A Drive Through Ohio’s Amish Country Is A Nostalgic (Road) Trip Back In Time
Jackie Sutherlin
A drive through Ohio’s Amish Country is one of those road trips every Ohioan should take. Holmes, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, and Geauga countries are home to the world’s largest Amish population and some of the most beautiful views in the Midwest. Join me as we take an epic road trip through Ohio’s Amish Country, stopping off at all of the best attractions along the way.
Day 1
We're kicking off this adventure route with the blissfully scenic Holmes County Trail. The whole trail is about 16 miles long and is used by horseback riders, buggies, cyclists, rollerbladers, runners, and pedestrians. You don’t have to tackle the entire trail in one go, but it is a nice spot to get out of the car, stretch your legs, and take in the scenery.
History⬩Berlin, OH
Our third stop brings us to Behalt, the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center. Here you can take a guided 30-minute tour of the facility and learn the history of the Amish and Mennonites. Be sure to check the Behalt website for hours of operation so you can have ample time to explore.
Just down the road from Behalt, you’ll find Schrock’s Heritage Village. This family-friendly attraction is the perfect way to end a day exploring Ohio’s Amish Country. Schrock’s Heritage Village is overflowing with unique shops, seasonal activities, picturesque ponds, and scenic wooded areas. End your visit with a cinnamon roll from Olde World Bakery and Cafe, or go for one of their sandwiches, salads, or wraps.
Where to Stay
What better way to end the day than with a farm stay in Sugarcreek? This one-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage sits on a hilltop and offers breathtaking views of the area. There is a full kitchen, too, should you find yourself inspired to whip up a meal.
Day 2
Day two is filled with lots of local shops, so you can stock up on authentic Amish products to take home.
First up: Walnut Creek Cheese & Market. What started with a cheese route in 1977 has grown into one of the best markets in Ohio. The gift boxes and baskets are adorable, but you shouldn’t sleep on the cheeses, jams, jellies, butter, and spreads, either. They even offer online shipping so you can get your favorite goods delivered right to your door year-round.
Next stop: The Farm at Walnut Creek! Now, this Amish Country attraction is open seasonally, so check the website before you head over. If you’re visiting in the spring or summer, you’re ready to rock. Come and feed the animals, enjoy beautiful scenery, and learn about life on a real, working farm. There are over 500 animals at the Farm at Walnut Creek, and each one of them loves boops and scritches! This is the perfect family-friendly attraction in Ohio’s Amish Country.
Onward we go! Guggisberg Cheese is our next stop, and this one is for my cheese lovers (so, all of us?). This is the home of the original baby Swiss! Guggisberg Cheese offers over 60 different types of cheeses, each better than the last. Even the drive to get here is incredibly scenic – we love those lush green pastures of the Doughty Valley.
Let the snacking continue as we step into our next stop: Miller’s Bakery. Miller’s has been in operation since 1967 and is the oldest bakery in Holmes County. All of the pastries here are made from scratch. Treat yourself to doughnuts, cream sticks, fritters, cookies, pies, tarts, and more!
Our final stop on this Ohio Amish Country road trip brings us to the Victorian House Museum in Millersburg. This is another Amish Country attraction that’s open seasonally, so be sure to check the museum’s hours of operation before you go. Hopefully, you can time your visit when it’s open because this 28-room Queen Anne-style house is one of the most magnificent homes in Ohio. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 7,000-square-foot home was built in 1901 and is a fantastic way to end this trip.
Adventure Awaits
Can you see yourself taking this Amish Country road trip? We know this barely scratched the surface of attractions in Ohio’s Amish Country, but we wanted to keep the road trip doable in a weekend without having to rush from stop to stop. Read on to discover more Amish Country attractions in Ohio.
Photo credits (from top to bottom): End of the Commons General Store / Facebook, Alan Schafer / AllTrails, Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center / Facebook, Bruce Yuanyue Bi / The Image Bank via Getty Images, courtesy of Airbnb, Walnut Creek Cheese & Market / Facebook, The Farm at Walnut Creek / Facebook, Javier Ghersi / Moment via Getty Images, J. Stephen Conn / Flickr, Victorian House Museum/Holmes County Historical Society / Facebook