This Scenic Drive Runs Straight Through Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park And It's A Breathtaking Journey
By Sarah McCosham|Published March 30, 2023
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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.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of the crown jewels of Ohio, and there are so many ways to experience it. Hiking is popular, as is biking, and nothing quite compares to a ride aboard the eponymous Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. For those who enjoy a good, old-fashioned road trip, there is a 20-mile route that travels straight through Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and it’s a sublimely scenic drive in Ohio worth seeking out.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) protects more than 33,000 acres along the banks of the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron in Northeast Ohio. At 33,000 acres, it's one of the smaller national parks in the U.S., but with 2 million visitors each year, it's one of the most visited.
CVNP became a national park in 1974, making it one of the newer national parks in the U.S. It's also Ohio's only national park, and one of a handful in this region of the country.
What was once the small town of Boston Mills is now a well-preserved historic town... smack in the middle of Ohio's one and only national park! As such, CVNP has a unique mix of historic homes and town relics, including country roads and scenic drives that travel straight through the park itself.
Riverview Road is one such scenic drive in Ohio's CVNP. This route stretches nearly 20 miles straight through the heart of the park, taking adventurers on a bucket-list journey unlike any other.
You'll pass dozens of sites that are worthy of exploring, though, so even though the drive is short, you'll want to set aside plenty of time to get out and sight-see. Riverview Road boasts some incredible dashboard views of the park you might not see otherwise, too.
You'll also have the chance to spot some of the Buckeye State's most wondrous wildlife up-close, so be sure and drive slowly and pay attention to your surroundings!
Picnic areas, visitor centers, and even waterfalls are easily accessible via trails that branch off Riverview Road, making this an accessible way to experience CVNP at your own pace.
So slow down, take your time, and stop when you see something that catches your eye! Because like most scenic drives in Ohio, the journey really is part of the experience. And what a beautiful experience it is!
Have you driven this scenic drive through Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio? Riverview Road is easily one of the most scenic routes in Ohio; and at just 20 miles long, it’s a delightful and accessible day trip.
Learn more about Ohio’s glorious national park at the NPS website.
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