Ten Fun Things to do this Fall in Northeast Ohio. Road Trip!
Get those motors running. You are going to have so much fun this fall road tripping through northeast Ohio.
There is just something magical about fall road trips in Ohio. Apple orchards, covered bridges, the smell of concord grapes being harvested, the enjoyment of eating a fresh ear of roasted corn, picking the perfect pumpkin, experiencing one of the many unique fall festivals, all while enjoying Ohio’s spectacular fall foliage. Follow along as I share the top ten things to do this fall in northeast Ohio.
(Counties included: Ashtabula, Geauga, Mahoning, Portage, and Summit.)
#1 VISIT A TREASURED PARK
Escape to one of northeast Ohio’s treasured parks, Mill Creek Metro Parks. Located in Youngstown Ohio, this park is home to the spectacular Fellows Riverside Gardens, always free, a Suspension Bridge that takes a page out of Cinderella, Lanterman’s Mill, one of the most historic landmarks in Mahoning County and still mills today, a Lily Pond where migrating birds can be found, and miles of trails to enjoy a walk through the canopy of trees.
Additional details:
Mill Creek Metroparks – Youngstown
Fellows Riverside Gardens
123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown, OH 44509
Lanterman’s Mill
1001 Canfield Rd., Youngstown, OH 44511
Suspension Bridge
W. Valley Drive, Youngstown, OH 44511
# 2 GO APPLE PICKING AND CIDER TASTING
Would it really be fall without enjoying a fresh glass of apple cider or picking up apples at a local orchard? If you want to enjoy some of the best apples in the area, here are a few of my favorite northeast Ohio apple orchards. 1.Brant’s in Ashtabula. Their apples are amazing and so are their grilled cheese sandwiches served with apple slices. 2. Patterson’s Fruit Farm in Chesterland. Make sure you take time to visit their bakery and pick up their cider. 3. Beckwith Orchards in Kent. Family owned and operated since 1878. Not only do they sell apples and cider, they sell delicious pies. 4. White House Fruit Farm in Canfield. Bring your cooler. This fruit farm is also a market and sells not only fresh produce, but they also sell the most amazing donuts. Treat yourself to one of their blueberry donuts. You can thank me later. Don’t forget to explore their gift shop. 5. Geig’s Orchard is a family-owned farm that sells some of the best apple cider.
Beckwith Orchards – (Portage County)
1617 Lake Rockwell Rd., Kent, OH 44240
330.673.6433 |beckwith.mystrikingly.com
Brant’s Apple Orchard – (Ashtabula County)
4749 Dibble Road, Ashtabula, OH 44004
440.224.0639 | brantsappleorchard.com
Geig’s Orchard (Medina County)
Location: 8468 Wooster Pike, Seville, OH 44273
Tele: 330.769.3276 | geigsorchard.com/index.html
Patterson’s Fruit Farm (Geauga County)
1414 Caves Road, Chesterland, OH 44026
440.729.1964 |pattersonfarm.com
White House Fruit Farm (Mahoning County)
9249 State Route 62, Canfield, OH 44406
330.533.4161 | whitehousefruitfarm.com
#3 SAMPLE THE GRAPES
Fall sunsets over Lake Erie and miles of vineyards is what awaits you in the largest county in the state. With over 30 wineries located in the county, Ashtabula is known as Ohio’s Wine Country and is home to many award-winning wineries. Whether you are a wine drinker or not, watching the harvesting of the grapes in the fall is something to see. Some wineries even allow volunteers for those who want to immerse themselves in the experience.
Side note: I share my Ohio Wine Country Harvest road trip experience here.
#4 FIND ALL 19 COVERED BRIDGES
Rustic colors, fall foliage and backroads make the 19 covered bridge trail in Ashtabula County a perfect fall road trip. Don’t forget your camera!!
Side note: I share my Covered Bridge Road Trip here.
Ashtabula Covered Bridge Festival
Dates: October 11-12, 2025
coveredbridgefestival.org
#5 EXPERIENCE A LOCAL FESTIVAL OR MARKET
Immerse yourself in one of the local festivals. In Portage County the German Family Society volunteers host their famous Oktoberfest (Sept 5-7, 2025). This family-friendly event features real homemade German favorites, dancers, and music. The skies over Ravenna get a little more colorful as the community celebrates its annual Ravenna Balloon A-Fair (Sept 25-28, 2025). Kent host their own Oktoberfest (Oct 4, 2025). Medina’s Public Square celebrates fall with a Fall Festival (Sept. 27, 2025). In Geneva the Grape Jamboree celebrates all things grape and wine (Sept 27-28, 2025). Make sure you stay for the grape stomping. Over 100 exhibitors, along with entertainment can be found on the grounds of Stan Hywet Hall & Garden’s during their juried Ohio Mart (Oct 2-4, 2025). The old cooper kettles are fired-up and the aroma of cooking apples can be found at the Apple Butter Festival at Century Village Museum in Burton (Oct 11-1, 2025).
