Roadside Attractions: Pit Stop!

Our top spots to refuel yourself–and maybe even your vehicle–as you road-trip through Ohio

By Jack McLaughlin / Design by Victoria Smith

Let’s face it, even with the frenetic energy of a brand-new road trip, you and whatever you're driving are going to need to stop and refuel. So whether you’re taking a tour of all the roadside attractions we’ve compiled, or driving through the Buckeye State on your way to somewhere else, we’ve compiled a list of our top road trip stops.

Grandpa’s Cheese Barn

668 US-250, Ashland

Situated between Columbus and Cleveland, this roadside speciality shop has become a destination of sorts for Ohio travelers and curiosity-seekers alike. More than 120 different cheese varieties–hailing from a number of different countries–line the shelves of this Ashland store, alongside smoked meats and Ohio-made treats galore.

The J.M. Smucker Co. Store

333 Wadsworth Rd., Orrville

In case you were wondering, yes, THE Smucker's is headquartered in Orrvile, and yes, this is their retail store. Oh, and yes, it’s amazing. Opened in 1999, this unique stop is located inside a refurbished timber barn, and boasts not only every Smucker’s product you could possibly imagine, it’s home to a full cafe that offers wood-fired pizza and sundaes decked out with, you guessed it, Smucker's toppings. →

Chatham General Store

6403 Avon Lake Rd., Medina

There are few businesses holding truer to the term “general store” than Medina’s historic representative. Established in 1854, the storefront has housed a wide array of companies, and today serving as one of the only places you’re able to buy a fishing pole, antique stationary, camping knives and hot dogs all in the same place.

Yoder’s Bakery & Furniture

2621 Burnt Cabin Rd., Seaman

Formerly known as Keim Family Market, this truly original roadside store combines both an Amish furniture store and workshop alongside a bakery absolutely packed with some of the best sweets you’ll ever lay eyes on (homemade oatmeal pies, do we even need to say more?). Yoder’s also offers a bulk foods section, deli, and more.

Gas Station Birthplace of Rutherford B. Hayes

17 E. William St., Delaware

Wait, what?

No, the country’s 19th president was not born in a gas station. Hayes was actually born in the nearby city of Delaware in 1822, and the location of his former home is now the site of, well, a gas station. So while there’s nothing inherently special about this gas station itself, you will be able to say you bought Doritos and beef jerky where a former U.S. President was born. And you can’t put a price on that.

Spangler Candy Co.

400 N. Portland St., Bryan

The home of the Dum Dum Lollipop and the largest producer of candy canes in the United States is the long-standing Spangler Candy Co. in Bryan. The company, which creates approximately 2.7 million candy canes daily, and produces nearly half of all candy canes sold in the country today, boasts a 24/7 production facility. While its public museum closed during COVID, a new destination for visitors–Spangler Candy World–is coming to Downtown Bryan later this year.

Blake’s Pharmacy

206 N Market St., West Union

One of the last true soda jerk-pharmacies remaining in Ohio, this West Union storefront is a little piece of history, and a fun visit even if you don’t need to pick up a prescription. Although, if you did, the store would have a pharmacist on-site 24/7 so those with pharmaceutical questions or concerns are always able to receive advice. Sandwiches and plenty of products you might want to grab on your way out–like jumper cables, batteries and even belts–can be found among Blake’s eclectic offerings.

Carmazzi’s Candy & General Store

100 S. Main St., Urbana

This 120 year-old shop offers just about everything, from a massive selection of vintage and difficult to find candies (sold in the style of old penny candy stores) to sandwiches and even auto parts. Located in Urbana’s Downtown square, the historic red-brick storefront is about as retro Americana as they come.

Guggisberg Cheese

5060 State Route 557, Millersburg

Most people don’t realize Ohio is the birthplace of baby Swiss cheese. More specifically, its home is Millersburg, a quaint village in the heart of Ohio’s Amish country. Not only can you stop buy the Guggisberg retail Store for more than 60 varieties of cheese, you can also take a tour of the facility to see exactly how it’s made. Make sure to check out their collection of cuckoo clocks as well, because why not?

Jungle Jim’s International Market

5440 Dixie Hwy., Fairfield / 4450 Eastgate S. Drive in Cincinnati

12,000 beers, 12,000 wines and more than 1,000 different hot sauces? Yeah, that’s Jungle Jim’s. This eclectic international spot has more food than you’ll know what to do with. Even more, browsing the aisles of this massive market is as much as fun as actually enjoying the products, which range from bottles of kvass to Middle Eastern herbs. Did we mention there’s a waterfall?