12 Last Minute Fall Trips from Toledo, Ohio

Posted on September 11, 2017

by Angela B

This post concludes my series of seasonal travel ideas from Toledo, Ohio. I have loved sharing my travel suggestions and hope you got out to explore what is around Toledo, Ohio.

Fall Trip Ideas to Experience the Autumn Season by Traveling Around the Tri-State Area

Genoa, Ohio

21 miles from Toledo, Ohio

Image of map (Toledo to Genoa, Ohio) and Hoen's Garden
Photo by Hoen’s Garden

Country Lane Tree Farm has a petting farm, hayrides, fresh donuts and cider, and more. Come to this farm for the epitome of fall activities. Watch out for their Panic in Pines haunted experience in October.

BONUS: Hoen’s Garden in Holland, Ohio also has family-friendly fall activities such as a straw maze, tractor rides, and pick a pumpkin patch.

Bowling Green, Ohio

24 miles from Toledo, Ohio

Image of map (Toledo to Bowling Green, Ohio) and Wood County Center and Museum.
Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor

Wood County Center and Museum features WWI exhibits focusing on Wood County residents. This museum was the former Wood County Infirmary, which some think is still haunted by the ghosts of the past. Stop by Pagliais Pizza for an appetizing, and less spooky, time!

Grand Rapids, Ohio

30 miles from Toledo, Ohio

Image of map (Toledo to Grand Rapids, Ohio) and field of pumpkins
Photo by Carrie Nelson

Famous for their Apple Butter Festival (always the 2nd Sunday in October), Grand Rapids will be bursting with arts and crafts sales, children’s activities, historical re-enactments, and live music. Take some time to stroll by the Might Maumee while enjoying your apple cuisine.

BONUS! Explore these other great annual fall festivities in Northwest Ohio:

Oak Harbor Apple Festival– Oak Harbor, Ohio

Ohio Heritage Days Festival – Lucas, Ohio

Roche de Boeuf Festival – Waterville, Ohio

Harrison Rally Day Festival – Perrysburg, Ohio

Tiffin Seneca Heritage Festival – Tiffin, Ohio Apple Stir and Craft Festival– Holland, Ohio

Port Clinton, Ohio

39 miles from Toledo, Ohio

Image of map (Toledo to Port Clinton, Ohio) and portage river.
Photo by PXHere

For those who are looking for adventure surrounded in the fall foliage, Portage River Paddling Company rents kayaks, canoes, or stand-up paddleboards, daily 9 am – 6 pm until the end of October (weather permitting). Dock your floatation device at the Lagoon Saloon to grab a bite to eat on your way!

Sandusky, Ohio

55 miles from Toledo, Ohio

Image of map (Toledo to Sandusky, Ohio) and Sandusky County Jail.
Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor

Autumn’s chill is the perfect atmosphere to frightened. Stopover at the Sandusky County Jail for a Dungeon Tour to get absolutely terrified! On your way home, settle your nerves at the historic Mon Ami Restaurant and Winery, one of the oldest wineries in the region.

Defiance, Ohio

59 miles from Toledo, Ohio

Image of map (Toledo to Defiance, Ohio) and river at sunset.
Photo by Tom Ramsey

This little big town is where the Maumee River meets the Auglaize River for an exceptional view. View the river from the Old Fort Defiance Park or the Defiance Public Library. Also, visit the picturesque Riverside Chapel for a supernatural time.

Hamtramck, Michigan

63 miles from Toledo, Ohio

Image of map (Toledo, Ohio to Hamtramck, Michigan) and plate of Polish food.
Photo by Jimmy Emerson

October is Polish American Heritage Month. Celebrate by going up to Hamtramck, a historically Polish town, to grab a kielbasa, pierogi, or duck blood soup at the Polish Village Cafe or Polonia Restaurant. Don’t forget to say “Smaczne Jedzenie” or “Delicious Food” to the cook at the end of your meal.

Grosse Point Shores, Michigan

73 miles from Toledo, Ohio

Image of map (Toledo, Ohio to Grosse Point Shores, Michigan) and the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House.
Photo by Linda Photography

The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, a National Historic Landmark, is an exquisite 87-acre estate located on Lake St. Clair with its own peninsula, rose and flower gardens, lagoon, modest mansion, and the best little playhouse that you’ll ever see. This is a great place to step back in time to learn about history and culture. Lake St. Clair also has quite a few restaurants that will satisfy any hungry traveler.

