Explore, devour, and conquer your way through Ohio’s sweetest trail!
Butler County's Donut Trail makes for a pretty sweet road trip or weekend getaway. All you need is your passport and an empty stomach. Venture to mom-and-pop donut shops, get your passport stamped at each stop, and then redeem your passport for your Donut Trail T-Shirt.
If you want to be a true donut expert... use this as a guide for planning information, Donut Trail tips, other activities along the way, and more.
Top Tips
1. Grab a Passport: You can download your Official Passport and Trail Map online, pick one up at any of the Donut Shops, or pick one up at the Travel Butler County office in West Chester.
2. Planning a Birthday? There are a ton of people who do the Donut Trail as their birthday activity. If you are planning to complete the trail for a birthday celebration, you can print off our special Birthday Passport here!
3. Start Early: Please be sure to check each shop’s website or Facebook page for current days and hours of operation while planning your trip. We always recommend starting as early as possible! Please be aware that some donut shops are closed on Sundays and Mondays, and some shops will close for the day once they sell out, even if it’s before their scheduled closing time. Feel free to call ahead while you travel the trail as well.
4. Make It A Weekend: The Donut Trail is open for travel and can be completed at your own pace. Keep in mind the trail is self-guided, so you can start and finish wherever you'd like. Many Trailers like to make a road trip or weekend out of it. We recommend planning for at least two days, but it is possible to complete the Trail in one day with a very early start. The Donut Trail typically takes 4-5 hours to complete in one morning if you start before 7 AM.
5. Plan Your Route: The Donut Trail has been completed by people all over the world! Often, people ask, where is the Donut Trail? The trail includes mom-and-pop donut shops across many of Butler County's communities, so it helps if you plan your route before venturing off on your donut adventure. If you need any help planning your Donut Trail route, feel free to call the Donut Trail Concierge line at (513) 860-0917, and our Donut Trail expert will be glad to assist you.
6. Collect Your Sweet Reward - To redeem your passport and receive your Donut Trail T-shirt, please ensure that your passport is completely filled out before arriving at the Travel Butler County office. The office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 AM - 5 PM. If you complete the trail on the weekend, you may also drop your passport in the Donut Trail mailbox in the front vestibule of the office, and we will promptly ship your t-shirt directly to you!
Donut Trail T-Shirt Prize Pick Up Social Story
Learn more about picking up your t-shirt prize by downloading the social story.
7. Stay Close: After a day of exploring — and eating — you'll want a comfortable place to relax. Use our Where to Stay Resource with a complete list of places in the county — whether it's a hotel, bed & breakfast, or campground. We're here to help you find the perfect place to stay.
8. Do Some Research: For additional tips, advice, and planning info, check out these articles:
- Chevy New Roads Magazine | The Sweetest Road Trip
- USA Today | 10 Delicious Stops on the First Donut Trail in the Country
- Adventure Mom | What You Need to Know Before You Go on the Donut Trail
- Columbus on the Cheap | Butler County Donut Trail: The Sweetest Trail in Ohio
Last But Not Least...
BONUS TIP: Break up the day! We know... the Donut Trail is a lot of sugar, but it's so worth it. The good news is Butler County is full of other fun adventures to help you make the most out of your trip.
Cindy Wallis, Owner of Donut Trail Shop Jupiter Coffee & Donuts, said it best — "Make sure to stop at a burger joint or somewhere to eat halfway in between to get something salty, because your day is already sugar city!"
Activity-wise, we have compiled a quick list of some of our most popular attractions below.
Top Picks for Other Butler County Adventures
1. Jungle Jim's International Market: Jungle Jim's is one of Fairfield's greatest attractions and a food-lover's paradise! Venture inside for over 6.5 acres of wild foodie-fun. This is no typical grocery store with more than 200,000 items from 70 countries, a monorail, a bourbon bar, and nostalgic and quirky decor galore.
2. Holiday Auto Theatre: This Butler County staple is one of the last remaining and oldest drive-in theatres in Ohio! It's a great activity for everyone to enjoy while relaxing after a full day of donuts.
3. Liberty Center: Sip and stroll through this outdoor mall, grab a bite to eat, catch a movie, or have fun shopping around at the different stores. There's so much to see and do at this Liberty Township staple!
4. Nation Road Horse Rental: Ride horseback through scenic trails in Oxford at Nation Road Horse Rental. With four different guided trail rides, pony rides, and horses for any experience level — you can't go wrong with this activity!
5. Admire our Murals: From the StreetSpark murals throughout Hamilton, to the vibrant mural tour of Middletown, historical murals in Oxford, and the famous Kelsey Montague murals at Liberty Center, there is SO much colorful art to discover in Butler County.
