6 Most Bike-Friendly Towns in Ohio

Ohio is home to several bike-friendly towns perfect for cyclists who want to explore scenic trails and unique local attractions simultaneously. From the outdoorsy vibe of Loveland along the 78-mile Little Miami Scenic Bike Trail to the free-spirited community of Yellow Springs, these towns present the perfect opportunity for riders of all levels to get outside and move. Tipp City and Piqua provide easy access to the Great Miami River Trail, while the two-wheel-friendly college town of Oberlin is full of art and cultural heritage. The nifty city of Troy offers riverside adventures, including sleeping in a floating tent on the Great Miami River. These six Ohio small towns are among the best destinations for getting outdoors, finding adventure, and exploring friendly communities on two wheels.

Loveland

An outdoorsy town, thanks to its location on the Little Miami River, Loveland is a pretty enclave with less than 14,000 residents along the 78-mile Little Miami Scenic Trail—one of the longest paved multi-use trails in the United States. The trail runs through the heart of historic Loveland, making it a popular stop for cyclists exploring the area. Visitors can rent a bike at Montgomery Cyclery or Loveland Bike Rental, located at the Nisbet Park trailhead of the Little Miami Scenic Trail. Explore downtown Loveland on two wheels with stops at shops like Bike Trail Books and Nostalgia Ink and cafés like Sucré Bakery.

Pick up snacks for the trails at Trailside Provisions, the Wicked Pickle, or Ramsey’s Trailside, then enjoy the ride. One of the most famous landmarks along the way is Loveland Castle (also known as Château Laroche, meaning “Rock Castle”), built by World War I veteran Harry D. Andrews as a tribute to his love of all things medieval.

Yellow Springs

Another not-to-be-missed small town on the Little Miami Scenic Trail is the free-spirited town of Yellow Springs, a popular destination for cyclists with miles of scenic riding through the countryside. Founded in 1825, Yellow Springs intended to become a utopian community where education and social equality flourished. While that experiment ultimately did not succeed, many brightly painted shops and eateries still display a hippie-minded idealism of days gone by, like Urban Handmade and Coyne’s Crystals.

A landmark in Yellow Springs, Young’s Jersey Dairy is a well-loved family-owned farm and dairy that started in 1869 with the purchase of a red barn. Over 100+ years later, the red barn has become a huge part of the community with its famous homemade ice cream, mini-golf, petting zoo, carousel, corn maze, and more, in addition to hosting seasonal events like the Young’s Ice Cream Charity Bike Tour, 28th Annual Wool Gathering, and Haunted Wagon Rides & Scary Stories.

Tipp City

Tipp City offers access to the Great Miami River Trail—a 93-mile paved, multi-use trail that hugs the Great Miami River along most of its route. The trail starts in Middletown and ends in Piqua, passing through Tipp City along the way. Tipp City is bike-friendly, with charming streets and a welcoming atmosphere. Tipp Cyclery is the one-stop shop for gear and two-wheel tune-ups before exploring the town founded in 1840 as "Tippecanoe."

A canal town, Tipp City, was established along the Miami and Erie Canal, and cyclists can still discover remnants of its canal roots in Canal Lock Park at the "Lock 15 - Tippecanoe Lock," located near a replica canal boat and mill. Visitors can explore the eclectic shops and cafés in historic 19th-century brick buildings near the downtown park, like Browse Awhile Books, Living Simply Soap, and the nostalgic Rad Candy Company. Fuel up for the ride at Sweet Adaline’s Bakery, have a drink at Chaffee’s Brewhouse, or go for pizza, beer, and duckpin bowling at Tipp City Pizza.

Oberlin

College towns are typically bike-friendly, and Oberlin is no different. The town’s flat terrain and quiet streets make it an ideal location for casual biking and exploring the local sights like the Apollo Theater, Ben Franklin & MindFair Books, and having the pancake brunch at The Feve. For a more active cycling workout, the North Coast Inland Trail (NCIT) is a 12-foot-wide, asphalt paved trail built over the abandoned Toledo, Norwalk, and Cleveland Railroad and spans nearly 100 miles across northern Ohio, including passing through Oberlin.

With art and culture seeping into every corner of the progressive city, Oberlin is famous as the hometown of Oberlin College, founded in 1833 and one of the first colleges in the US to admit African Americans and women. The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is world-renowned for its music programs. At the same time, the on-campus Allen Memorial Art Museum houses 15,000+ works of art, including works by Paul Cézanne, Pablo Picasso, and Thomas Cole.

Mount Vernon

An hour outside of the state capital of Columbus, Mount Vernon has plenty of activities to keep visitors on two-wheelers busy, from outdoor adventures to cultural and historical experiences. The Ariel-Foundation Park is a 250-acre park created on the site of one of the largest window glass manufacturing plants in the world, Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) Works No. 11, with factory ruins, a former chimney-turned observation tower, a museum, steel sculptures, and much more to explore. The park also connects to the Kohosing Gap Trail—a 14-mile multi-purpose trail built on a former Pennsylvania Railroad Line. Cyclists will cross the Kokosing River twice on railroad bridges that are more than 250 feet long, with forests, wetlands, and villages dotted along the way.

Downtown Mount Vernon is home to fun shops, eateries, and cafés, as well as two historic theaters: the 1851 Woodward Opera House and the Knox Memorial Theater. Finally, for dog lovers, another must-see spot in historic downtown Mount Vernon is South Main Plaza, where visitors will find a charming fountain featuring 18 life-size dogs in and around the water, inspired by world-renowned landscape architect Claude Cormier’s fountain in Toronto’s Berczy Park.

Troy

Troy is another town on the Great Miami River Trail, so why not rent an e-bike from Pedego Electric Bikes Troy for a day of touring around Troy? Hop on and off the bike in historic downtown Troy to enjoy its architecture and mix of funky boutiques and eateries, like Haren’s Market and the Purebred Coffee Company, or stop into Hayner Distilling. On the Ohio Distillery Trail, the Hayner Distilling Company was founded in 1866 and quickly became one of the largest distilleries in Ohio. Take a tour and sample 4 barrel-proof bourbons before filling up a bottle straight from the barrel. Visit the nearby Troy-Hayner Cultural Center, once the home of Mrs. Mary Jane Hayner from the Hayner Distilling Co. The 1914 Romanesque mansion is now a thriving community arts center with music concerts in the ballroom and art and history exhibits throughout the home.

If visitors can’t get enough of Troy, book an unforgettable overnight stay in a floating tent on the Great Miami River with Float Troy. The inflatable tents float next to Treasure Island Park—Troy’s riverside park and marina, which offers visitors canoeing, kayaking, and fishing opportunities. The park also hosts live outdoor concerts in its amphitheater.

Discover Ohio's charm through its bike-friendly towns, where scenic trails and rich history meet. From picturesque paths along the Little Miami Scenic Trail to vibrant cultural hubs, these towns offer unique experiences for cycling enthusiasts. Enjoy historic landmarks, charming downtowns, and outdoor adventures in communities that embrace both their past and present in any of these bike-friendly destinations that showcase Ohio's welcoming spirit.