The United States has so many incredible waterfalls. When I think about waterfalls across the country, destinations like Columbia River Gorge, Havasupai and the Finger Lakes quickly come to mind. However, you don’t only have to travel to these iconic areas to experience beautiful waterfalls. In fact, the midwest has some incredibly beautiful waterfalls too, and you’ll likely experience lower prices, fewer crowds and just as much fun.
If you’re interested in exploring some of the best waterfalls in the Midwest, this road trip is for you! Ohio, Indiana and Illinois have some stunning state parks and a variety of waterfalls. This itinerary will lead you to some of the best natural beauty in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois.
A Fun Midwest Waterfall Road Trip Itinerary (7 Days)
Road Trip Overview
- Day 1: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH
- Day 2: Hocking Hills State Park, OH
- Day 3: Yellow Springs, OH
- Day 4: Clifty Falls State Park, IN
- Day 5: Turkey Run State Park, IN
- Day 6: Starved Rock State Park, IL
- Day 7: Travel home
Road Trip Map
Tips for a Successful Road Trip
- During parts of this road trip, restaurants will be hard to come by. I recommend going to a grocery at the beginning of your trip and buying snacks and lunches to eat along the way. However, one place I love for grab-and-go food during the Ohio part of the trip is Sheetz!
- I'll be recommending some hotel options for each night of the trip, but this would also be a good road trip to camp. A lot of the state parks on this itinerary have nice campgrounds, and you’ll save money this way.
Road Trip Itinerary
Start your road trip in Cleveland. If you’re flying, the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has nonstop flights to around 40 destinations, making it easy and convenient to fly into. You’ll begin by exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which is located about a half hour from the Cleveland Airport.
Day One
Spend a day exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park! One of the most iconic sights in the national park is Brandywine Falls, which is 65-feet tall. There is a short boardwalk trail you can take to get a great view of the falls, and you can extend the hike to hike around the Brandywine Gorge and enjoy various overlooks.
Another beautiful waterfall is Blue Hen Falls, which can be reached from a 2.5-mile trail that leaves from the Boston Mill Visitor Center. You can also continue on from Blue Hen Falls to see Buttermilk Falls.
While not a waterfall, I also highly recommend the Ledges Trail, which is easily one of the best things to do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The trail navigates through towering rock ledges, which are often shrouded in green moss. The trail has caves and many passageways through the rocks.
Also near Cuyahoga Valley National Park, I highly recommend visiting the Great Falls of Tinkers Creek, which is 80-feet wide and 20-feet tall. You can get a great view of this waterfall after a short hike.
Read my full guide to visiting Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Where to Stay near Cuyahoga Valley National Park
The towns of Arkron, Richfield and Macedonia make great bases while you’re visiting Cuyahoga Valley.
I recommend looking at the Courtyard by Marriott Akron in Fairlawn, the Holiday Inn Express in Richfield, and the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Akron-Stow.
There are also several home stays available in Peninsula on Airbnb.
Day Two
On day two on your road trip, head to Hocking Hills State Park! It’s located about 3 hours from Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Hocking Hills State Park is often said to be the most beautiful place in Ohio. (And as someone born and raised in Ohio, I agree!) The park is home to several waterfalls, caves, rocky ledges and more. It’s a wonderful place to rent a cabin and spend time in nature.
A couple short waterfall hikes in the park include Ash Cave and Cedar Falls. Ash Cave is a 0.5-mile trail that leads to large cave overhang, and a waterfall flowing from off the top. The cave is about 90 feet tall and 700 feet wide.
Cedar Falls is a 40-foot tall waterfall that can be reached in a 1-mile trail with some steps.
You also shouldn’t miss Old Man’s Cave, which is the most famous area of the park. There are several waterfalls along the trail, including Upper Falls, Lower Falls and Broken Rock Falls. Plus, you’ll discover unique features such as a whirlpool called Devil’s Bathtub, a cave and more. The entire trail is 5.3 miles, but you can do a shorter version if you’d like. Or, you can do a longer version and join with other connecting trails.
Tip: Many of the waterfalls in Hocking Hills are seasonal. Spring is the best time to visit to ensure they’ll be flowing. But I think the area is worth exploring even if most are dry.
Read my full guide to visiting Hocking Hills.
Where to Stay near Hocking Hills
Hocking Hills has many options when it comes to where to stay. One of my favorite places is the Inn at Cedar Falls, which has a whole range of lodging options, from cottages to geodomes to yurts.
Another unique place to stay is Hillside Retreats, which has yurts that each have a private deck and hot tub.
And if you love wine, check out this loft located on the property of Le Petit Chevalier Vineyards and Farm Winery.
Day Three
On day three, spend your morning doing one more trail in the Hocking Hills area if you’d like. I recommend Conkle’s Hollow, which has a 1.2-mile gorge trail that leads into a grotto, plus a rim trail with great views from above.
Another trail I recommend is the hike to Rockbridge Natural Bridge. It features a large natural bridge that you can walk across, plus water trickling down from the bridge seasonally.
When you’re ready to move on, continue your road trip by heading over to Yellow Springs, Ohio. This adorable town is located about an hour and a half from Hocking Hills.
Yellow Springs has some small waterfalls in the nearby Glen Helen Nature Preserve. You can hike to the “Grotto” which features a waterfall cascading over a cave. You can also see a waterfall at the “Cascades.” Along with the waterfalls, the park is home to a beaver marsh, and even a raptor center where they rehabilitate injured raptors.
