Toledo Weekend Getaway: The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary

Craft breweries. Scenic boat rides along the Maumee River. Cheering on the Mud Hens. Welcome to Toledo, Ohio, aka Glass City. Spending a weekend in Toledo is just enough time to get a taste of all this wonderful city offers- and I’ve created the perfect 3-day Itinerary to help you plan your Toledo Weekend Trip.

We want to thank Destination Toledo for sponsoring this post. As always, my opinions are my own. This site contains affiliate links.

Helpful Tips to Know Before You Visit

As you start planning your weekend getaway to Toledo, we compiled a list of valuable facts to help in the planning process.

When Is the Best Time Of The Year To Visit Toledo?

When is the Best Time of the Year to Visit Toledo?

The best time of year to visit Toledo is in the late spring, summer, and early fall.Summer is the best time to visit for the most fun outdoors, including water activities, sporting events, and exploring the region’s beautiful Metroparks. The Toledo Jeep Festival takes place in early August when the entire city comes alive as Jeep enthusiasts from around the world visit the home of Jeep!

Planning Tip: Keep in mind mayfly season is from late May through early July.

Fall is the next best time to visit Toledo. The leaves are turning brilliant shades of orange and red, making a beautiful backdrop to the city. Pick fresh, delicious apples, participate in the Adam’s Street Zombie Crawl, or enjoy the fall colors on a Sandpiper Riverboat Cruise.

How to Get to Toledo

By Car: Toledo is centrally located along I-75 and  I-80/90, the Ohio Turnpike.

From Cincinnati: 202 miles ~ 3-hour drive

From Columbus: 141 miles ~ 2-hour 15-minute drive

From Detroit: 58 miles ~ 1-hour drive

By Air: Toledo Express Airport offers flights from many nearby cities. Toledo is also less than an hour from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, giving you the opportunity to see two incredible cities in one trip.

Where to Stay in Toledo

There are tons of incredible places to stay in Toledo! First step: deciding where to set up your home base in town and the type of weekend you want. 

We recommend staying in or close to Downtown. This central location will reduce your need for a rental car because you can get around by walking, biking, ride-share or on the TARTA, Toledo’s bus line.Our hotel pick is the Renaissance Toledo Downtown. Right in the heart of the city, the Renaissance is an upscale hotel within walking distance of many local attractions, restaurants, and the scenic river’s edge.

If you plan on visiting with kids, I recommend staying at Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center. The tranquil Maumee Bay Lodge offers plenty of family entertainment overlooking scenic Lake Erie. Soak in a spectacular sunset, take a peaceful stroll along the boardwalk, or cozy up next to one of the fireplaces. Kids will love the indoor pool and splash pad, playing volleyball on the indoor courts and riding bikes along the lake.

Toledo Weekend Trip: Friday

You’ll arrive in Toledo on Friday afternoon and check into your hotel. After settling in, you can explore Imagination Station, an interactive science museum. Depending on how early you arrive, try a Toledo specialty for lunch and take a stroll in Promenade Park.  Finally, cap off the evening with an enchanting view of downtown Toledo at twilight on a scenic cruise. 

Lunch At Tony Packo’s

If there’s one cuisine Toledo is known for, it’s the authentic Hungarian food at Tony Packo’s. If your schedule allows, be sure to squeeze in a visit to this Toledo staple. We swung into a location near the ballpark to get our fill of chili dogs, hot pickles, and chicken paprikash. At Tony Packo’s, you can snag your order to go or sit in the casual dining room.

Look closely at the decor lining the walls are framed hot dog buns signed by celebrities, 

musicians, and even presidents! As first-timers, we had to try everything, so we opted for an assortment, from pierogies to cabbage rolls to chili dogs. My favorite was the chicken paprikash; it was savory, saucy, and downright delicious.

Imagination Station

Pedal the High Wire Cycle 20 feet above ground, learn how your mind perceives the world in the Mind Zone, and even try to beat a Guinness World Record at the Imagination Station in Toledo.

The Imagination Station sits along the Maumee River, welcoming guests of all ages to come experience the wonderful world of science. Once known as COSI Toledo, the Imagination Station remains a local favorite for families.

