The Ultimate Road Trip: Top Places to See When Driving from Akron, Ohio to Thornville, Ohio

Are you looking to embark on a road trip and explore the beauty of Ohio outside the Cleveland area? Akron and Thornville are two cities that can provide a perfect weekend escape or even just a day trip. The distance between Akron and Thornville is approximately 120 miles, which is a great opportunity to hit the open road and soak up some scenic views.

In this blog post, we’ll provide you with the top places to see when driving from Akron, Ohio, to Thornville, Ohio. From picturesque parks to historic sites, there’s something for everyone in this list.

The Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Starting from Akron, our first recommendation is visiting the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Just a 20-minute drive from Akron, this park offers breathtaking beauty, especially during the autumn season. The park is vibrant with over 100 waterfalls, endless hiking trails, and is one of the largest contiguous recreation areas in Ohio.

We recommend spending a day hiking or biking through some of the 33,000-acre parkland, which is full of natural beauty and picturesque landscapes. If you’re short on time, take the scenic drive through the park, where you can stop at scenic viewpoints and snap unforgettable pictures.

The Mapleside Farms

If you’re driving through the area during autumn, then put Mapleside Farms on your list. Just under an hour's drive from the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, this working farm provides the perfect atmosphere for an autumnal day out.

This farm’s highlight is its apple orchards, where you can pick your own apples, and the pumpkin patches too. The farm also offers hayrides, corn mazes, and live music and entertainment. If you’re in the mood for some down-home country cooking, the farm’s pumpkin fritters and apple cider will hit the spot.

The Dawes Arboretum

Moving further south, our next recommendation is the Dawes Arboretum – a nature reserve that’s under an hour’s drive from Mapleside Farms. The arboretum boasts 2,000 acres of lush green landscape and offers a true escape into nature.

The awe-inspiring collections of foliage range from the natural landscape of Ohio to plants from around the world, making it an irreplaceable place, not just for a stroll but also for education. If you’re looking for a quiet escape and a break from the road, this is the perfect pit-stop for you.

The Buckeye Lake State Park

About 20 minutes from the Dawes Arboretum is the Buckeye Lake State Park. Here you can witness stunning views of the historic Buckeye Lake, Ohio’s oldest state park. Buckeye Lake’s 3,400-acre recreation area has been a popular spot for boating, fishing, and camping for nearly a century.

The lake is over 14,000 years old, and its history makes it worth knowing the significance of it. The park offers excellent facilities, nature trails, and a wide range of recreational activities for people to enjoy.

Heisey Glass Museum

Located in Newark, Heisey Glass Museum is less than 20 minutes from the Buckeye Lake State Park. This museum houses rare and beautiful glass stemware since the late 1800s and showcases the history of glass production in Newark.

The museum features glass pieces from a variety of collections, including the Carnegie museum glass collection, which dates back to the 13th century. This place is ah-mazing for history-centered people and antique collectors.

Granville

Next on the list is the charming village of Granville, famous for its unique shops and restaurants. Granville is a cozy hamlet, and visitors find the town teeming with boutiques, restaurants, and cobbled streets.

Also, the village is home to Denison University, attracting many visitors throughout the year. Granville is a twenty-minute drive from Newark and makes a perfect day trip to browse antiques or enjoy a cup of coffee in one of its many cafes.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that Ohio has several incredible locations, and we hope our list gives you some inspiration to explore some of them. The places listed above are diverse, offering vast landscapes, historic sites, and cultural heritage. From the Cuyahoga Valley to Granville, wherever you go, there’s a wealth of experiences waiting for you. Start your engine, and hit the open road to explore the beautiful countryside of Ohio.