Class B Vacations: A Trip Through Ohio

A camping road trip through Ohio will take you far, from calming scenic roadways along the Ohio River to the cold wet waves of Lake Erie, and from early dwellings of pre-Columbian Indians to the childhood homes of Apollo astronauts.

A good place to start might be Canton, in eastern Ohio about an hour’s drive south of Cleveland. The National Football League was founded in Canton in 1920, and today the Pro Football Hall of Fame showcases many exhibits chronicling the history of the sport. Here you can see Johnny Unitas’ college playbook, view footage of record-setting football events, or peruse the covers of the programs for all Super Bowl games.Heading south from Canton, you can drive through the Wayne National Forest, named after Revolutionary War hero “Mad” Anthony Wayne. Sections of the park are spread throughout southeastern Ohio, and offer both primitive and developed campsites. Be sure to drive along the Covered Bridge Scenic Byway, which runs from Marietta to Woodsfield, for beautiful views of the countryside north of the Ohio River.From there you can travel northwest to Lancaster, which lies on the outskirts of Columbus. In Lancaster you can visit the Sherman House, the childhood home of William Tecumseh Sherman. The museum here houses many Civil War artifacts, and memorabilia of General Sherman and his family.

After leaving Lancaster, you should travel southwest to Chillicothe. Back around the time of the American Revolution, Chillicothe  was a major town of the Shawnee Indian nation, and if you’re here in the summer months you can catch a presentation of “Tecumseh!” an outdoor drama that celebrates the Shawnee’s greatest leader. Chillicothe is also home to the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, which offers insights into 2000 years of Native American culture.

From Chillicothe you may drive west to Cincinnati. As the largest city on the north bank of the Ohio River, Cincinnati played a significant role in the Underground Railroad as escaped slaves crossed the river fleeing north. Now that heritage is remembered at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

While you’re in the Cincinnati area, be sure to try the chili mac in the local restaurants. Though there are many variations of this regional recipe, they all have chili served over pasta. It’s tasty and filling!

After eating your fill in Cincinnati, take I-75 north to Wapakoneta. This town is the birthplace of Neil Armstrong, and it’s now the home of the Armstrong Air & Space Museum. This museum holds a number of artifacts from the Gemini and Apollo space programs, and is a great tribute to the first man to walk on the moon.

For the last leg of your journey, you can travel northeast across the state to Cleveland. This city is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and here you can find memorabilia and exhibits for all the musical artists you grew up listening to.

Public and private campsites can be found throughout the state, so you shouldn’t have any problem finding a place to sleep along your journey. But don’t forget that wintertime temperatures in Ohio can be cold, especially up in the Lake Erie area, so camping is probably best in the summertime.