Route 50 Practically Runs Through All Of Ohio And It's A Beautiful Drive
By Sarah McCosham|Updated on April 23, 2024(Originally published November 04, 2022)
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
U.S. Route 50 is a 3,200-mile road that spans 11 states and showcases some of America’s most beautiful scenery — especially in Ohio. This route winds its way through the entire southern portion of Ohio, showing off some of the Buckeye State’s best rural scenery and most charming small towns. The roughly 200-mile stretch of Route 50 through Ohio is a beautiful drive everyone ought to experience.
One of our favorite sights in the world is the Welcome to Ohio sign. If you're driving from Indiana, you'll encounter this greeting along Route 50, a scenic byway with 209 magnificent miles in Ohio.
You'll also encounter some only-in-Ohio roadside attractions, like the Frisch's Mainliner restaurant just outside of Fairfax, Ohio. Stop in and fuel up with a Big Boy and fries.
Frisch's Big Boy, 5760 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45227, USA
Traveling west to east, Route 50 begins with a stretch of very charming towns in Southwest Ohio. Near Cincinnati, a small stretch of the drive runs along The Ohio River Scenic Byway, which is a gorgeous route that features great views of the river, too!
Milford is certainly a highlight along the drive; this town boasts one of the cutest Main Street districts in Ohio, and is just teeming with small-town charm!
Chillicothe marks the halfway point of Route 50 through Ohio. This quaint town was actually Ohio's very first state capital. If you have time for a stop, you'll want to check out the nearby Mound City, which features the largest collection of Hopewell culture burial mounds in eastern North America.
As we near the end of our trip (and West Virginia border), you'll notice the topography and landscape become decidedly more hilly -- mountainous, even. Welcome to Ohio's Appalachia!
Athens, Ohio, is the final stop in this scenic Route 50 road trip; it's a charming college town that, amid other things, is known to be extremely haunted.
Athens is home to Ohio University, the oldest college in the state. In addition to being breathtakingly beautiful, it's full of haunted legends and lore, which makes for a delightfully frightful finale to our scenic road trip on Route 50!
Have you driven Route 50 through Ohio before? From Cincinnati to Athens, this is one glorious Ohio road trip you won’t soon forget! Don’t forget to check out these road trip essentials before embarking on your journey.
Looking for more scenic drives in Ohio? How about a drive along the Amish Country Byway?
For even more scenic beauty, check out this stunning footage of Hocking Hills:
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