Ride one of America’s Most Scenic Roads—Ohio SR 78
There’s no shortage of beautiful motorcycling roads in the U.S. Yet, even in this gorgeous crowd, some are more scenic than others.
Ohio SR 78 is one such road.
This 105-mile-long strip of two-lane asphalt spans the distance between Nelsonville, OH, in the west and Clarington on the Ohio River in the east. Between them, you’ll pass through some of the most stunning scenery you can find.
SR 78 is designated as an Ohio Scenic Byway, but it’s also often touted as one of the most scenic roads in the country overall. Once you get your wheels on route, it’s easy to see why.
Riding the road west to east, you’ll begin in the middle of the Wayne National Forest. This section takes you past serene woods, burbling creeks, and the calm Burr Oak Lake and its eponymous state park.
Proceeding west, the trees thin out as they’re replaced by gently rising hills, covered in fields, pastures, and farmland. The views make you think you just rode into a Thomas Cole painting. Finally, you’ll arrive at the shores of the majestic Ohio River.
As you zip and zoom past the scenery, you get to navigate some very entertaining curves and smooth elevation changes. SR 78 is no Tail of the Dragon, but the road has just the right number of turns to keep you entertained while still allowing you to take in the views.
I should mention that the Nelsonville-McConnelsville section of SR 78 forms part of the Ohio Windy 9’s Rim of the World route. The Hocking Hills Nipper and Black Diamond Run also touch down on SR 78 for a few miles, so it’s very easy to proceed onto other great rides from this road.
If there is a downside to SR 78, it’s that it’s not exactly bristling with tourism opportunities. Don’t get me wrong—you’ll roll through absolutely charming little towns and past a few interesting local attractions. All I’m saying is that the route is very rural.
That’s why you’re probably on this road, though. SR 78 is one of those roads that you get on for the ride, and at that, it’s one of the best.
Points of Interest
Burr Oak State Park
Burr Oak State Park sits by SR 78, covering the area around Burr Oak Lake. This pretty spot is a great opportunity to get off the road for a while and get blood flowing back into your legs.
The state park has plenty of activities available for outdoors-y riders. You can hike along the trails, have lunch at the picnic spots, swim or boat, or even try your hand at archery.
You can even stay overnight. The Burr Oak Lodge has guest rooms and cabins available (advance bookings are strongly recommended) and there’s a nice campground if you’d like to sleep in your own tent.
Big Muskie Bucket
Big Muskie, built in 1969, was an enormous dragline excavator, nearly 500 feet long and 230 feet tall. Owned and operated by the Central Ohio Coal Company, its gigantic bucket could haul 220 cubic yards or 325 tons of earth.
The excavator operated for 22 years until its removal from service in 1991. It then sat abandoned until it disassembled and sold for scrap in 1999.
Although Big Muskie is long gone, you can still go and see that huge bucket. Big Muskie Bucket sits by SR 78 some nine miles west of McConnelsville and is worth a stop.
USS Shenandoah Crash Site
USS Shenandoah was the first of the four rigid airships built by the U.S. Navy, completed in 1923. Its service life, however, was not to be a long one.
In 1925, USS Shenandoah was caught in a storm above Ohio. An intense updraft lifted the airship too high and it burst into three pieces, killing all of its 14-member crew.
SR 78 passes by one of the crash sites of the airship’s wreck, roughly five miles west of Caldwell. If you feel like doing a small detour, the USS Shenandoah Memorial is a short ride north of Caldwell along I-77.
Hannibal Locks and Dam
Granted, Hannibal Locks and Dam aren’t exactly on SR 78. This impressive structure is located 10 minutes south from SR 78’s eastern terminus at Clarington.
In addition to the locks themselves, the Ohio Valley River Museum is housed in the visitor center. Here, you can learn about the history of life along the Ohio River.
There’s one more good reason to check out Hannibal Locks. Once you’re done, you have easy access to the Demon’s Backbone out of Hannibal.
Facts & Info
Recommended Lodging: Athens Central Hotel
The city of Athens, OH, gives you quick access to SR 78 (10 miles away) and the rest of the Windy 9 routes. The Athens Central Hotel is a great place to spend the night right in the heart of the city.
This hotel is modern, well-situated, and superbly clean. The variety of room sizes gives you plenty of space for your gear and riding partner, according to your needs. As a nice touch, the rooms have well-sized walk-in waterfall showers that make cleaning gear a cinch (if you don’t make use of the on-site laundry and dry cleaning facilities).
Free off-street parking comes with your room booking and, with some luck, you can snatch a spot right by the back door. There’s no restaurant at the hotel, but you won’t miss it. Thanks to the downtown location, Athens’ best restaurants and bars are within walking distance.
Food & Dining
- Bonnie’s Home Cooking: For an all-American home meal away from home, pop into Bonnie’s Home Cooking in Glouster along SR 78. It’s often full of locals who know exactly what they want, so you’ll probably stand out by actually needing the menu. Find it at 66 High St, Gloucester, OH.
- Traditions: Just the name tells you what Traditions is about—basic but delicious neighborhood restaurant fare, with friendly service to boot. As a little tip, try the ribeye. Find it at 113 S Main St, Woodsfield, OH.
Best Time to Travel
I recommend heading to SR 78 in the fall, around September and October. The summer storms will be over, you may catch incredible fall leaves, and there are plenty of local festivals that might be ongoing during your ride.
Summer is also a good time to ride, as you get to see SR 78’s scenery at its greenest. Just be aware that there will be rain and it’s also high tourist season.