Canton OH to Columbus OH drive: Distance, road trip stops & time
The best road trip stops on a Canton to Columbus drive are Mansfield, Malabar Farm State Park and Mt Gilead State Park. By car, the distance from Canton to Columbus is 128 miles, with a 1h55m driving time.
Planning a Canton OH to Columbus OH road trip itinerary
The drive from Canton to Columbus takes you between two of the biggest cities in Ohio.
Canton OH is best known as the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The museum tells the back story of American football, and celebrates the NFL greats, whether players, coaches or commentators. You can visit the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, which is devoted to the 25th president and the historic events of his presidency. There’s also the First Ladies National Historic Site, which looks at the role of the First Lady in American presidencies.
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.
Canton to Columbus distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Canton to Columbus is 128 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 59 minutes. The quickest route heads west along the US-30, then down the I-71.
The best stops to add to a Canton to Columbus road trip itinerary are Mansfield, Malabar State Park and Mt Gilead State Park.
Best attractions between Canton and Columbus: Mansfield OH
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.
Canton to Columbus 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.
Canton to Columbus road trip attractions: Mt Gilead State Park
Mt Gilead State Park in Ohio is small but beautiful, with sprawling woodlands dotted by wildflowers.
The landscape is originally glacier-carved, with three ridges of glacier sediment converging in one place.
There’s a camping area in the pine forest, but for the passing roadtripper, the likely highlight is going to be Mount Gilead Lake. There’s a 500-foot public beach here, and it’s a popular swimming spot.
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