When it comes to small towns, the village of Yellow Springs, Ohio, really does have it
all. It is a haven for artists with a year-round offering of music festivals, concerts and
comedy shows. It boasts a wide assortment of locally owned restaurants and eclectic
shops, and it is smack dab in the middle of some of the best that nature has to offer.
Located just 140 miles from Ashland, Yellow Springs and the surrounding Greene
County region make an ideal weekend getaway. It is a place where young and old can
happily spend a few days ensconced in natural beauty, beautiful art and friendly folk.
At just under two square miles, downtown Yellow Springs is extremely walkable. Dozens
of eateries, pubs, shops and galleries are located within a few-block radius – just park
your vehicle and start exploring. The stroll itself is like an outdoor museum, with colorful
murals adorning buildings and a collection of Yellow Springs Public Art displayed
throughout the village.
“One of the biggest things that makes Yellow Springs special is the vibrancy of the
community. You are surrounded by colorful art everywhere and shops with so much
character,” said Phillip O’Rourke, executive director of the Yellow Springs Chamber.
“We also have natural beauty to enjoy all around. All demographic groups can enjoy
Yellow Springs.”
For all these reasons and more, Ohio Magazine named Yellow Springs one of Ohio’s
Best Hometowns for 2025-2026. In doing so, it said, “With a population of
approximately 3,700 residents, the village oozes creativity from every corner. Yellow
Springs has long promoted creativity and inclusivity, resulting in a place where the arts
and acceptance are part of the fabric of the community.”
In its early years, Yellow Springs was largely known as the home of Antioch College,
founded by Horace Mann in 1852 with a focus on the liberal arts, racial and gender
inclusivity, and progressive values. In 2007, faced with financial strain, the university
board suspended operations of the original college and closed the campus. A successful
grassroots campaign led by alumni resulted in the independent college resuming
operations in 2011. Its most recent graduating class had 15 members.
No description of Yellow Springs would be complete without mentioning hometown
legend and comedian Dave Chappelle. He attended middle school in the town and moved
back in 2004. “Dave is an international superstar who brings Yellow Springs into
conversations and raises awareness of the town,” O’Rourke said. “He and his family are
community members, and he supports Yellow Springs in incredible ways.”
One of Chappelle’s recent investments helped to save WYSO, the National Public Radio
affiliate station. His real estate company invested millions to purchase and transform the
historic Union Schoolhouse into the station's state-of-the-art broadcast facility. Six years
ago, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the star began hosting comedy shows in
cornfields. Then, he purchased the town’s old fire station and converted it into a 140-seat comedy club. These shows bring thousands of visitors to Yellow Springs each year and have a huge economic impact.
“If it were not for some of the things (Chappelle) did after COVID, many of our businesses may not have survived. He invests his time, energy and resources, not just money. Other local property owners do the same, but because of who he is, his help is invaluable – and it’s a call to action for others,” O’Rourke said.
Visitors to Yellow Springs will find several accommodation options downtown, including three Airbnb rentals and the charming Mills Park Hotel, with its vintage-style shutters, oak floors, and Amish-crafted furniture. Ellie’s Restaurant on the hotel’s first floor offers Southern favorites and American staples.
The close proximity of natural attractions is another reason to enjoy Yellow Springs. Glen Helen Nature Preserve (1,000 acres and 25 miles of hiking trails) lies immediately to the east and is home to the town’s namesake the Yellow Iron Spring. The spring water, sought out by many for its curative properties, runs clear, but as the iron settles out, it stains the surrounding rocks yellow.
Bordering Glen Helen is the 752-acre John Bryan State Park, often viewed as the most scenic state park in western Ohio because of a limestone gorge carved by the Little Miami River. More limestone and dolomite gorges can be seen at the 258-acre Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve adjacent to the park. Six climbing sites and one rappel site are located along the limestone cliffs.
A portion of the 78-mile Little Miami Scenic Trail – the fourth longest paved trail in the U.S. – winds through Yellow Springs. This multiuse trail traverses wooded terrain and follows the banks of the river for which it is named. It is suitable for bikers, hikers, joggers and horseback riders. It is one of five major paved trails in Greene County, all of which connect at Xenia Station, located about 10 miles from Yellow Springs.
Greene County is home to many other interesting attractions, including the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, just north of Dayton. The museum is featuring “Iconic Starfighters: Rivals of the Silver Screen,” an exhibit with two full-scale, fan-created spacecraft inspired by “Star Wars” on display until the end of the year.
If you want to time your visit to Yellow Springs with an event, here are some taking
place this fall:
The 30th annual U.S. Air Force Marathon weekend, Sept. 17-19: This is a Boston
marathon-qualifying course and part of the Armed Forces Series Challenge, with
additional race options including a half marathon, 10K, 5K and Kids Run (1K).
Yellow Springs Porchfest, Sept. 19. This hugely popular event is “a tour with
music.” It takes you right to the front porches of the unique homes downtown,
which host a variety of bands playing throughout the day.
Yellow Springs Film Festival, Oct. 1-4. Now in its fourth year, the event has
become one of the largest film festivals in the region.
Yellow Springs Street Fair, Oct. 10. This semi-annual event has been held for 30
years, and includes visiting vendors, food trucks, kid zones and music.
Holiday in the Springs, from Thanksgiving weekend until Dec. 31. A host of
events, including the legendary Lights of Clifton Mill, with more than 5 million
lights illuminating the mill, the gorge, the riverbanks, trees and bridges. There is
even a 100 foot “waterfall” of twinkling lights.