If you have enough time, it’s also worth exploring Clifton Gorge, which was formed by glaciers carving out the gorge. There is a neat little waterfall located on the John L. Rich Trail.
After a day of hiking, enjoy dinner at one of the cute restaurants or breweries in town. I love Miguel’s Tacos inside of Trail Town Brewing.
Read my full guide to hiking in Yellow Springs
Where to Stay in Yellow Springs
One of the best hotels in Yellow Springs is the Mills Park Hotel. The historic and elegant building is modeled after the Antioch School, which operated between 1921 and 1951. Or, for a unique stay, check out the Jailhouse Suites, which was a jail until 1929.
Day Four
On day four of your waterfall road trip, make your way from Ohio to Indiana! Drive to Clifty Falls State Park, which is located two and a half hours from Yellow Springs.
There are a few different waterfalls in Clifty Falls, and you can hike a large loop to see them all. One of the best ones, Big Clifty Falls, can be seen a short walk from the parking lot. However, I enjoyed hiking a 6-mile loop that included Clifty Falls, Hoffman Falls, Tunnel Falls and other sights along the way. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a bit of a longer day hike!
Discover the best hikes in Indiana
Where to Stay Near Clifty Falls
The next stop on your road trip will be Turkey Run State Park, so I recommend staying somewhere in between the two parks.
One small town that I love is Nashville (known as Little Nashville). The town is lined with shops and cafes, and great to walk around (however, keep in mind that a lot of the shops close early). There are also some cute hotels, such as the Artists Colony Inn.
Right outside of Little Nashville, it’s also worth driving through nearby Brown County State Park and watching the sunset.
Or, if you’re looking for a larger city, you can also stay in Indianapolis for the night. One great location to stay is the Bottleworks Hotel, which is right next to The Garage Food Hall. The food hall has a great selection of dining from around the world!
You’ll also find several other hotels around Indianapolis to meet your needs.
Day Five
On day five of your waterfall road trip, it’s time to hike in Turkey Run State Park! This is my favorite stop on this entire trip because the park has such fun and adventurous trails. I’m talking ladders, climbing up a waterfall, and more!
Turkey Run is located about an hour and a half from Indianapolis, 2 hours from Little Nashville and 3 hours from Clifty Falls.
When you arrive at Turkey Run, I recommend hiking a loop that combines several of the trails around the park. Start on trail 3 going counterclockwise, and you’ll begin by climbing up a waterfall and into a narrow gorge. Difficulty depends on water levels, but be prepared to get your feet wet! After navigating through the gorge, you’ll be rewarded with views of the Punch Bowl, which is a cove with a small waterfall.
After the Punch Bowl, you can continue on this loop and discover ladders, rock scrambles and additional waterfalls. It’s such a great adventure if you love unique trail obstacles.
If you have enough time, you may also want to visit Shades State Park nearby.
Where to Stay near Turkey Run State Park
For a super convenient option, you can stay inside of the state park at Turkey Run Inn. There is also a restaurant on site.
There are also several hotels nearby in the town of Rockville, such as the Parke Bridge Motel or the Monarch Bed & Breakfast.
Day Six
On day six, make your way into Illinois and head to Starved Rock State Park. This iconic park sits along the Illinois River and features several canyons and waterfalls.
One waterfall I love is Saint Louis Canyon Falls, which is reached via a 2.1-mile hike. After climbing down several steps, the canyon walls will tower up above you. There is even a little cave next to the falls. Keep in mind that the waterfall may be seasonal, but this one tends to flow a bit more reliably than others in the park.
Another great destination within Starved Rock is LaSalle Canyon, which can be reached from a 2.3-mile trail. You can walk beneath a cave overhang and behind the waterfall, making it extra special. There are also additional canyons and seasonal waterfalls along the way.
Not far from Starved Rock, you may also want to visit Matthiessen State Park. This park features, you guessed it, more waterfalls! Don’t miss Cascade Falls, which is 45-feet tall and falls from a rocky overhang.
Where to near Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock has a historic lodge right inside the park. The lodge features a log-built lobby with a central fireplace, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Plus, they have multiple restaurants on site.
There are also plenty of other hotel options nearby, such as Best Western Oglesby Inn or the Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock.
Day Seven
On the final day of your trip, make your way back to Cleveland to fly home. Or, you may want to fly out of Chicago if it’s not too expensive to do a one-way car rental.
While I don’t have any waterfalls to recommend, a few great stops to make between Starved Rock and Cleveland include Indiana Dunes National Park, Shipshewana (an Amish town) or in Sandusky to enjoy views of Lake Erie.
Final Thoughts
I hope this road trip helps you plan a fun road trip full of the best waterfalls in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. From caves in Hocking Hills to ladders in Turkey Run, this is such an underrated part of the US for outdoor adventures.
For more Midwest Travel Guides, check out these guides:
- How to Spend 3 Days on the Minnesota North Shore
- An Epic Michigan UP Road Trip
- The Best Hikes near Cincinnati
- A Guide to Exploring Hocking Hills
- The Best Things To Do in Cuyahoga Valley
- The Best Hikes in Yellow Springs, Ohio
- The Best Hikes in Indiana
Thanks for Reading!
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