Apple Butter Festival & Ox Roast – Burton
(October 11-12, 2025)
14653 E. Park St., Burton, OH 44021
440.834.1492 | centuryvillagemuseum.org
German Family Society of Akron Oktoberfest – Brimfield/Kent
(September 5-7, 2025)
3871 Ranfield Rd., Kent, OH 44240
330.678.8229 | germanfamilysociety.com
Grape Jamboree – Geneva
September 27-28, 2025
grapejamboree.com
Medina Fall Festival
(September 27, 2025)
Historic Downtown Medina Square, Medina
mainstreetmedina.com
Ravenna Balloon A-Fair – Ravenna
(September 25-28, 2025)
Downtown Ravenna and Portage County Fairgrounds
ravennaballoonafair.com
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens – Ohio Mart
(October 2-4, 2025)
714 N. Portage Path, Akron, OH
330.836.5533 | stanhywet.org
Main Street Kent – Oktoberfest
(October 4, 2025)
Downtown Kent, OH
mainstreetkent.org
#6 PICK A PUMPKIN AND GET LOST
If you want to shop for the best pumpkins around and still allow time to get lost in a cornfield maze, Dussel Farm in Brimfield or Szlay’s in Peninsula are stops. In late September and October, when the corn has all been picked, Dussel Farms invites guest to the farm to pick their pumpkin and find their way out of their corn field maze. At Szlay’s Farm & Market, not only can you find your perfect pumpkin, but on fall weekends you can also sample some of their freshly roasted corn on the cob. Your navigational skills will be tested in their three-acre corn maze.
Dussel Farm – Brimfield/Kent
1109 Old Forge Rd., Kent, OH 44240
330.673.5957 | dusselfarm.com
Szlay’s Farm & Market – Peninsula (Seasonal)
4563 Riverview Rd., Peninsula, OH 44264
330.657.2727 | szalaysfarm.com
#7 TAKE A TRAIN RIDE THROUGH A NATIONAL PARK
Hop aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad for one of their fall flyer excursions. View the park’s beautiful fall foliage while riding the rails. Tickets go fast for these 2-hour sight-seeing excursions. Throughout the fall season, the train also hosts additional special fall events.
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad – Peninsula*
330.439.5708 | cvsr.org
*Depending on your train excursion, you may need to board at their Rockside Station.
7900 Old Rockside Road, Independence, OH
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
nps.gov/cuva/index.htm
#8 ENJOY A FALL FOLIAGE TOUR.
Held the second full weekend in October, the Medina County Self-Driving Fall Foliage Tour highlights area agribusinesses, farms, special events, and historical stops. A perfect way to enjoy a road trip through the county and explore the area’s quaint towns.
Medina County Self-Driving Fall Foliage Tour
Points of Interest and we will be in the southeast quadrant of the county. There will be some old favorites plus some new stops.
Dates: October 11-12, 2025, noon to 5 pm.
For more fall foliage trail information CLICK HERE.
#9 EXPERIENCE STARRY FALL NIGHTS
Located in the Geauga County Park system is Observatory Park. What makes this park so special is that Observatory Park has the permanent distinction as a Silver Tier Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association. It is only one of 104 in the world and the only one in Ohio. On a clear fall night, the stars are breathtaking and many local astronomy enthusiasts can be found their ready to share their telescopes. Also nearby is the Nassau Astronomical Station’s 36” Warner & Swasey telescope. It’s one of the largest public viewing scopes in the state of Ohio.
Geauga County Parks – Observatory Park
10610 Clay Street, Montville Township, OH
geaugaparkdistrict.org
- The Milky Way at Observatory Park photo credit goes to Andrew Gacom Photography. Photo is available on the artists site.
#10 ENJOY A NIGHT OF GHOST STORIES
Would it really be fall without enjoying a few ghost stories? Tour the historic streets of Ashtabula Harbor while learning about the area’s history and past residents on the Eerie Harbor Ghost Walk. Be guided inside the historical and haunted Kent Stage for ghost stories and EVPs during the Kent Ghost Walk in Kent. Or enjoy an evening of spooky tails as you walk the Youngstown’s historical streets.
EERIE HARBOR GHOST WALK – Ashtabula Harbor
eerieharbor.com
KENT GHOST WALK – Kent
facebook.com/KentGhostWalk
HISTORICAL YOUNGSTOWN GHOST TOUR
Date: October 3, 2025
This spectacular fall event is brought to you by the City of Youngstown
youngstownghosttour.com
This fall I hope you find time to get in your car and enjoy one or more of northeast Ohio’s fall experiences. Have additional questions? Feel free to reach out.
Keep on exploring!
~ Diane
I would like to thank the following tourism partners for always being there when I have questions about their areas.
Ashtabula County Visitors Bureau
Tele: 440.275.3202 | visitashtabulacounty.com
Central Portage County Visitors & Convention Bureau
800.764.8768 | centralportagevcb.org
Destination Geauga
800.775.TOUR | destinationgeauga.com
Mahoning County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Tele: 330.740.2153 | Toll Free: 800.447.8201
exploremahoning.com
Medina County Conventions & Visitors Bureau
330.722.5502 | visitmedinacounty.com
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Article and photos, unless noted by: MyOhioFun.com
Diane is the owner and editor of MyOhioFun.com. She is an avid baker, gardener, Little Free Library owner, who loves to read and travel. She spends most of her days sharing her love of things to do in Ohio, as well as creating destinations and itineraries for group tours and individual travelers.
Editor’s note: Any use of the above article or images without prior permission, will be in violation of copyright laws.
***Disclosure: My Ohio Fun receives compensation from advertising banners. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***