Things to do & places to visit in Mansfield, Ohio, United States

Despite having provided the backdrop to several Hollywood films, Mansfield manages to keep its all-American small town vibe. Its charming Main Street and Historic Carrousel District boast unique shops, galleries and an antique hand-carved carousel. The landmark Ohio State Reformatory has been the setting to several films, including The Shawshank Redemption and Air Force One. Mansfield's action-packed racing scene thrives at Mansfield Motorsports Park and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Mansfield city in Ohio, United States. Timezone: America/New_York, current date and time: Sunday, May 05, 2024, 0:54.

Top things to do (29)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 B&O Bike Trail (51 reviews)
- Great 30 minute walk outsides
Hiking Trails

There is a lot of different places to enter the bike trail, and we went the route through the grassy area which turned out to be about a 30 minute walk through mostly wooded areas. Easy paths, walking through some open areas while some shaded/tree areas, and a few places to sit down. Overall, a nice place to walk and enjoyed being outside. See more..
5.0 Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve (4 reviews)
- Excellent forested trail with a boardwalk the entire distance
Spent < 1 hour State Parks

This is a very nice 1.25 mile forested nature walk. The entire loop is raised boardwalk. The whole boardwalk was recently replaced and it is in excellent condition.This would be a great path for anyone with mobility issues. It is flat, even, and convenient for wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, etc. It is nice to have a forested trail to walk without the issue of mud, wet ground, tree roots, or ticks. No pets are allowed and I think mosquito repellant would be helpful in deep summer near evening. See more..
5.0 Artspace Gallery (1 review)
- Local artisans have a beautiful showcase here
Art Galleries

Stopped in on a travel break as we headed home from Lake Erie. This block in Mansfield is chock full of antique shops, diners, a chocolate shop, etc. The Artspace Gallery was a delightful display of affordable but professional artwork; ceramics, handmade jewelry done by masters at metalwork; paintings, papercraft! We bought several lovely, one-of-a-kind things for our home, and for Christmas gifts. See more..
4.5 The Ohio State Reformatory (824 reviews)
- Amazing Experience at the Prison
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM City Tours • Ghost & Vampire Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours

We had a fabulous time wandering around this large and very interesting prison. We are big Shawshank Redemption fans and couldn't have been more pleased to see so many of the spots where the movie was filmed. Plus, there are lots of pictures from the film and some items also. Not only that, but there was also numerous rooms and information about the history of the prison itself. And then upstairs, which is in rough condition, was fascinating. The fact that it is in its natural, peeling paint, condition makes it that much more authentic and interesting. We also walked along actual small cells with peeling paint. It was nicely spooky (: We were there nearly 3 hours and enjoyed it so much! We did have to make reservations online a couple weeks ahead to be sure to have a spot. It was great!!! See more..
4.5 Kingwood Center Gardens (220 reviews)
- Wanted to stroll the gardens
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Historic Sites • Gardens

A historic estate and garden which features 47 acres of landscaped gardens, greenhouses, hiking trails, and tours of the mansion. We hold many events, including corporate rentals, weddings and parties, Garden Club events, children's events, and community events such as Pumpkin Glow and Christmas at Kingwood. See more..
4.5 Richland Carrousel Park (201 reviews)
- Felt Like A Kid Again
Game & Entertainment Centers

This is a must see!! My daughter (age 6) and I have visited many times since she was a baby. We make it a special outing and bring friends sometime to join in the fun. Please visit for yourself and fall in love with the place as we have. See more..
4.5 Ohio Bird Sanctuary (95 reviews)
- Great Little Visit
Sunday: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas

We decided to visit the sanctuary on a Saturday morning during our trip to Mansfield and were happy we did. It is a very well kept place with an amazing caring attitude towards these birds who are unable to survive in the wild. They have several hiking trails and an educational center for groups. Every bird in the sanctuary has a story which is also very cool albeit sad. You can spend time in the aviary and feed the birds in there for only $.25 cents a cup of seeds and mealy worms. We enjoyed that part of the visit a great deal. See more..
4.5 Snow Trails (87 reviews)
- Great Tubing with Large Group
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 9:30 PM Ski & Snowboard Areas

Group of 12 of us came here to go tubing our group was all adults. We did it at night which was really good it was not super cold but they had made enough snow to keep the shoots going. They also have a conveyor belt so you don’t have to walk up the hill with your tube. Great time on a Saturday night they even have a DJ outside with music which is fun. Beware of the parking lot it is full of charcoals that would be my biggest complaint so if you don’t have a truck or an SUV you have to be extremely careful. Easy place to find it’s a couple back roads from I 71. Staff was extremely friendly and it was just a good night of fun. See more..
4.5 The Blueberry Patch (78 reviews)
- LOVE the Menu, Drinks, and Gift Shop too!
Spent 1-2 hours Wineries & Vineyards • Farms

