthplace of Neil Armstrong.
- Kenton is the county seat of Hardin County.
- Ada - A small college village.
- Marion
- Mount Gilead – A village in amish country and the seat of Marrow County.
- Upper Sandusky - The seat of Wyandot County
- Nevada
- Ashland
- Loudonville
- Bucyrus - Known for its Brautwurst, and the seat of Crawford county.
- Galion
- Mansfield - An older industrial city
- Ontario
- Shelby
- Bellville
- Lexington
- Celina
- St. Marys (Ohio) - Main city on Grand Lake St. Marys.
Other destinations
- Mt. Gilead State Park, Morrow County, 4119 State Route 95, Mount Gilead. 59 year around camp sites with electrical hookups, two small lakes, double volleyball court, horseshoe pits and playground.
- Grand Lake St. Marys, Mercer County, west of Wapakoneta and south of Route 29. 204 campsites, 166 are equipped with electricity. Facilities include flush toilets, laundry, showers, pet camping, swimming beach, boat launch, boat docks/tie-ups, five air-conditioned Camper Cabins, two spacious Cedar Cabins, naturalist scheduled programs, movies, Friday through Sunday night, boats have no limits on horsepower, seven launch ramps, fuel, boat rentals, seasonal dock rentals are available, wildlife refuge, fishing, hunting, 90 seasonal duck blinds, two public swimming beaches, camp store, games, bike and canoe rentals, miniature golf course, basketball, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and playground equipment.
- Mohican State Park and Lodge, southern Ashland County. Lodge: 96 air-conditioned rooms, private balcony, color television. The lodge has private meeting, banquet rooms, dining room, sauna, gift shop, lounge, Olympic-size indoor and outdoor pools. Cabins: Twenty-five two-bedroom family cottages, heated, utensils, towels, bed linens and blankets Camping: 120 campsites, electricity, fire rings, picnic tables, full service hookups available at 33 campsites. The main campground has showers, flush toilets, dump station. Hemlock Grove campground has 24 non-electric sites, pit latrines, tables and fire rings. Two camper cabins, equipped with bunk, double beds, a mini refrigerator and fan, can be rented. Other amenities: 13 miles of trails, forest, two waterfalls, scenic wooden bridge and lake.
- Malabar Farm State Park, southern Ashland County, 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas. 15 Primitive campsites and over 12 miles of back-country trails.The original Bromfield home is now a 19-bed hostel.
- Mohican State Park and Lodge, southern Ashland County. Lodge: 96 air-conditioned rooms, private balcony, color television. The lodge has private meeting, banquet rooms, dining room, sauna, gift shop, lounge, olympic-size indoor and outdoor pools. Cabins: Twenty-five two-bedroom family cottages, heated, utensils, towels, bed linens and blankets Camping: 120 campsites, electricity, fire rings, picnic tables, full service hookups available at 33 campsites. The main campground has showers, flush toilets, dump station. Hemlock Grove campground has 24 non-electric sites, pit latrines, tables and fire rings. Two camper cabins, equipped with bunk, double beds, a mini refrigerator and fan, can be rented. Other aminities: 13 miles of trails, forest, two waterfalls, scenic wooden bridge and lake.
- Charles Mill Lake
- Loudonville Recreation area.
- Mohican State Forest
- Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
- Mansfield Motorsports Park
- Pleasant Hill State Park and Lake
Get in
- Interstate 71 goes northeast and southwest through the county
- U.S. Route 30 goes east and west through the county
By plane
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), PH: (216) 265-6030. . Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is Cleveland's main airport, located on the west side of the city. The airport is served by most of the major domestic airlines, and it is a hub for United Airlines as well.
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), 4600 International Gateway, Columbus, PH: (614) 239-4083. Direct flights to most major American cities.
By car
Do
Stay safe
- Ashland County, like many Ohio Counties, has an Amish population. The Amish in Ashland County are Swartzentruder Amish, who are often described as the most traditional and insular of all of the Amish sects. They live without electricity, indoor plumbing and without lights on their buggies. Use caution on all rural roads, especially at dusk or dark. Dark black asphalt roads and black, unlit buggies are an accident waiting to happen.
Go next
Nearby
Delaware
City / town · 23 listings · 21 mi away
Sunbury
City / town · 8 listings · 28 mi away
Marysville
City / town · 14 listings · 29 mi away
Fredericktown
City / town · 10 listings · 30 mi away
Powell
City / town · 13 listings · 31 mi away
Dublin
City / town · 52 listings · 34 mi away
Tiffin
City / town · 32 listings · 35 mi away
Worthington
City / town · 13 listings · 35 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.