Lancaster, Ohio Day Trip: Downtown Stops Before or After the Hills

Lancaster is the Fairfield County seat on US-33, and if you drive to the Hocking Hills from Columbus you almost certainly pass it. A downtown stop turns a straight highway slog into a better start or finish to the trip. Our day-trips guide puts Lancaster about 30 minutes northwest of the state park area, and the local tourism bureau calls it the "Gateway to the Hocking Hills."

This guide covers the town stops. For the countryside drive to the historic spans, see our covered bridges guide instead.

Before or after: how to use the stop

• On the way in. Stretch your legs, eat a real lunch and walk a few blocks before the winding roads. This works best if your cabin check-in is later in the afternoon.
• On the way out. Sunday midday is the natural slot: a late lunch, one museum or shop, then the highway home. Be aware that some small attractions keep limited weekend hours.

Either way, plan 2 to 3 hours and pick just two or three stops.

Start with the visitor center (weekdays only)

The Visit Fairfield County Visitor Center is at 128 N. Broad Street in downtown Lancaster. Its website lists hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and says it is closed on Saturday and Sunday. If you are visiting on a weekend, use the bureau's website for a current event list instead.

Downtown shops and public art

The bureau describes downtown Lancaster as a historic district of locally owned shops, restaurants, murals, sculpture and other public art. Shops it lists include:

• Wayfarer Books, 105 N Columbus Street, for a curated book collection;
• Patty's Primitive Home Decor, 160 W Wheeling Street, for vintage décor, gifts and rustic home pieces;
• Reasons For The Seasons, 429 N Columbus Street, for holiday décor and collectibles.

The bureau also lists the Olde Shoe Factory Antique Mall, which it says has more than 90 vendors. We have not checked current hours for any of these, so look them up the morning you go.

Glass, art and a free exhibit stop

Lancaster's glassmaking past is the town's signature. On West Main Street, the Ohio Glass Museum and Glass Blowing Studio (124 W Main St) shows the history of the industry, and the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio (145 E Main St) offers exhibits that the bureau says are free, along with public programs and workshops. The bureau also lists Art & Clay on Main for pottery and painting classes. Glass-blowing demonstrations and classes, when offered, may need advance booking, so check each organization's schedule.

If glass is the draw, the bureau also lists Gay Fad Studios among the places that highlight the town's glass history, along with the downtown museum. Ask a staff member which demonstrations are scheduled that day so you do not miss one.

History: the Sherman House and the Georgian

For a quieter history stop, the Sherman House Museum is the restored family home of Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman, built in 1811, according to the bureau. The Georgian Museum, which showcases early 1800s architecture and furnishings, is in the same historic district. Both are in the Square 13 Historic District. We could not confirm current visiting hours or tour formats, so check the museums' websites or the visitor center before you commit to a time.

Where to eat and drink

Keller Market House, at 134 S Columbus Street, offers local food, baked goods, wine and artisan goods according to the bureau. The bureau also names Hangry City Grill & Spirits as a downtown restaurant known for specialty sliders and homemade mac-and-cheese. For a cabin supply run, see our grocery guide, which covers the stores in Logan.

A simple 2.5-hour loop

1. Park once downtown and read the posted signs for rules.
2. Walk to West Main for the glass museum and the sculpture stop.
3. Browse one bookstore or antique stop before lunch.
4. Eat at the market house or a restaurant within a block or two.
5. Choose one of the history or art stops to finish.

If you are traveling from the capital, our Columbus day trip guide covers the route and timing, and Lancaster fits naturally on the drive.

Lancaster or Logan for your supply stop?

Both towns are practical, and the best choice depends on your route. If you are driving down from Columbus, Lancaster is on the way, so you can have lunch and a short walk there, then shop for groceries in Logan closer to your cabin. If you are heading home, the reverse works well: finish your Hocking Hills weekend with a leisurely lunch in Lancaster and a museum stop. Our Logan guide covers what is available there.

A rainy-day version

Lancaster is a good bad-weather stop because many of the best stops are indoors: the glass museum, the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, a bookstore, a market house lunch and the two historic-house museums. Park downtown, do one block at a time, and leave the walking around the Square 13 Historic District for a break in the weather. If you have extra time and the sky clears, the bureau lists four covered bridges (George Hutchins, John Bright #2, McCleery and Rock Mill) and describes Rock Mill Covered Bridge as built in 1901 beside the restored 1824 Rock Mill. Our covered bridges guide has the driving details.

Practical notes

We could not verify accessibility details, parking rules or restroom locations for individual downtown stops, so call ahead if mobility matters. The visitor center is a good place to ask on a weekday. Many of the historic buildings are older structures with steps or narrow entries, which is common in historic districts, so confirm access before you commit.

Events that change the plan

The bureau lists seasonal events including Friday Night Bandstand in summer, the Lancaster Festival in July, BrewFest in August, the Trail of Scarecrows in October and a New Year's Eve party called Glass Town Countdown. Dates change each year. A big festival weekend means more crowds and harder parking, so a quiet weekday or ordinary weekend is the better time for a relaxed browse.