What a fun little place! Great food and drink and an awesome gift shop, including donuts! The items offered on the menu is scaled back and simple, and I didn't mind at all. The service was a tad slow, but the server was super friendly and they were really trying their best to get to all the tables as fast at they could. I will definitely go back. It's a nice out of the way place (for me as I live in Columbus). See more..
4.5 Mansfield Reformatory (74 reviews)
- Shawshank Fan Must-See
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Mysterious Sites

Our family drove from Cleveland this past week to Mansfield to visit and take the Hollywood tour. Our GPS routed us to the active institution next store and the kind officer opened a gate since I was struggling to backup my vehicle to get on the correct path. Yes, I was technically trespassing. On arrival, you need to check in and get a wristband. This tiny room is very historical in appearance but has a horrible echo. Check it over before leaving the window. Ours was wrong and a helpful guide got us the right ones. Organizing our tour was a bit tough but once you have your ear buds and microphone box we were all set. We started 15 min late due to construction on Route 30 backing others up. Thank goodness there was a fantastic museum to spend time in! The box Andy left Red, original “Brooks was Here” sign, info about the reformatory itself decades before Shawshank and Air Force One, which was filmed here too. Tour was substantial and I enjoyed our local guide’s enthusiasm along with guides-in-training. If you can’t afford a guided tour, fear not! The audio tour is quite extensive and at this time only $5. Our tour was 35$ per adult and 2 hrs long. Local guide had info about where the oak tree was, scenes shot at Malabar farms, making this a more comprehensive destination and called this The Shawshank Trail. I would certainly come back, especially now I know how to get there. I applaud the preservation society for saving this from a wrecking ball and bought some goods to support them. Hope is perhaps the best of things and we need to get busy living so as to pass old ways of thinking on, even if they were mistakes so the next gen can learn from them. See more..
4.5 Biblewalk (74 reviews)
- Good Road Stop
Sunday: Speciality Museums

You will be encouraged in your faith in God by walking through the scenes in Biblewalk. God's Word presented using lifesize wax figures narrated from Scripture and including music, special effects and original artwork. Enter the old world and find out how current Jesus' teachings really are. You will not find doctrine here, nor politics, nor any of the stresses of life today. Our two one hour tours include the Life of Christ and the Miracles of the Old Testament. Our four half hour tours include the Reformation, the Martyrs, the Journeys of Paul and The Kingdom of God. Our newest tour includes life sized wood carvings of Jesus incredible life. Take a moment to focus on Jesus today, He never disappoints! See more..
4.5 Little Buckeye Children's Museum (48 reviews)
- An ideal place for kids to play and use their imaginations.
Sunday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Children's Museums

Little Buckeye Children's Museum is a hands-on children's museum located in Downtown Mansfield. With over 2 dozen exhibits, Little Buckeye is an ideal location for group and family visits by children ages 2-10 years. At Little Buckeye, we know that exploration and play are critical to child development. We also know that play benefits children socially, emotionally and intellectually! We understand that not every child gets the opportunity to play in a safe and creative environment. Little Buckeye Children's Museum is proud to provide that opportunity. Our museum features interactive exhibits that encourage curiosity and creativity. You can shop for groceries in the Little Stoodt's Market, perform on stage at the Little Ren Theatre, play teacher in the one-room Schoolhouse, go camping in the Nature Room and so much more! See more..
4.5 The Phoenix Brewing Company (47 reviews)
- Interesting Place to Visit
Sunday: 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Bars & Clubs • Breweries

If you go there, first read about it. It was a Funeral Home at one time so naturally we wanted a tour of the basement. It shows no signs of the way it once was because that is where they brew the beer. It was so very interesting. The young man who toured us was awesome. See more..
4.5 Gorman Nature Center (42 reviews)
- Great place to visit!
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Educational sites

Very nice park with paths to walk and a pond with a walkway. Enjoyed to view fro the top of the park. Nice cut trails would go again. See more..
4.5 Apple Hill Orchard (36 reviews)
- Holy Apple Fritter Batman
Spent 1-2 hours Farms

