Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks: Ohio’s ancient mounds
Visit the giant geometric earthworks of the Hopewell culture, a World Heritage Site, and the famous Serpent Mound on the way from Columbus to Cincinnati.
- Distance
- 378 km (235 mi)
- Driving
- 4 h 12 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- States
- OH
- Updated
- May 2, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 378 km (235 mi) with 7 stops, from Columbus to Cincinnati. About 4 h 12 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Ohio
Route description
From Columbus take I-70 east and OH-79 north to Heath, next to Newark, about 45 minutes, to reach the Great Circle Earthworks. It has a small museum and paths around the high earthen walls. The Octagon Earthworks nearby, a golf course until 2024, has been open to the public since 2025; check its limited opening hours. In 2023 these sites became part of a World Heritage Site.
From Newark drive south to Chillicothe, Ohio’s first capital, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Mound City Group lies just north of town on OH-104 by the Scioto River. The visitor center has a film and artifacts from the mounds. Other units of the park, such as Hopewell Mound Group and Seip Earthworks, are nearby, and all are free to visit.
From Chillicothe follow US-50 west and OH-41 and OH-73 south-west to Serpent Mound, about 1 hour 15 minutes, through the hilly Appalachian country of southern Ohio. The walk around the snake-shaped mound is short and easy, and the tower gives a better view. There is a small museum. Roads here are narrow and winding, so allow extra time with an RV.
From Serpent Mound, drive north-west to Fort Ancient near Oregonia, about 1 hour 30 minutes, through farmland and small towns. The earthworks walls sit on a wooded bluff above the Little Miami River, and the museum explains the site and the Hopewell culture. From here it is about 45 minutes to Cincinnati on I-71. Spring and autumn are the best seasons.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Columbus
OH - 259 km
Great Circle Earthworks
HistoryHeath, OHA 365 m circular earthen enclosure built by the Hopewell culture about 2,000 years ago, part of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks World Heritage Site. Free museum and park.
- 3107 km
Mound City Group, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
HistoryChillicothe, OHTwenty-three burial mounds inside an earthen wall on the Scioto River, the best-known of the Hopewell sites and part of a World Heritage Site. Free visitor center and grounds.
- 46 km
Chillicothe
OH - 562 km
Serpent Mound
HistoryPeebles, OHA 411 m effigy mound shaped like an uncoiling snake on a ridge above Brush Creek, set in an ancient impact crater. An observation tower gives a better view of the shape.
- 685 km
Fort Ancient
HistoryOregonia, OHNearly 6 km of earthen walls on a bluff above the Little Miami River, built by the Hopewell culture, with a museum and overlooks. Part of the World Heritage Site.
- 759 km
Cincinnati
OH
FAQs
How long is Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks: Ohio’s ancient mounds?
3-day road trip of about 378 km (235 mi) with 7 stops, from Columbus to Cincinnati. About 4 h 12 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks: Ohio’s ancient mounds?
We suggest 3 days: about 4 h 12 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks: Ohio’s ancient mounds start and end?
It starts in Columbus and ends in Cincinnati.
Which states does Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks: Ohio’s ancient mounds pass through?
Ohio.