One of the most popular areas in the science museum is where kids interact with water. The Water Works is full of interactive exhibits that teach about erosion, whirlpools, and more. Take advantage of the FREE hurricane chamber to experience hurricane-force winds!

While the bigger kids can jump from the Science Studio to the Energy Factory and various other hands-on exhibits, the little ones can enjoy a space designed for them. The Little Kidspace is for kids in kindergarten age and under.

Don’s miss out on our Helpful Tips For Visiting The Imagination Station, which acts as a guide for visiting.

Planning Tip: If you follow this itinerary, I recommend leaving enough time to grab dinner or snacks to bring on the river cruise. You are allowed to bring alcoholic beverages as well.

Note: Imagination Station has a cool dinosaur exhibit happening the summer of 2023.

A Scenic River Cruise on the Sandpiper

Hop aboard the city’s treasured Sandpiper as it takes your family on a charming cruise down the Maumee River. See the largest mural in the United States, take in breathtaking views of downtown Toledo, and view majestic homes and shorelines along the river.

The Sandpiper was built in 1984 in Maumee, Ohio. She has spent her entire career plying the waters of the Maumee River. However, she also has visited Monroe, Michigan, and many Detroit River locations.

Whether it is the Friday Night Family Cruise, or a sunset or fun-themed cruise, the Sandpiper offers all its guests a memorable evening.A perk of any Sandpiper cruise is bringing your own food and beverages aboard.

Bring a charcuterie tray and a bottle of wine, carry out a Wild Side Brewery Downtown pizza or pack a picnic to savor while drifting down the river.

A Few Tips for Your Cruise:

• Bring a set of binoculars to view local wildlife.
• All public cruises are BYOB,- so pack a cooler.
• Depending on the weather, you may want to pack a light jacket.
• Tickets for the cruises can be booked online.
• Arrive 15 minutes before your cruise.
• The cruise departs from Promenade Park downtown, a quick 5-minute walk from the Renaissance Hotel.

Toledo Weekend Trip: Saturday

Strap on your walking shoes because you will be getting your steps in with a visit to two of Toledo’s top attractions, Toledo Zoo and the Toledo Museum of Art. However, before every good adventure comes breakfast.

Focaccia’s

A great breakfast spot in downtown Toledo is Focaccia’s. Cut into a fresh Belgium waffle, savor a delicious eggs Benedict or make your own Mimosa flight. Sip your latte al fresco while planning out the details of your day and reminiscing about yesterday’s adventures.

Didn’t make it for breakfast? Focaccia’s is also open for lunch!

Toledo Zoo

Walk on the wild side with a visit to the Toledo Zoo. Watch polar bear cubs frolicking, stroll the unique ProMedica Museum of Natural History and even get up close with a sea turtle at the Aquarium. With so much to explore, we would allot at least 3-4 hours to explore the zoo.

The zoo is divided into two sections by a bridge crossing the highway. A single elevator can assist with strollers, scooters, and wheelchairs until the ramp is completed. See Africa, ride a train around the safari exhibit, and discover the Artic Encounter before crossing over to even more sensational exhibits.

Nature’s Neighborhood is a naturalized nature play space for kids of all ages. It quickly rose to my daughter’s favorite, as she loved the fun climbing structure with a slide.

Planning Tip: We recommend getting here early on a Saturday to get decent parking and beat the crowds. They open at 10 a.m., so plan accordingly.

Helpful Tips:

• The zoo has a splash pad, so bring a swimsuit and towel!
• A few experiences will cost extra such as the Safari Railway, African Carousel, animal feeding opportunities, and the Aerial Adventure Course
• Check out the Garden Tour Series, which highlights different gardening topics
• The zoo does not allow outside food and drink
• Map out your must-see spots
• They have some great playgrounds throughout the zoo to check out
• Bring a stroller or wagon-there is a lot of walking, and little legs get tired quickly (especially in the summer)

Pro Tip: If you have a zoo membership check to see if it offers reciprocity at the Toledo Zoo. I was able to get discounted tickets with my Cincinnati Zoo membership.  

Maumee Bay Brewing Company

After a long day of exploring the zoo, plan on an early dinner at the Maumee Bay Brewing Company. A cold beer was exactly what I needed to help beat the heat and cool off after our zoo adventure. Maumee Bay Brewing is Toledo’s original craft brewery known for bringing back the city’s famous Buckeye Beer.

Located in a former 19th-century hotel, Maumee Bay Brewing offers great food selections and beers. Split a wood-fired pizza, indulge in a 12-ounce NY strip, or keep it light with the Brussel sprouts salad.

I recommend getting a flight of the different beers to try all the other selections.

Tour the Toledo Museum of Art

Spend the afternoon strolling the magnificent galleries at the Toledo Museum of Art. Since its opening in 1901, the institute has been recognized for its exceptional, world-renowned collections and innovative educational programs. Witness the impressive glass collection retelling the city’s significance in the glass-making industry.

Stumble upon paintings by famous artists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet. Then spend a quiet moment in the sculpture garden before exploring more of the 25,000 works of art in the museum’s collection.

Helpful Tips for Visiting the Toledo Museum of Art

• Admission is FREE to the public
• The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
• Fridays and Saturdays, Toledo Museum of Art closes at 8 p.m.
• Bring kids to the Family Center to have them create their own art
• Parking is $10

Toledo Weekend Trip- Sunday

It will be hard to believe that today’s hotel checkout day. However, before heading home, there is still plenty of time to cross a few more things off your Toledo bucket list.

Brunch at Fowl & Fodder

What a gem this little spot was for Sunday brunch! This new country kitchen showcases a creative blend of comfort food and exotic, international cuisine. Get their signature Mimosa as you debate whether to have chicken and waffles or one of their seasonal dishes.

Planning Tip: Make reservations as the place is on the smaller side.

Glass City Metropark

The Glass City Metropark is one of the best spots to take in spectacular views of the Maumee River and the downtown skyline. Newly constructed, this Metropark is the toast of the town, offering discovery play areas, walking trails, and an adventure boardwalk.

Children will love the new splash pad featuring a waterfall and fountains before zipping off to hop on the zip line. During our visit, yoga in the park, birthday parties, and other fun events were happening throughout the park.

One of my favorite areas is the big discovery play area where kids can climb, crawl and slide throughout the massive structure. Best of all, the park is completely free to the public!

Follow the Glass City Metropark riverwalk right to the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

Step aboard the magnificent Col. James M. Schoonmaker lake freighter and the museum’s tug, Ohio, during your visit to the National Museum of the Great Lakes. Discover why the Great Lakes comprise one of the most important natural resources in the world, along with their historical significance.

Inside the museum, guests make their way through interactive exhibits learning about tales from the fur traders in the 1600s to the Underground Railroad operators in the 1800s to the rum runners in the 1900s and the sailors on the thousand-footers sailing today.

During warm weather months, step outside to take a self-guided tour of the museum’s two ships. The Col. James M Schoonmaker was the most impressive, with so much of the ship intact from the early 1900s. Having never stepped foot on a ship like this, the cargo haul was jaw-droppingly massive.

Don’t miss reading the signs describing each room on the tour. You won’t want to miss many intriguing tidbits, such as the Thanksgiving Day menu from 1980.

Catch a Mud Hens Game

If your Toledo weekend visit has you in town during the Minor League Baseball season, get tickets to a Mud Hens game. Cheering on the hometown team was a blast as locals came in full garb to support their beloved Mud Hens!

One of my favorite parts of Minor League games is they are family-friendly and reasonably priced. Fun activities happen throughout the game, while a playground is available for kids who need to stretch their legs before the seventh inning. Players playfully interact with their youngest fans, who plead for their latest outfield catch.

There are plenty of bars and restaurants near Fifth Third Field. However, we recommend saving room for one of their wildly popular helmet sundaes! You get a cold treat and a souvenir for only a few bucks!

After your weekend visit to Toledo, it won’t be long before you plan a return trip. Discover more fun finds in Toldeo by visiting Destination Toledo.

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