The distance from Columbus to Cleveland by car is 143 miles, with a driving time of 2h9m. The best road trip stops on the Columbus to Cleveland drive are Malabar Farm State Park, Mansfield and Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Planning a Columbus to Cleveland road trip itinerary
The drive from Columbus to Cleveland connects two of the biggest – and most appealing – cities in Ohio.
In Columbus, a three day attractions pass covers most of the top sights. These include the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. For other Columbus experiences, try scavenger hunts, a town tour aboard the Trolley Pub and the Legoland Discovery Center.
5 Great Cleveland Experiences to Book
- 👻 Cleveland Ghost Tour: Hear spooky stories from the city’s past and explore haunted landmarks on a guided evening walking tour.
- 🌲 Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Link together the best viewpoints and trails on a self-drive visit with a comprehensive smartphone audio guide.
- 🎸 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Explore the history of music legends through iconic artifacts and immersive exhibits at this world-famous lakeside museum.
- 🌮 Ohio City Neighborhood Food Tour: Experience one of the city’s trendiest districts through multiple food tastings and expert drink pairings.
- 🍎 West Side Market Food Tour: Get to know the best local stalls and the history of Cleveland’s oldest operating indoor/outdoor market.
Top attractions in Cleveland include the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center and Cleveland History Center. Alternatively, try the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Cleveland tour options focus on neighbourhood food scenes and ghostly tales after dark.
Columbus to Cleveland distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Columbus to Cleveland is 143 miles. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and nine minutes. The drive is almost entirely along the I-71.
The best stops to add to a Columbus to Cleveland road trip itinerary are Malabar Farm State Park, Mansfield and Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Columbus to Cleveland drive: Malabar Farm State Park
A short detour west of the I-71, Malabar Farm State Park sits amid a glacier-carved landscape of forests and hills. But unlike many state parks, this one isn’t really about the walking trails.
Malabar Farm was a labour of love created by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and conservationist Louis Bromfield. The aim was to showcase a typical farm and agricultural setting, with corn, wheat and oats growing in the hillside fields. You can still see the chickens, goats and cows in the pastures and outbuildings.
Best attractions between Columbus and Cleveland: Mansfield
There are several attractions in the small Ohio city of Mansfield. These include the Buckeye Imagination Museum, which provides hands-on, play-based learning for kids, and historic Oak Hill Cottage.
The highlight, however, is the Ohio State Reformatory. This former prison offers several guided tours, including one with a Shawshank Redemption theme. The film was shot here. Other tours go into executions and life behind bars.
Columbus to Cleveland road trip: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Near Cleveland, Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers a dose of nature. Based around the Cuyahoga River, the park has plenty of hiking and biking trails, while wildlife-lovers can keep an eye out for beavers, muskrats, otters and mink. Brandywine Falls is the highlight, however.
Come in the fall, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of the best places in Ohio to see the changing colours.
More Ohio travel
Other Ohio travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Road trips from Columbus, Ohio: Guides to the Columbus to Chicago drive, Columbus to Philadelphia drive and Columbus to Pittsburgh drive.
- Getting to Cleveland: The best stops on the Cincinnati to Cleveland drive, Toledo to Cleveland drive and Pittsburgh to Cleveland drive.
- Road trips from Cleveland: Guides to the Cleveland to Chicago drive, Cleveland to Detroit drive and Cleveland to Philadelphia drive.
- Road trips from Toledo, Ohio: Guides to the Toledo to Chicago drive and Toledo to Detroit drive.
- Getting to Cincinnati: The best stops on the Columbus to Cincinnati drive, Louisville to Cincinnati drive, Nashville to Cincinnati drive and Pittsburgh to Cincinnati drive.
