Here are over a dozen day trips you can take from Columbus with just a few hours of driving

Need to get away? But not too far away?

Luckily, geography is on your side. Columbus is centrally located in Ohio, meaning you can reach some of the state's best day trip spots with just a few hours of driving and a little gumption.

If you've been eying the calendar as the summer months approach and wondering what you'll do with the time, The Dispatch has some suggestions for you.

Here are some of the best day trips you can take from Columbus:

Cedar Point, Sandusky

Driving distance from Columbus: 126 miles, 2 hours and 19 minutes

Can you get there without charging an EV? Yes

Things you must see: Thrilling roller coasters abound at Cedar Point. There's the Millenium Force, the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster when it opened in 2000. There's the Magnum XL-200, the world's first hyper coaster and the first coaster to top 200 feet when it opened in 1989. And there are dozens of other attractions for adrenaline junkies and more timid coaster riders alike.

Kings Island, Cincinnati

Driving distance from Columbus: 83 miles, 1 hour and 16 minutes.

Can you get there without charging an EV? Yes

Things you must see: As a sister park to Cedar Point, Kings Island is chock full of thrills. It's the home of The Beast, the world's longest wooden roller coaster at 7,361 feet. It also has one of the world's seven giga-coasters in Orion, a steel coaster with a 300-foot drop. There's also the park's centerpiece, a one-third replica of Paris' Eiffel Tower.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Brecksville

Driving distance from Columbus: 129 miles, 1 hour and 54 minutes.

Can you get there without charging an EV? Yes

Things you must see: One of the park's most iconic sights is the Brandywine Falls, a 60-foot waterfall viewable from multiple locations. You can also visit The Ledges, a series of rocking formations that provide "stunning views", according to the park's website.

Places you should eat: There are a few trail mix stores in the park, but to find a nice place to eat you'll have to venture onto one of the park's trails that branch out into Akron and Cleveland. The village of Peninsula, the Merriman Valley neighborhood, and the village of Valley View all sit on the park's Towpath Trail and offer multiple local dining spots.

Maumee Bay State Park, Lucas County

Driving distance from Columbus: 151 miles, 2 hours and 41 minutes.

Can you get there without charging an EV? Yes, but probably not a round trip

Things you must see: Maumee Bay State Park is rich in activities. You could hit the links on its golf course, take a hike through marshes, meadows and woods, or visit The Trautman Nature Center.

Places you should eat: There aren't any eateries in the park itself, but there are plenty nearby. You could hit The Oregon Inn for prime rib and seafood, munch on authentic German food at the Black Forest Cafe or scarf down wings at The Crazy Lady Saloon.

Cincinnati, The Queen City

Driving distance from Columbus: 107 miles, 1 hour and 38 minutes

Can you get there without charging an EV? Yes

Things you must see: Cincinnati is a large metropolis, so you can do pretty much anything you can think of there. You could go to a Cincinnati Reds game, stuff yourself with Cincinnati-style chili cheese coneys, ogle at sea life at the Newport Aquarium, take Instagram-worthy photos from one of the city's scenic vistas and more, according to VisitCincy.com.

Places you should eat: The top three restaurants in the city, unofficially ranked by Yelp users, are Pepp & Dolores, The Eagle OTR and The Davidson. You can get some casual Italian fare at Pepp & Dolores, munch on fried chicken at The Eagle OTR and go on a French, Italian and American culinary journey at The Davidson.

Best coffee in town: According to Yelp, the best coffee in Cincinnati can be found at Birdie's Coffee. They offer coffee, bagels, pastries and gelato, according to their website.

Cleveland, The Land

Driving distance from Columbus: 143 miles, 2 hours and 10 minutes

Can you get there without charging an EV? Yes

Things you must see: Cleveland's most iconic attraction is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, whose current featured exhibits are "Revolutionary Women in Music" and "1984". You could also visit Ralphie's house from "A Christmas Story" or browse fresh produce at the city's massive West Side Market.

Places you should eat: Cleveland's top-reviewed restaurant on Yelp is Cordelia, an elevated Midwestern eatery with dishes like fried chicken with schmaltzy za'atar and pork belly with sarsaparilla beurre blanc and allium. You could also hit Mia Bella Restaurant for Italian fare or Butcher and the Brewer for upscale brewery dishes and beer.

Best coffee in town: The best coffee in Cleveland can be found at the Solstice Roasters Cafe, according to Yelp.

Louisville, Kentucky, Gateway to the South

Driving distance from Columbus: 207 miles or 3 hours and 6 minutes.

Can you get there without charging an EV? Maybe, depends on your car's battery.

Things you must see: Louisville is the home of Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby's racetrack. You could also hit the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory Store to get a peek at the history of one of professional baseball's most popular bats. Speaking of history, the city also has the Belle of Louisville, the last remaining authentic Mississippi River steamboat in the world.

Places you should eat: Meesh Meesh Mediterranean gets top marks from reviewers on Yelp. The restaurant serves up Levantine cuisine from Palestine, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and beyond, according to its website. You could also try Kentucky barbecue at Hammerheads or dig into New Orleans cuisine at LouLou on Market.

