Blog / Local Area

6 Unforgettable Day Trips You Can Take from Columbus, OH

Road trip | Direct Drive in Columbus, OH

Check out these amazing day trips that you can take from Columbus, OH on a single tank of gas!

Cleveland

Ohio's second-biggest city is a definite must when planning an awesome road trip with friends and family. It boasts an incredible nightlife scene with trendy bars, clubs, and world-class dining. It's also home to many important museums and landmarks, like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If you love sports, you'll love Cleveland. With teams in various pro sports, you can catch the action live with thousands of screaming fans.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio's third-largest city, is just 90 minutes south of Columbus and packed with interesting things to see and fun activities. The city has reinvented itself over the past couple of decades and has become a cultural hub for arts and theatre lovers. Like Cleveland, it also has a bustling nightlife and delivers hard-hitting action across several pro sports teams. Enjoy a Bengals game at Paul Brown Stadium in downtown Cincinnati, then tour the area!

Hocking Hills

Hocking Hills is a short drive from Columbus and is home to Ohio's most unique rock formations. It's here where you'll find a multitude of caves and cliffs that are perfect for hiking along. This massive park also provides other fun activities like zip-lining and rock climbing while supervised by a professional. But the most popular area of Hocking Hills is Ash Cave, a massive formation with a large opening that visitors can walk through and around.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Ohio's beloved National Park is located just a few miles from Cleveland. It boasts breathtaking scenery and gives visitors plenty of opportunities to enjoy some trail-hiking, cycling, and sightseeing. You'll love the picturesque landscape as you make your way along the Cuyahoga River and arrive at the park's beautiful waterfalls and caves. The park is also home to a historically important canal, which was the first-ever in Ohio.

Dayton

Do you have an aviation buff in your family or circle of friends? If so, hop in the car and head over to Dayton, the home of the Wright Brothers. You'll have plenty of aviation-related artifacts to see at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, located in the city. It's one of the world's largest aviation museums and is a must-visit for anyone planning a day trip to Dayton.

German Village

You don't need to visit a village town in Germany to enjoy some authentic schnitzel and toasted pretzel! Ohio is home to a charming place known as the German Village, which has all of this and more! The local architecture and shops resemble a late 18th-century German town and make for a perfect day trip to walk and explore its marvelous sights and enjoy the local flavors.

These are just a few of the incredible places surrounding Columbus, OH that would make for a marvelous day trip! Start planning today to get the most out of your excursion!

Posted in:

Related Posts

Park images | Drive Direct in Columbus, OH

Just Down the Road: 4 Favorite Parks Near Columbus, OH

One of Ohio's most beautiful cities, Columbus, OH strikes an excellent balance between metropolitan excitement and relaxing natural areas. If you need a break from the big city, these parks will certainly do the trick. You can stroll, challenge a rock wall, or see some of Columbus' most gorgeous blooms right in the city itself. Your Honda Civic is a reliable ride with a great entertainment system and cruise control, perfect for getting you around Columbus. 1. Goodale Goodale, at 120 W. Goodale Boulevard, is situated in a lovely Victorian area of Columbus and is one of the most historic places in the city. Visitors will find plenty of statues commemorating famous Ohioans and their contributions, lots of green space to explore, and plenty of amenities. It's an excellent place for a picnic, and since it's conveniently located, it's the ideal place to spend a quiet afternoon in a natural and lovely space. more 2. Scioto Audubon Metro Visit Scioto Audubon Metro at 400 W. Whittier Street for some of the city's best birdwatching, walking and biking, and exercising. There's a rock-climbing wall with various obstacles perfect for a fun afternoon fitness with friends, a vast playground for the kids, and a river where you can go canoeing or kayaking. Also, you'll find plenty of parking right around Scioto Audubon Metro so it couldn't be more convenient. 3. Bicentennial Bicentennial, at 233 Civic Center Drive, sits right on the Scioto River and is one of the best spots in the city to enjoy the sunset, take a stroll, see some great public art, and picnic in one of Bicentennial's greenspaces. There are also regular festivals happening at Bicentennial, gorgeous fountains dotting the park, and lots of benches where you can sit and relax. 4. Whetstone If you want to see gorgeous gardens and roses, head to Whetstone at 3923 N. High Street. This incredible place has roses in all different colors and varieties, and it's the ideal place to see in the spring and summer. There's lots of parking, and it's entirely free to visit. Enjoy the flowers, explore the trails, and make the most of this Columbus gem.   Columbus is full of surprises, as these amazing greenspaces prove. No matter where you find yourself in the city, there's never a natural oasis too far away. Plus, many of these spots offer free entry, easy parking, and a way to experience Columbus in a brand-new way. To see the best of Columbus and the rest of the state, you'll need a reliable vehicle. Stop in and see us at Drive Direct and check out our selection of used cars today!

