Zanesville, OH

Zanesville, Ohio is the county seat of Muskingum County, situated in the gently rolling hills of east-central Ohio. With a population of roughly 25,000, it carries the feel of a mid-sized small city that still carries the weight of a much larger industrial past. Long known as "The Pottery Capital of the World" for its 19th- and 20th-century ceramic industry, Zanesville also sits at the western end of the historic National Road and serves as a natural gateway to southeastern Ohio's outdoor offerings. The nearest major city is Columbus, the state capital, which lies approximately 60 miles to the west along Interstate 70.

The Y-Bridge is Zanesville's most photographed landmark, a roughly three-pronged structure where the Licking River meets the Muskingum and the bridge follows the angle of the confluence. The current steel-and-concrete span opened in 1984, replacing earlier versions that date back to 1814, and it remains one of the very few Y-shaped road bridges in the United States. Visitors can walk across it for a striking view of the two rivers and the downtown riverfront below.

About 20 minutes southeast of town, The Wilds offers a different kind of Ohio experience. It is a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park set on reclaimed strip-mined land, where guests can take guided bus or open-air tours to see giraffes, rhinos, bison, and other species roaming expansive pastures. Operated in partnership with the Columbus Zoo, the property also includes overnight lodging, a zip line, and horseback riding, making it an easy full-day destination from a Zanesville base.

Roughly 30 miles north in neighboring Coshocton, Historic Roscoe Village is a restored 1830s canal town along the old Ohio and Erie Canal. Costumed interpreters, horse-drawn canal boat rides, period craft demonstrations, and inns styled after the era give visitors a tangible sense of life along the canal in the mid-19th century. The village is especially lively during its annual Apple Butter Stirrin' Festival each fall, which draws visitors from across the region.

Zanesville combines an unhurried small-city character with surprisingly broad access to regional attractions, from pottery and sculpture heritage to wildlife safaris and canal-era history. That mix of affordable small-town setting, a walkable downtown riverfront, and proximity to destinations like The Wilds and Historic Roscoe Village makes it a practical and well-rounded base for short-term rental guests exploring east-central and southeastern Ohio.