Best coffee in town: The best coffee in Louisville can be found at Phalca, according to Yelp.

Pittsburgh, the Steel City

Driving distance from Columbus: 185 miles, 3 hours and 1 minute.

Can you get there without charging an EV? Yes

Things you must see: Pittsburgh is the home of the Duquesne and Monongahela inclines, among the last remaining incline cable cars in the country, which can transport you to atop Mount Washington for excellent views of the city. You could also see the Pittsburgh Pirates in action at PNC Stadium or visit the nearby Roberto Clemente Museum. Take a stroll through nature at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. For art fans, there's the Andy Warhol Museum or check out the Mattress Factory. The Carnegie Science Center next to Acrisure (formerly Heinz) Stadium includes a submarine docked out back along the Ohio River. There are also the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Heinz History Center.

Places you should eat: Pittsburgh's top eatery is Balvanera, an Argentinian restaurant, according to Yelp. Reviewers also love The Forge, which serves cocktails and Mediterranean small-plates, and Gaucho Parilla Argentina, another Argentinian restaurant.

Best coffee in town: The best coffee in Pittsburgh can be found at Redhawk Coffee, according to Yelp.

Put-in-Bay, off the shores of Port Clinton

Driving distance from Columbus: 134 miles, 3 hours and 5 minutes including a ferry ride.

Can you get there without charging an EV? Just barely.

Things you must see: Put-in-Bay visitors can pay their respects to Oliver Hazard Perry, who defeated the British in a naval battle on Lake Erie during the War of 1812, at Put-in-Bay's Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial. You could also get your spelunk on at the Perry's Cave Family Fun Center or get your drink on at the Put-in-Bay Winery.

Places you should eat: Yelpers love The Goat Soup and Whiskey, "where find dining meets flip-flops", according to its website. They offer island favorites like perch and walleye along with a selection of classic entrees like steak and chicken. You could also hit The Forge for a mix of French, American and British cuisine or The Boardwalk for seafood and lobster bisque.

Best coffee in town: The best coffee in Put-in-Bay can be found at Noddi's Java, according to Yelp.

Kelleys Island

Driving distance from Columbus: 134 miles, 3 hours and 6 minutes including a ferry ride.

Can you get there without charging your EV? Yes, but maybe just barely

Things you must see: Located just a short distance away from Put-in-Bay is Kelleys Island. You could visit what is billed as the largest and best accessible example of glacial grooves in the world, created by the movement of a massive glacier. You can camp at the Kelleys Island State Park, hit the State Park beach there or sip at one of the island's three breweries.

Places you should eat: The Island House received top marks from Yelpers for its casual American fare and coffee. There is also The Village Pump, known for its bar food and its Brandy Alexanders, and seafood restaurant Dockers Waterfront Bar and Restaurant.

Best coffee in town: The best coffee on Kelleys Island can be found at Taste by the Lake, according to Yelp.

Amish country/Holmes County

Driving distance from Columbus: Around 84 miles, 1 hour and 44 minutes

Can you get there without charging an EV? Yes

Things you must see: Amish country visitors can pop by Hershberger's Farm & Bakery for authentic Amish foods and crafts, take a stroll through the Victorian House Museum and marvel at an authentic Victorian house or do some learning at the Behalt Amish Mennonite Heritage Center.

Places you should eat: According to Yelp, the best restaurant in Amish country is Bags Sports Pub, which offers classic bar fare. There's also Tarragon at the Inn at Honey Run for upscale cuisine and Broken Grounds Coffee Company for coffee and desserts.

Hocking Hills

Driving distance from Columbus: Around 53 miles or 56 minutes.

Can you get there without charging an EV? Yes

Things you must see: Hocking Hills is positively overflowing with scenic nature views at spots like Old Man's Cave and the Hocking Hills State Park. The region is also teeming with wineries and breweries for the more drink-minded visitor.

Places you should eat: The Olde Dutch is a Hocking Hills favorite, ranking #1 on Yelp and garnering more than 5,500 Google reviews for a 4.5 star rating. The restaurant offers Amish-style country food in a buffet setting. There is also TheFeed, which serves American classics, and M&M Family Diner, which serves comfort food.

Best coffee in town: The best coffee in the Hocking Hills can be found at the Hocking Hills Inn and Coffee Emporium.

Loveland

Driving distance from Columbus: 90 miles, 1 hour and 29 minutes

Can you get there without charging an EV? Yes

Things you must see: One of Loveland's most iconic sights is Château Laroche, also known as the Loveland Castle. It's a museum built in the 20th century that resembles a medieval castle. You could also pop by Lake Isabella for some fishing or visit Loveland's Historic Downtown.

Places you should eat: The best restaurants in Loveland, according to Yelpers, are Ramsey's Trailside, which serves bar food, Rodi Italian, which somewhat obviously serves Italian food and Tano Bistro, which serves upscale American food.

Best coffee in town: The best coffee in Loveland can be found at Mile 42 Coffee, according to Yelp.

This story has been updated to revise headings and fix formatting.

Breaking and Trending News Reporter Nathan Hart can be reached at NHart@dispatch.com and at @NathanRHart on X and at nathanhart.dispatch.com on Bluesky.