Kangaroos | Drive Direct in Columbus, OH

3 Outdoor Activities You Can Drive to Near Columbus, OH

The vibrant, thriving city of Columbus, OH is a terrific place to live, do business, and entertain yourself. After spending a long day or week of indoor work, it's great to find a few fun outdoor activities to enjoy. We’ve got some fun ideas for you to check out listed below! Go Zip-Lining Anyone in an adventurous mood will enjoy an afternoon of heart-thumping zip-lining at ZipZone Outdoor Adventures. In a beautiful green area in the north of town, you can ascend to the forest roof for a full canopy zip-lining tour with friendly, professional zip-lining guides showing you the ropes and keeping you safe. more Along with their extremely popular zip-line tours, they have an adventure park with five different treetop obstacle courses that have sixty challenges in all, suitable for most ages. Younger kids aged four to seven can have a whale of a time at the easier Kids Park course. Find ZipZone Outdoor Adventures at 7925 North High Street. Visit the Zoo Columbus has a world-class zoo and aquarium. If you haven't been there yet, consider spending the day exploring this clean and well-laid-out zoo, marveling at wonderful animals such as lions, elephants, bonobos, bald eagles, bears, manatees, gorillas, Tasmanian devils, and many, many more. The zoo has eight clearly mapped and easy-to-navigate sections in all, promising a full day of exploration if you want to see everything. You have the Adventure Cove, Asia Quest, Heart of Africa, Congo Expedition, Polar Frontier, Australia and Islands, and Shores and Aquarium areas. There's a hands-on tide pool, a reptile house, and even a kangaroo walkabout. Visit Columbus Zoo at 4850 West Powell Road. Enjoy a Pedal-Bike Tour An original and memorable way to see the city with friends or coworkers is with Pedal Wagon Columbus, where you and the other tour members all sit around the table of a pedal-powered bike car and pedal to keep the wheels and vehicle moving. You can go on various well-planned cruises around fun parts of the city, including the Brewery Cruise, the Explore Eastern Tour, and the Northern Cap City Crawl. It's a really fun way to celebrate a birthday or team-building event, and it gets you outside to see the city from a unique perspective. You can rent your pedal bike at 848 North Pearl Street.   When you've enjoyed a little sunshine and outdoor fun with one of these terrific activities, visit Drive Direct. We're a long-standing local dealership that's been keeping the drivers of Columbus happy and safe on the roads since 1979. Our knowledgeable team members are on hand, ready to help you pick out a new-to-you vehicle that’s the best fit for your lifestyle needs, from our collection of hundreds of used cars, trucks, and SUVs.

Mexican food | Drive Direct in Columbus, OH

Drive Home with Dinner: Pick Up the Best Mexican Food Near Columbus, OH

While you're hiking along the Scioto River's trails or visiting the science and art museums, you'll no doubt have worked up an appetite for dinner! And when you get that hankering for some authentic Mexican food, Columbus, OH won't let you down. There are so many choices for takeout, in fact, that you could potentially spend nearly an entire evening deciding! So let us help narrow down your decision with the following. 1. Cuco's Taqueria Some of the best things come from unassuming places, and this eatery is no different! Don't let the strip mall location fool you--Cuco's has served traditional cuisine for nearly two decades, and locals love it. From burritos, tamales, tortas, tacos, to more, you'll find it all. We like the bistec tampiqueño, the steak a la Mexicana, and the fajita dinner. They also offer family meal kits starting at just $34.95. Ordering online is easy and curbside pick-up is convenient. more 2. Adobe Agave Food goes above and beyond here at Adobe Agave, which specializes in the famous adobe bowls. Start by ordering the chips and housemade salsa and then delve into their bowls, such as the pancho barria bowl, the tres carnes bowl, the al pastor bowl, or the veggie bowl. The house specials also make for a great meal! Try the pollo sabroso, which comes with 2 sides. 3. Chile Verde This New Mexican/southwestern signature spot will have your mouth watering with its quality-cooked dinners and homemade salsas, made from imported roasted red and green chilis from New Mexico! We suggest the green chili crab cakes, the Albuquerque platter, the fire-roasted quesadilla, the fajita salad, the Navajo tacos, or the chile rellenos. Feed your whole family or group of business associates with their party platters. Ordering online is a breeze. 4. El Ranchito You'll want to try a little bit of everything at El Ranchito's! Their chorizo and shrimp empanadas are some of the biggest we've ever seen and are only $9. Also try the fish or pork tacos, which come with a healthy amount of protein and toppings for just $4 a taco, and the enchiladas which are packed with flavor. If you love spicy food, ask for the super-hot salsa. And don't forget the flan for dessert! 5. La Super Torta This is a popular place that locals frequent over and over for their tasty and fresh food. Low prices and large portions definitely do not mean that quality suffers when you order from this joint! Everything from the burritos to tortas is delicious and well-seasoned. They also make their salsas each day, so be sure to ask for one of each, from mild to hot. The homemade tortilla chips are also a must.   These are just a few of the numerous delicious spots available in our beautiful city that’ll sate your cravings with truly scrumptious cuisine. Start making your plans today! Image via pixabay.com