Land for sale in Washington County, Ohio

Local land guide

From forest roads to riverfront Marietta, enjoy the whole county

Washington County rewards the curious driver. Around Cutler, where Countrytyme's current Millstone Caves properties are located, the landscape is all wooded ridges, hollows and quiet country roads. Continue east and the county opens onto the Muskingum and Ohio rivers at Marietta, with brick streets, historic buildings and boats along the levee. A property visit here can feel like two outings in one: backcountry Ohio first, cheerful river town afterward.

The Wayne National Forest's Marietta Unit is the outdoor anchor. Hiking and mountain-bike trails cross rugged forest near old homesteads, rock formations and covered bridges. The Archer's Fork loop is a bigger backcountry challenge, while shorter routes and the National Forest Covered Bridge Scenic Byway make it possible to enjoy the landscape at a gentler pace. Public hunting is available under current Forest Service and Ohio rules, and the Little Muskingum River can offer a beautiful paddle when water levels are right.

When you reach Marietta, walk or bike part of the river trail, a paved route that follows the Ohio and Muskingum through the historic district. Then let someone else do the navigating aboard the Valley Gem Sternwheeler. Narrated sightseeing, dinner and lock cruises make the county's river history feel wonderfully alive. We love the moment a sternwheeler rounds the bend and Marietta's waterfront comes back into view.

History is everywhere downtown. Campus Martius Museum preserves the Rufus Putnam House and interprets the beginning of the Northwest Territory. The Castle offers tours and special events inside a dramatic Gothic Revival home. For evening entertainment, Peoples Bank Theatre brings nationally known music, comedy, movies and family programming to a beautifully restored venue.

Breakfast at the Busy Bee is our happy start to a Marietta day. The kitchen builds scratch breakfast and lunch around local meat, eggs and seasonal produce. For dinner with a river view, the Levee House Bistro feels like a reward for a full day outdoors.

The annual Rivers, Trails and Ales Festival combines paddling, group rides, food, music and family fun. September's Ohio River Sternwheel Festival fills the levee with boats, entertainment and fireworks. Use the Countrytyme GPS link for the property visit, then take the scenic route. Washington County's forests and rivers deserve the extra miles.

More Washington County experiences, from back roads to brick streets

Forest, river and scenic-drive adventures

• Wayne National Forest's Marietta Unit - Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping and river access spread across rugged southeastern Ohio forest. Leith Run and State Route 26 scenery make the drive part of the attraction; use Forest Service maps for serious backcountry routes.
• Marietta Trail Systems - One guide opens several very different outings: the accessible 3.5-mile River Trail, rugged city singletrack and the 500-acre Broughton Nature area. Choose the route that suits the group and save the others for next time.
• Washington County Covered Bridge Tour - Nine public covered bridges make a wonderfully photogenic self-guided drive. The eastern loop follows paved roads, while the more rugged western route includes dirt surfaces and is best saved for good weather and an appropriate vehicle.
• Valley Gem Sternwheeler - Narrated sightseeing, dinner, lock, foliage and specialty cruises bring the county's river story to life. Regular operations generally run April through December, with reservations and schedules varying by cruise.

History that feels wonderfully close

• Campus Martius Museum - Built around the original 1788 fortress site and Rufus Putnam House, three floors of exhibits explore the Northwest Territory and early Ohio. It is the essential stop for understanding why Marietta looks and feels different from other river towns.
• The Castle - Guided tours reveal an exceptional Gothic Revival home, while teas, concerts, workshops and seasonal ghost programs keep the calendar lively. We would happily arrange a visit around one of the special events.
• Hidden Marietta - History walks, ancient-earthworks outings, cemetery explorations and ghost tours reveal stories easy to miss from the sidewalk. Individual tours run on selected dates and may require advance booking; the curiosity shop is fun even before nightfall.
• Peoples Bank Theatre - National music, comedy, movies and family programming fill a beautifully restored downtown theater. Browse the active calendar before your county trip and reserve the best seats early.

Marietta food, shopping and riverfront hospitality

• Busy Bee Restaurant - Scratch-made breakfast and lunch feature local meat, eggs and seasonal produce in a warm neighborhood setting. Starting here makes the whole day feel friendlier.
• Levee House Bistro - Seafood, hand-cut steaks, pasta and house desserts come with seasonal patio views toward the river. It is a lovely dinner reward after trails, museums or a sternwheeler cruise.
• Historic Harmar Tavern - Marietta's oldest tavern serves the playfully named “Sure to be Famous Bologna Sandwich” and plenty of local character on the west side of the Muskingum. Cross the footbridge and make it part of a Harmar stroll.
• McKenna's Market - Deli food, candies, ice cream and regional take-home treats fill a restored Front Street storefront. It is ideal for a picnic supply run or edible souvenir.
• Lafayette Hotel - The historic riverfront hotel sits at the meeting of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers with downtown outside the door. Choose it when character and walkability matter more than anonymous-roadside convenience.

River-town celebrations with big personality

• Rivers, Trails and Ales Festival - Group rides, paddles, a raft race, music and craft beer make this free family-friendly weekend a perfect expression of active Marietta. Some beer and paddle activities require separate tickets or registration.
• Ohio River Sternwheel Festival - Authentic sternwheelers, free entertainment and fireworks transform the levee each September. The official event page carries current dates, schedules and visitor details.
• Washington County festival calendar - The county fair, Belpre Homecoming, Sweetcorn Festival, Barlow Fair, Lowell Octoberfest and Scary-Etta give almost every season a hometown celebration. Browse the live calendar and pick the event closest to your property trip.

More information:
• Marietta-Washington County trip planning — https://mariettaohio.org/
• 2026 visitor guide — https://mariettaohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-Visitor-guide.pdf
• Outdoor recreation and trails — https://mariettaohio.org/imba-trail-town/
• Current events — https://mariettaohio.org/events/categories/