Overview
Wilmington is a city in Southwest Ohio. For those interested in "small town America" Wilmington is an excellent stop with a compact central city center, small college, and ornate buildings.
5 sights · 4 things to do · 2 places to eat · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Wilmington
Wilmington College
A historic college.
Murphy Theatre
The historic Murphy Theatre can be seen in the film Lost In Yonkers, part of which was filmed in the city in the early 1990s. It is also the setting of Michael Moore's 2016 documentary film, Michael Moore in TrumpLand. T…
Clinton County Historical Society Museum
Ohio Renaissance Festival
Step back in time to the 16th-century England. In the 30-acre permanent English village re-creation, you can mingle with Queen Elizabeth I and royalty, watch the joust, and enjoy authentic food, drink, and crafts from th…
Fightin' Quakers
The sports teams of Wilmington College.
Cowan Lake State Park
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Apr and May. (climate data from nearby Dayton)
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.
- DAY James M. Cox Dayton International Airport, Dayton — 38 mi away. Directions
- LUK Cincinnati Municipal Airport Lunken Field, Cincinnati — 39 mi away. Directions
- CVG Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport, Cincinnati / Covington — 53 mi away (major hub). Directions
I-71 is just north of Wilmington. Wilmington is within one hour driving distance from Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus.
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 Wilmington College, Pscar F. Boyd Cultural Arts Center, Clinton County Historical Society Museum
- Lunch Bob Evans
- Afternoon Murphy Theatre, First Free Black School
- Dinner Sams Meats & Deli
Day 2
- Morning Ohio Renaissance Festival, Cowan Lake State Park
- Afternoon Fightin' Quakers
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
Wilmington is a small city in Clinton County, Ohio, with a population of 12,3400 (2019). The city is one of the only noteworthy stops between the endless fields of corn that populate rural Ohio.
It is home to Wilmington College, which was founded in 1870 by the Society of Friends (the Quakers). The city and the surrounding area include more than one dozen Quaker meeting houses.
History
The town of Clinton was founded in 1810 as seat of the newly formed Clinton County; the name was changed to Wilmington in 1811. The village was incorporated in 1828.
In the early 1950s the city became home to U.S. Department of Defense facilities, most notably the Clinton County Air Force Base. Following its closure in 1971, the economy of the city hovered in recession for more than a decade. Airborne Express purchased the facility in 1979 to build a hub for its national delivery network to accommodate an estimated 6,000 employees and its fleet of aircraft. In 2008, the Wilmington hub was closed, resulting in 16,000 layoffs.
Wilmington is also home to CMH Regional Health System, a regional health provider. From its base of operations at Clinton Memorial Hospital, the non-profit corporation has established health clinics in almost a dozen satellite locations in Southwestern Ohio.
In addition to air freight services and medical services, the city of Wilmington also competes in the truck freight industry, serving as corporate home to R+L Carriers, a trucking and shipping company.
Get in
By car
I-71 is just north of Wilmington. Wilmington is within one hour driving distance from Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus.
By plane
See
See First Free Black School
Take a tour of the First Free Black School in Ohio. The school served children of color — American Indians and African-Americans — from 1831 until the early years of this century. The schoolhouse features pictures and various artifacts from the period like textbooks and slate blackboards.
See Murphy Theatre
The historic Murphy Theatre can be seen in the film Lost In Yonkers, part of which was filmed in the city in the early 1990s. It is also the setting of Michael Moore's 2016 documentary film, Michael Moore in TrumpLand. The Murphy Theater stages productions throughout the year from various acts and ensembles, and stages musicals and plays from neighboring school districts in the county.
See Pscar F. Boyd Cultural Arts Center
Do
Events
Do Banana Split Festival
The annual festival in June commemorates the town's alleged creation of the famous treat in Wilmington in 1907 with games and rides, crafts and collectibles, live music, a classic car cruise-in and car show, unique food booths, a banana split-eating contest, and a "make your own" banana split booth. Paused during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Wilmington College is a member of the Ohio Athletic Conference and participant in NCAA Division III sports. In 2004, the Wilmington College women's basketball team won the NCAA Women's Division III Basketball Championship, the most prestigious national title won by a Wilmington sport team. The Wilmington College Quakers take on the Otterbein Cardinals at Williams Stadium
Parks
Eat
Eat Sams Meats & Deli
Deli sandwiches and some other items, especially if you like meat.
Sleep
Campgrounds
Stay Beechwood Acres Camping
Beautiful campground situated in a woody surrounding at the border of the Cowan Lake State Park. The friendliness and helpfulness off all the staff is outstanding. The pool is heated, and offers nice additional possibilities to play: (beach)balls and a volleyball net over the pool. Highly recommended! The Cowan Lake takes a 5 minute walk.
Nearby
Waynesville
City / town · 13 listings · 15 mi away
Morrow
City / town · 8 listings · 17 mi away
Xenia
City / town · 33 listings · 17 mi away
Lebanon
City / town · 22 listings · 21 mi away
Cedarville
City / town · 13 listings · 21 mi away
Springboro
City / town · 12 listings · 23 mi away
Maineville
City / town · 2 listings · 23 mi away
Beavercreek
City / town · 14 listings · 23 mi away
My experience
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