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Major city · United States

AshlandAshland, Ohio

One night is enough for Ashland: the Shawshank film sites and the historical society take half a day, then push on to Mohican or Mansfield.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Ashland is a small Ohio county seat on I-71 between Cleveland and Columbus, and it earns a stop for two reasons: it is one of the real filming locations of The Shawshank Redemption (1994), and it sits about 30 minutes from Mohican State Forest and Pleasant Hill Lake. Downtown is walkable in an afternoon; the hotels cluster at the I-71 exit east of town. Most travellers pass through in a night or use it as a cheap base for the Mohican area.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jan–Feb (ice and snow), late Jul–Aug humidity
Airports
CLE · CMH · CAK
Nights
1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Ashland911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Ashland, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$2–5
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, main$14–28
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$9–15
  • BeerDraught beer in a pub$5–8
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
  • Budget bedBudget motel room (Motel 6, Super 8), a night, per roomUS$70
  • Mid-range bedBudget motel room (Motel 6, Super 8), a night, per roomUS$95
  • High-end bedBudget motel room (Motel 6, Super 8), a night, per roomUS$130

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$200

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

The Shawshank Redemption filming sitesAshland County Historical SocietyAshland UniversityMohican State Forest and Pleasant Hill Lake nearbyAshland BalloonFest in July
Airports
CLE Cleveland Hopkins International (About 1 h 15 min northeast by I-71; the usual arrival airport for this part of Ohio.) · CMH John Glenn Columbus International (About 1 h 25 min southwest by I-71 (check).) · CAK Akron-Canton (Smaller alternative, roughly 1 h east (check).)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    1°C (34°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    3°C (37°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    9°C (48°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    16°C (61°F)

  5. May

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid*

    29°C (84°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    28°C (82°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    17°C (63°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    3°C (37°F)

Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Feb, Jul–Aug. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (29°C (84°F)), coolest Jan (−8°C (18°F) low), wettest Jan (12 rain days), driest Sep (9). Averages, not a forecast.

* only part of the month (early, mid or late).

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Ashland: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

1°C (34°F)

−8°C (18°F)

12 rd

Feb

3°C (37°F)

−7°C (19°F)

10 rd

Mar

9°C (48°F)

−2°C (28°F)

11 rd

Apr

16°C (61°F)

4°C (39°F)

12 rd

May

22°C (72°F)

10°C (50°F)

12 rd

Jun

27°C (81°F)

15°C (59°F)

11 rd

Jul

29°C (84°F)

17°C (63°F)

11 rd

Aug

28°C (82°F)

16°C (61°F)

10 rd

Sep

24°C (75°F)

12°C (54°F)

9 rd

Oct

17°C (63°F)

6°C (43°F)

10 rd

Nov

10°C (50°F)

1°C (34°F)

11 rd

Dec

3°C (37°F)

−5°C (23°F)

12 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car. Downtown Ashland is compact and walkable once parked, but the hotels, the highway shops and the Mohican area are 3–40 min apart with no useful bus service. I-71 exit 186 (US-250) is the main gateway; US-42 and SR-60/SR-96/SR-511 run through town.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Mohican State Forest and Pleasant Hill Lakego

Door to door: About 45 min

Drive south on SR-60/SR-511 then county roads, about 35–40 min

Hiking, swimming and boating; the lodge is the place to sleep if you want a full day here.

Mansfieldgo

Door to door: About 35 min

US-42 southwest, about 30 min

Bigger town with more food and lodging; pairs well with the Shawshank trail.

Loudonville

go

Door to door: About 40 min

SR-60 south then SR-3, about 30–35 min

Canoe liveries on the Mohican River; book in summer weekends.

Cleveland

skip

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

I-71 northeast

Too far for a comfortable return day; make it a separate stop.

Columbus

skip

Door to door: About 1 h 25 min

I-71 southwest

Same: a leg of the trip, not a day trip.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

I-71 exit 186 cluster (US-250 East)

Hampton Inn, Quality Inn, Super 8, Wingate and Motel 6 within a few minutes of each other; free parking, chain breakfast, nothing to walk to.

Downtown / Claremont Avenue

Surrey Inn near the university and the walkable Main Street blocks; fewer rooms, more character, 10–15 min drive from the interstate.

Mohican area (Perrysville)

Mohican Lodge inside the state forest, about 35–40 min south; pick this if the forest, not the town, is the point of the trip.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$60–90 excl. bed
Mid
$90–150 excl. bed
High
$150+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid chain hotel room (Hampton, Quality Inn, Wingate)1 × 1 night × US$150US$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$110US$220
Rental car, one day1 × US$70US$70
Fuel, about 100 km of local driving1 × US$12US$12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$48
Trip total≈ US$265 per person per day, bed includedUS$530

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$2–5
Diner breakfast$9–15
Sandwich or burger lunch$10–16
Sit-down dinner, main$14–28
Draught beer in a pub$5–8
Gallon of petrol$3.00–3.60 (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Ashland is a quiet small town and street crime is low. The real risks are winter driving on I-71 and rural roads, deer at dusk, and long unlit stretches between town and the state forest.
  • Almost everything is spread along highways: without a car you are stuck at the interstate cluster.
  • The Shawshank sites are working buildings — the former bank is an office open weekday business hours only, and the bus-station site is a private storefront. Look, photograph, do not expect a museum.
  • Winter brings lake-effect snow and ice to this part of Ohio; drive times can double.
  • Small-town restaurant kitchens close early — many stop serving by 21:00, so eat before you check in.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Ashland Police (non-emergency)
419-289-3639
Samaritan Hospital
419-289-0491

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

AshlandAshland, Ohio

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Ashland Police (non-emergency)419-289-3639
  • Samaritan Hospital419-289-0491

Embassy

No embassies here; they are in Washington, DC. Consulates-general for many countries are in Chicago, Cleveland or New York (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • CLE airport → Ashland by car: about 1 h 15 min on I-71 (check)
  • Ashland → Mansfield by car: about 30 min on US-42
  • Ashland → Mohican State Forest by car: about 35–40 min

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the interstate? — Where is the interstate?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is there parking here? — Is there parking here?

Tipping is expected in the US: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ashland. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (ice and snow), late Jul–Aug humidity · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for CLE and CMH: last-drive windows, winter snow fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking cluster for downtown: Main Street film sites, historical society, university, library.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for the historical society and the former bank office.
  4. Mohican and Pleasant Hill fixtures so the forest day can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources