Yellow Springs

Yellow Springs is a village in Southwestern Ohio. It is home to Antioch College.

Understand

Antioch Hall, Antioch College

Yellow Springs in the Glen Helen Nature Preserve

The Village of Yellow Springs was founded in 1825. It was named for a natural spring rich in iron ore in Glen Helen. Legend has it that if you drink from the spring you will always return.

In the conservative stronghold of Southwest Ohio not far from a major air force base, Yellow Springs has the reputation for being an island of left-wing activism supported by its small liberal arts school, Antioch College. Some locals go as far as to call it the Berkeley of Ohio. When school is in session, people watching is an interesting event given the personalities this college attracts.

The Village offers some of the best dining in the Dayton area, along with several artisan groups and a downtown bustling with side-walk shops. All of this lies a short distance from Ohio's best natural area, including John Bryan State Park and Glen Helen.

The Village can get quite congested on warm-weathered weekends, but nearly all of its attractions are open during weekdays, which offer less in the way of crowds. As of the 2000 census the population was 3,761.

Visitor Information

• Yellow Springs Ohio. Additional visitor information for Yellow Springs. (updated Dec 2018)

Get in

By car

Yellow Springs is on route 68, just 7 1/2 miles south of route I-70. It is approximately a half hour drive from Dayton, and a one hour drive from Columbus. Dayton is serviced by the James M. Cox Dayton International Airport. Columbus is serviced by John Glenn Columbus International Airport. Rental cars are available at both locations.

By bus

The Greyhound bus stops in Springfield, a 15-minute drive from Yellow Springs and too far to walk.

By bicycle

Yellow Springs is accessible by the excellent system of bicycle trails thanks to Ohio's Rails to Trails program. A 10 mile ride south on the trail will lead to Xenia; continuing further takes you to Cincinnati. Parking and access to the trail, are available at the Chamber of Commerce which also houses public restrooms.

Get around

Yellow Springs is 1.9 square miles. The downtown area is easily walkable. It is relatively flat and a great town to get around by foot or on a bike. Bike rentals are available at Corner Cone, at the corner of Dayton and Walnut Streets, during its open season. If you want to visit any of the attractions outside of the town you will need a car. Yellow Springs has limited public transportation through Greene County's GreeneCATS program.

See

Solar Panels and Sheep Grazing in Yellow Springs

“ Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity. ”

—Antioch College motto

Despite its small size, Yellow Springs punches above its weight in cultural attractions.

• Little Art Theatre. Intimate theatre showing a savvy mix of mainstream and independent films. Operating since 1929, renovated in 2013 for digital projection. 
• Young's Jersey Dairy (one mile north of Yellow Springs). Young's offers miniature golf, batting cages, a driving range and a petting zoo. The Golden Jersey Inn serves "home-style country cooked meals", handmade ice cream and gelato. 
• 1 National Museum of the United States Air Force (in nearby Fairborn). 400 aerospace vehicles, and an abundance of historical items. Admission to the museum is free, however there is a fee for the Imax theater. Free.  
• Clifton Mill. Built in 1802 is one of the largest water powered grist mills. Here you can tour the mill, visit the 1940s Gas Station Museum and even cross the Little Miami River on a ninety foot covered bridge. 
• 2 Antioch College. A historic college in Yellow Springs (updated Dec 2018)
• 3 Antioch University Midwest. Separate from Antioch College. (updated Mar 2019)
• Coretta Scott King Center for Cultural and Intellectual Freedom, 1020 Livermore St, cskc@antiochcollege.edu. Gives community lectures and talks on civil rights and non-violence. Founded by Coretta Scott King, the wife of Martin Luther King Jr who once studied here. (updated Dec 2021)

Do

Little Miami Scenic Trail

There are lots of outdoor activities in and around Yellow Springs.

