Overall Route Rating
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4.15 out of 5 Rider Rating 4.15
13 Reviews

Motorcycle Route Author

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By Creighton2012 (5 McR Points) on Apr 22, 2012

Rider Reviews

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Harleyfanatic
July 14, 2016
Just rode Rt 56 last weekend. A group of us…
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Guest
May 28, 2012
We turned on 56 from 691 and headed West. I…
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Written Directions

Begins by taking route 56 off of Route 4 just south of Urbana, OH, and ends in Athens, OH

Scenery

This route starts in Heartland farms full of golden wheat and green grass, takes a dive into the deep green of Hocking Hills, and ends up with the Appalachian foothill vistas of rural southern Ohio.

Drive Enjoyment

This route begins in soft swelling, wide turning farmland south of Urbana, and turns into a twisty green cavern as it winds its way through Hocking Hills, ending up in Athens and its gorgeous green rolling hills. The pavement is at worst a bit rough, and through the twisty Hocking Hills State park, the pavement is nigh perfect.

Tourism Opportunities

Make sure you gas up! London is the first real stop after Urbana, followed by Circleville, and while there are plenty of little towns along the way, the route is so rural you can go for quite some time without seeing another gas station. Jimbos in Bloomingville and the Smiling Skull Saloon in Athens are both great joints to stop at.
 

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Harleyfanatic
July 14, 2016
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
Just rode Rt 56 last weekend. A group of us picked up Rt 56 out of Circleville and rode Southeast toward Athens. Out of Circleville you'll almost immediately end up in the Hocking Hills region. Not too curvy at first, but riding through the hills reminded me of Pennsylvania or upstate New York. As you begin to ride into the heart of Hocking Hills, the road becomes more hilly and more curvy. Riding through the woods was an almost immediate relief on a hot day, but don't take your concentration off the road. A few turns will come out of nowhere and will result in serious consequences if not negotiated properly. Our ride was done a couple days after a good storm went through. Although the majority of the route was dry, there was standing water on a blind curve! Luckily the curve requires slow speeds to negotiate so we made it through unscathed. Use caution if riding in the rain or even a couple days after a rain!
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Guest
May 28, 2012
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
We turned on 56 from 691 and headed West. I really enjoyed the riding. The road meandered through some really nice areas. I'm really surprised 691 is not on the site as a great road. They just repaved the road. We did encounter some gravel in the turns but should get better as they finish the shoulder.
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dn325ci
April 11, 2015
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring
I rode SR 56 from Circleville south to the intersection of SR 56 and SR 374. The scenery is beautiful, rural Ohio the whole way though the southern part as you get to Hocking Hills and beyond is just tremendous, curvy scenic fun. Be careful as you approach the SR 374 intersection, as the Old Man's Cave entrance area has lots of hikers & foot traffic on a nice days.
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2 riders found this road review useful