If you have recently relocated to Northeast Ohio, you may not be aware of how many destinations are just one day’s drive from Cleveland or Akron/Canton. And with Easter and Spring Break right around the corner, if you haven’t bought your airline tickets yet, you may want to consider doing spring break old school style, in the family car with suitcases piled in a roof rack!
Cities you can drive to in one day’s time
Whether you want to head south for slightly warmer weather, to a big city packed with cultural attractions or bring your ski gear and have an outdoor adventure trip, here are some ideas for cities you can drive to in one day’s time (our staff all agreed that about eight hours of driving is manageable in one day). Of course we take no responsibility for heavy traffic or freak spring snowstorms that may alter the drive times we have listed below! All drive times are based on a downtown Cleveland departure, so, likely, you will shave 30-60 minutes by departing from a suburb:
Pittsburgh, PA – 2 hours
Columbus, OH – 2.5 hours
Detroit, MI – 3 hours
Niagara Falls – 3.5 hours
Dayton, OH – 3.5 hours
Cincinnati, OH – 4 hours
Ellicottville & Clymer, NY – 3 hours (skiing at Peak N Peek or Holiday Valley)
Laurel Highlands, PA – 3 hours (skiing, Seven Springs, Hidden Valley and Mystic Mountain)
Corning/Ithica, NY – 4.5 hours (Corning Glass Museum has new wing opening in March)
Toronto, Canada – 5 hours
Louisville, KY – 5.5 hours
Chicago, IL – 6 hours
Washington DC – 6 hours
Baltimore, MD – 6 hours
Nashville, TN – 7 hours
Philadelphia, PA – 7.5 hours
New York, NY – 7-8 hours
Charlotte, NC – 8 hours
If you want to push it and go 10-12 hours (hopefully, you have two drivers!) here are some stretch drives:
Virginia Beach, VA – 9 hours
Boston, MA – 10 hours (they need help shoveling all that snow!)
Outer Banks, NC – 10 hours
Charleston, SC – 11 hours
Hilton Head, SC – 12 hours
Staycation ideas closer to town if you just don’t have the time, money or energy for a full trip after your recent relocation to Northeast OH
Maple syrup days in Geauga County – all March long filled with pancake breakfasts, demonstrations of tree tapping
Amish Country
University Circle museums – enjoy the giant sunny Atrium, eat at the cafe, have your kids take an iPad and create their own tour of favorite art using CMA’s app
Rockefeller Greenhouse – smell fresh flowers and dirt and get excited about spring!
I-X Center, Indoor Amusement Park
Sandusky indoor water parks, two best: Kalahari and Great Wolf Lodge
Boston Mills/Brandywine ski hills in the National Park
Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park
Kent State University Fashion Museum
Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton
And check out our earlier blog posting about things to do in winter months to avoid cabin fever.
