Wind through the rolling hills of central Ohio along the Granville Scenic Byway, a 16-mile state-designated route that showcases the quiet beauty of Licking County. This drive reveals a pastoral landscape of wooded ridgelines, open farmland, and gentle valleys that feel a world away from the bustle of nearby Columbus.

The byway leads travelers to Granville, one of Ohio’s most charming small towns, where well-preserved 19th-century architecture lines broad, tree-shaded streets. Stop to explore the shops and cafes along Broadway, visit the Granville Historical Society Museum, or take a short hike at Infirmary Mound Park for sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. Denison University’s handsome hilltop campus is worth a stroll, and nearby Dawes Arboretum offers 2,000 acres of gardens, trails, and natural areas.

Between stops, the road itself is the attraction — curving past red barns, stone fences, and fields that shift with the seasons. Autumn brings the most dramatic scenery, when hardwoods blaze with color against deep blue skies, but spring wildflowers and summer’s lush greenery each have their appeal.

Allow one to two hours for the drive with stops. This is an unhurried route best savored at a leisurely pace.

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