Trust me, go on Friday and get the apple fritter. It will be the best fritter experience of your life. They do sell out so show up early. We were in from out of town and visited here based on other reviews. There’s a small store we walked around and purchased apple butter and pumpkin butter and apple cider and were told that the fritters weren’t ready yet so we had to place an order and come back. It was well worth the wait and then some!The fritter was warm and drizzled with an apple cider glaze. It was crunchy yet soft all at the same time. Full of apples! They only make fritters on Friday so plan your visit accordingly. Hands down the best apple fritter to ever cross my lips! 4 fritters = $15.80 See more..
4.5 Squirrel's Den (27 reviews)
- Super good hotplates plus
Sunday: Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops
My friend and I stopped by one day, just to see what this store was about. Treat!!! A candy store! Mmmmm... chocolates! Great candy! I was looking for large gum drops and was surprised to find that she carried them. I got more than expected! Gum drops and very tasty chocolate! Plan to return often! See more..
4.5 Mansfield Art Center (21 reviews)
- Great place!
Art Galleries

Top rate art museum! Don't let the size of the place fool you - it's small but mighty! Very open which I prefer in a display place. They have different exhibits constantly - so check their website for latest fun. You'll need under an hour and is handicap accessible! Go and enjoy! See more..
4.5 Mansfield Memorial Museum (15 reviews)
- Very Informative and Fun!
Sunday: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours History Museums

The Mansfield Memorial Museum established in 1889, is the oldest museum in Richland County. Founded by Edward Wilkinson who, as an avid collector of specimens and artifacts for the Smithsonian Institute, Carnegie Natural History Museum and Peabody Field Museum, established a varied and extensive collection from which the museum has continued to grow. Featuring multiple collections including all major wars, natural history, repository for many public documents from Richland County and the City of Mansfield and the Industrial History of Mansfield including Westinghouse's home of the future and the oldest American robot ELEKTRO as featured in the Worlds Fair 1937-38 in New York. The Mansfield Memorial Museum invites you to visit and share in the rich history that is North Central Ohio. See more..
4.5 Carrousel Antiques (10 reviews)
- A Must Visit
Antique Shops

If you are travelling in this area well worth a side trip. Large selection of antiques and some lovely decorating items. Everything is well organized and very well priced. Beautiful spot to browse. We were on our way to Springfield from Hartville and decided to pull off at Mansfield to visit. So glad we did. This spot is a gem. See more..
4.5 Mansfield Fire Museum And Educational Center (8 reviews)
- Highly recommend this historical museum
History Museums

Thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Fire museum. Lots of old engines, firetrucks and related equipment plus great photos See more..
4.5 South Park (5 reviews)
- Historical History
Parks • Playgrounds

The park has local historical value with 1812 Blockhouse, 1808 Log Cabin, and currently building a working Blacksmith/Cooper shop. A place for kids to play and picnic tables for a picnic lunch. In the summer there is a program for children called Fun in the Park and in October an historical reenactment event. More information about the buildings can be found on Facebook at Richland Early American Center for History. See more..
4.5 Renaissance Theatre (3 reviews)
- Saw Aint Misbehavin musical
Sunday: Spent 2-3 hours Theaters

The Renaissance Theatre is the beating heart of downtown Mansfield's arts and culture. This historic landmark is your source for live and engaging arts and entertainment in Mansfield, Ohio! See more..
4.5 Mansfield Playhouse (2 reviews)
- Great shows in a historic building
Theaters

The newly updated theatre was very nice. It looks fresh in the theatre and the shows there are great. See more..
4.5 Springmill Twin Drive-in (2 reviews)
- we watched the fortnite movie yknow the one with minecraft steve?
Theaters

yea its ok ig, the kids had a blast with their mascot Rusty Nonce if yknow what i mean ayeeee thats a zinger, 1.5 stars rating!! ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ See more..
4.0 Oak Hill Cottage (10 reviews)
- The Beautiful Shane's Castle
Speciality Museums
This is the most Perfect American Gothic home in the country and is Definitely worth a trip on a Sunday afternoon. The Volunteers are Very well trained and do a great job too. The old Carriage house is unattached but nice too. The pre tour Video is nice addition also. we came for the Xmas Open House 3 yr ago and it was amazing how the actors played out their roles as The Jones family etc. the Wedding gown on display is cool too. A Must See in Richland county...hidden gem! I brought my cousin from AZ another time and she was thrilled. See more..
4.0 North End Farmers Market (1 review)
- Farmers Market is great!
Spent 1-2 hours Farmers Markets
This small but mighty market showcases local produce as well as art work. Come visit us and take home fresh eggs, lettuce, plants. local honey, cookies, or a piece of art. Prices are typical if not lower than other markets. Vendors have no fee to sell here but will need to fill in paperwork to do so. I sell at this market and am growing to love all who come. The vendors and those who run this market are so kind. See more..
Stroller Road Trail (0 review)
Spent 1-2 hours Hiking Trails
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Inkcarceration Festival (0 review)
Music Festivals
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Berean Baptist Church (0 review)
Churches & Cathedrals
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Mandy L. (0 review)
Speciality Museums
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