COLUMBUS, OH -- Ohio's highways and byways provide some of the best places to view the state's color-drenched autumn countryside. Frequently, "the best seat in the house" for viewing Ohio's Fall Color Season is the seat of the family car with spectacular new views appearing at every bend in the road. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) recommends this sampling from among the most popular fall color driving tours in Ohio. Many of these routes also offer opportunities to stop at nearby state parks, forests and nature preserves for up-close views of Ohio's annual woodland fireworks.
| REGION |
COUNTY ROAD |
ROUTE |
|
Central
|
Ross US 50
|
from Chillicothe southwest to Bainbridge |
 |
Regional I-71 |
from Delaware north to Mansfield (some construction) |
|
Delaware SR 315 |
from I-270 north to Delaware |
|
Delaware SR 745/247 |
from SR 161 north to Prospect |
|
Licking SR 13 |
from I-70 north to Newark/Heath (some construction) |
|
Northeast
|
Richland/Ashland SR 97 |
from I-71 east to Loudonville |
|
Ashland/Knox SR 3 |
from Loudonville south to Jelloway |
|
Regional SR 534 |
from Damascus north to Harpersfield |
|
Geauga/Portage SR 700 |
from Burton south to Freedom |
|
Geauga/Lake SR 608 |
from Middlefield northwest to I-90 |
|
Summit I-271 and I-80 |
over the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (some construction) |
|
Medina/Summit/Portage SR 303 |
from Hinkley east to Shalersville |
|
Holmes SR 39 |
from Loudonville east to Sugarcreek and I-77 |
|
East
|
East Central I-77 |
from Canton south to Marietta (some construction) |
|
Jefferson SR 151 |
from SR 7 west to Hopedale |
|
Southeast
|
Morgan SR 78 |
from Glouster northeast to McConnelsville |
|
Hocking SR 374 and 664 |
around the Hocking Hills Region |
|
Hocking/Vinton SR 278 |
from Nelsonville southwest to Prattsville |
|
Meigs SR 681 and SR 248 |
from Tuppers Plains to Keno |
|
Jackson/Lawrence SR 93 |
from Oak Hill south to Ironton |
|
Monroe/Washington SR 26 |
from Woodsfield to Marietta |
|
Southwest
|
Warren I-71 |
over Little Miami River Gorge and Vista Area |
|
Scioto Shawnee State Forest and State Park Roads
|
|
|
Regional US 50 and SR 32/124 (The Appalachian Highway) |
from Athens west to Cincinnati (some construction) |
|
Northwest
|
Regional SR 65, SR 424 and SR 111 |
from Perrysburg southwest to Defiance |
|
Regional SR 105, SR 163 and SR 53 |
from Bowling Green northeast to Catawba Island |
In addition, ODNR says many Ohio waterways provide excellent Fall Color viewing. Because they are in a moist environment, trees and shrubs along Ohio's rivers, lakes and streams frequently hold their color longer. A late season canoe or power-boat trip on a favorite waterway, can be a treat for the senses. However, ODNR advises boaters to use extra care during fall outings when air and water temperatures are lower. A well-fitted life preserver is the best safety measure late-season boaters can take.
Ohio Fall Color Updates are available each week (beginning September 27) through 1-800-BUCKEYE. Internet users can access the Fall Color Report and other seasonal information on the Internet at www.dnr.state.oh.us. The site features an "Ask A Forester" information service, "wallpaper" for personal computer users and updated photographs showing fall color progression across Ohio.