Hocking Hills for Foodies: A Two-Day Eat-and-Drink Itinerary

Two days is enough to cover coffee, pizza, barbecue, sweets, wine and beer in Hocking Hills if you keep each day within one corridor and book nothing tighter than you can drive. The plan below names local businesses and leaves the hours to you to confirm.

How this itinerary works

Hocking Hills is not a big-city food destination, and our restaurant guide says so plainly. What it has is a handful of well-regarded local kitchens, tasting rooms and sweet stops, most of them within a short drive of each other in and around Logan. The trick is sequencing: one meal at a time, no more than two or three stops in the same area, and a driver who is not tasting.

The businesses below come from the official tourism bureau's food and drink listings and from our local directory. Hours, menus and seasonal closures change. Many local spots keep limited days, so treat every stop as “confirm before you go” and keep a backup nearby.

Day one: Logan and a winery afternoon

Morning coffee. Start at Hocking Hills Coffee Emporium on State Route 664 South in Logan. The tourism bureau describes it as a woman-owned coffee shop with locally roasted coffee, breakfast, lunch and souvenirs. Weekend lines are common, so go early or accept a short wait.

Midday pizza. Pizza Crossing on North Mulberry Street is the classic local pizza stop, known for Columbus-style square-cut pizza along with subs, pasta and draft beer, according to our directory and the tourism listing. If you prefer something lighter, Maya Burrito Co. downtown is a build-your-own option.

Afternoon sweets. Walk downtown for a cold treat. The tourism bureau lists Sunset Slush for Italian ice and baked goods, and Shorty's Ice Cream Parlor, which sits inside the Columbus Washboard Company storefront with hand-dipped ice cream. Browsing the washboard shop is a fun detour, and downtown Logan has plenty of shops to fill the hour.

Late-afternoon wine. Drive out to Hocking Hills Winery on Freeman Road, which our directory describes as family-run with flights, outdoor seating and pizza. Tasting room hours can differ from restaurant hours, so check before you commit to the drive, and plan who is driving back. Our winery and brewery route covers pairing a second stop.

Dinner. Finish at 58 West in downtown Logan, which the bureau describes as a restaurant, winery, brewery and distillery with casual, elevated food. It is a good “one building, many options” choice after a day of tasting. Reserve if you are traveling with a group.

Day two: cider, a trailhead lunch and barbecue

Breakfast. Try a diner morning: the tourism bureau's downtown Logan page lists M & M Family Diner for breakfast and brunch. Fuel up before the drive toward the cabin corridor.

Cider or farm stop. In fall, Laurelville Fruit Farm is the cider and apple stop; the tourism bureau describes it as a three-generation family grower of apples and peaches known for its cider. Our cider and maple guide explains the seasonal side, and our farm stand guide lists other places to look. Outside harvest season, check what is open.

Lunch near the trails. The Old Man's Cave General Store, which the bureau describes as the last stop before Old Man's Cave, serves pizza, daily lunch specials and deli food, plus ice cream. It is an easy lunch between a morning walk and an afternoon stop, and it saves a trip back to town. Grandma Faye's Grocery & Carryout, also in the bureau's listings, is another quick option for deli food and ice cream.

Mid-afternoon beer or mead. Brewery 33 on College Prospect Road pours beer and mead, and the bureau notes an outdoor beer garden, fire pit and food trucks. Amy's Simple Sandwiches operates a brewpub-style kitchen inside, per the bureau. Check the days and times, which vary by season.

Dinner. End with smoked meat at Millstone Southern Smoked BBQ in Logan. The bureau lists smoked meats, hand-cut steaks, burgers and wings with a full bar, and our directory notes weekend live music. If it is full, Starbrick BBQ in Nelsonville is another barbecue option listed by the bureau.

If you want a lighter pace

Combine the two days into one by choosing a single winery, a single lunch and a single dinner. Or stretch a long weekend: add a Nelsonville dinner and a farmers market morning if your dates line up.

Practical tips for a food trip

• Call ahead for dinner and tasting rooms, especially on fall weekends.
• Pick a designated driver or use a charter. Our directory lists a door-to-door winery and brewery charter service; confirm its availability and rules directly.
• Carry a cooler for cider, cheese or anything you buy at midday.
• Keep the cabin kitchen in play. Our cook-in strategy pairs well with a food-forward trip, and the grocery guide covers where to stock up.
• Download offline maps before you head out; rural stops can be in weak coverage.

Pick up a jar of something local on your way out; our guide to local makers and only-here finds has ideas. Treat the itinerary as a menu, not a schedule. Swap in a stop when something is closed, and let the best meal of the weekend be whichever one is actually open.

Planning note: Verify time-sensitive hours, closures, conditions, and property-specific details before you drive or book.