Dayton, Ohio

150 miles from Toledo, Ohio

Image of map (Toledo to Dayton, Ohio) and Renaissance Festival.
Photo by Carrie Lu Dayton

Ohio Renaissance Festival is the perfect place to visit on a nice cool autumn day. Practice your archery or axe throwing, ride a sea dragon, taste a turkey leg, and enjoy the swordsmen show. The 2017’s festival begins September 2nd and runs through October 29th.

Cleveland, Ohio

149 miles from Toledo, Ohio

Image of map (Toledo to Cleveland, Ohio) and winged statue.
Photo by Eric Dorst

Lake View Cemetery, known locally as the “outdoor museum,” is eerily beautiful, especially with the fall foliage. This cemetery is famous for the crying angel, the chapel designed by Louis Tiffany, famous residents, and Victorian style gardens. Cleveland’s Little Italy is right around the corner, so grab a bite to eat!

South Haven, Michigan

190 miles from Toledo, Ohio

Image of map (Toledo, Ohio to South Haven, Michigan) and road in Michigan during autumn.
Photo by Kimberly Vardeman

One of the best places to view fall foliage is our neighboring state the to the north, Michigan. South Haven is a charming little lake town that is known for their lighthouse, shops, and vibrant trees. For more information, visit Michigan’s Fall Color Tour.

Corydon, Indiana

326 miles from Toledo, Ohio

Image of map (Toledo, Ohio to Corydon, Indiana) and Indiana Caverns.
Photo by Indiana Caverns

Indiana Caverns is an enchanted spot where you can take an underground boat ride, view waterfall caverns, and biodiversity. Take a break from the long car ride to see the West Baden Springs Hotel, a National Historic Landmark. When the hotel opened in 1902, some called it the eighth wonder of the world because of the huge atrium and many amenities.

Ohio History and Travel

Finding Utopia : Another Journey into Lost Ohio / Randy McNutt
Central Ohio legends & lore / James A. Willis
Cuyahoga Valley National Park handbook / Carolyn V. Platt
Lake Erie Sojourn by Jim Mollenkopf
Wandering Ohio : a Buckeye Trail thru-hike / Chuck and Beth Hewett
What's Great About Ohio by Darice Bailer
Ohio by Tyler Maine
Haunted Ohio : ghostly tales from the Buckeye State / Chris Woodyard

Michigan History and Travel

Moon Michigan (2017) by Paul Vachon
Michigan's best nature centers and wilderness preserves / Matt Forster Grandparents Michigan style : places to go & wisdom to share / by Mike Link and Kate Crowley
Camping Michigan by Kevin Revolinski
Rails-Trails Michigan & Wisconsin by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
What's Great About Michigan? by by Anita Yasuda
Michigan by Jordan Mills
Ghosts of southeast Michigan / Kristy Robinett

Indiana History and Travel

A Guide To Natural Areas Of Southern Indiana - 9 Unique Places to Explore by Steven Higgs
Rail-Trails Illinois, Indiana, & Ohio : the definitive guide to the region's top multiuse trails
Oddball Indiana (2nd Edition) : a guide to 350 really strange places / Jerome Pohlen
Undeniably Indiana - Hoosiers Tell the Story of Their Wacky and Wonderful State

Additional Recommendations

Best Autumn Trips - Lonely Planet
Tourist trains guidebook / [from the publishers of Trains magazine ; editor: Randy Rehberg]
50 states, 5,000 ideas : where to go, when to go, what to see, what to do / text by Joe Yogerst - National Geographic
The National parks coast to coast : 100 best hikes / Ted Alvarez
Ohio Starwatch - the essential guide to our night sky by Mike Lynch
Complete Guide to Stargazing by Robin Scagell
Cities of the World - Season 1 - Across the United States of America
How the States Got Their Shapes - Season One (DVD) - The History Channel

Web Resources

Visit Indiana – Tourism (IODT)

Pure Michigan – Travel and Tourism

Ohio – Find It Here (Tourism Ohio)


Toledo Library Travel Blog Posts

Trips from Toledo series

School’s Out, It Must Be Vacation Time

Haunted Midwest Travel for Those Who Dare!

Top Tourist Spots Around the World

Ohio Travel


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