• 1 Glen Helen Nature Preserve. Lovely woods with walking trails and (as of 2024) a huge beaver dam. This preserve is also home to the iron-rich yellow spring that gives the town its name. Legend has it that if you drink from the spring, you'll always want to come back to Yellow Springs. In Glen Helen there is also a Raptor Center dedicated to the rehabilitation of birds of prey. You can see some of the permanently disabled birds in outdoor cages, and there are flight cages for birds who are recovering. (updated Apr 2024)
• 2 Clifton Gorge. A 268-acre State Nature Preserve adjoining the nearby Village of Clifton. It has many geological and botanical features. Great for hiking.  
• 3 John Bryan State Park (a few minutes outside Yellow Springs adjacent to Clifton Gorge). The park offers camping, fishing, hunting, canoeing, mountain biking, rock climbing and repelling.  
• Little Miami Scenic Trail. A linear park with 72 paved miles for biking, jogging, roller blading, or walking. 

Festivals

• Yellow Springs Street Fair. Happens twice a year. On the second Saturdays of June and October the main streets in town are closed for vendors, live music and international cuisine. (updated Dec 2018)

Buy

Shops in Yellow Springs

Yellow Springs has a plethora of independent shops and artisans.

• Bonadies Glasstudio. 
• 1 Dark Star Books and Comics, 237 Xenia Ave, ☏ +1 937 767-9400. Su–Th 11AM–5PM, F Sa 11AM–6PM. (updated Jun 2024)
• Winds Wine Cellar and Bakery, 209 Xenia Ave. 
• 2 Yellow Springs Pottery, 222 Xenia Ave. (updated Jun 2024)

Eat

Yellow Springs offers many dining options with something to please every palate.

• Bentinos Pizza, 1/2 Xenia Avenue, ☏ +1 937-767-2500. 107. Regional chain serving pizza, salads, pasta, calzones and wings. Delivery available. 
• Corner Cone Dairy Bar and Grill. Soft serve ice-cream, burgers, fries and shakes. Outside seating only. Open seasonally. 
• Current Cuisine. Delicatessen and bakery with indoor and outdoor tables. Catering available. 
• Dino's Cappuccinos, 225 Xenia Ave, ☏ +1 937-767-3466. A cozy, independent espresso bar with coffee and tea drinks and pastries. (updated Mar 2018)
• Emporium Wines and the Underdog Cafe. Fresh bread, croissants, sandwiches, coffee and newspapers. Breakfast is served Tu-Su until 11:30AM. 
• HA HA Pizza, 108 Xenia Ave, ☏ +1 937-767-2131. An independent restaurant serving pizza, subs and calzone with a well stocked salad bar. Vegetarian entrees. Delivery available. 
• Sunrise Cafe. Lovingly prepared food using local and organic ingredients. Vegetarian and vegan entrees. Wine list. 
• Winds Cafe and Bakery. Fine dining with an extensive wine list, on premises bakery and homemade desserts, espresso and mixed drinks. Menu changes monthly. Special events include the Annual Garlic Dinner. 

Drink

Ye Olde Trail Tavern

• Dayton Street Gulch, 128 Dayton St, ☏ +1 937-767-9027. This hometown favorite dive draws an eclectic crowd. Pool table. 
• Peach's Grill, 104 Xenia Ave, ☏ +1 937-767-4850. Live music in the evenings. A great selection of sandwiches, wraps and Mexican entrees. Domestic and imported Beers on tap, wine and spirits. 
• Ye Olde Trail Tavern, 228 Xenia Ave, ☏ +1 937-767-7448. Serving cold beer and great bar food in an 1844 log cabin, the original structure was once a stop on the Underground Railroad. Over forty beers and wines to choose from. Enjoy one in front of the fireplace, in the solarium or out on the deck. (updated Dec 2018)
• Yellow Springs Brewery (YS Brewery), 305 N. Walnut St., ☏ +1 937-767-0222. W-F 3-10PM; Sa 1-10PM; Su 1-6PM. Enjoy fresh craft brews directly out of the tap. Seasonal selections change weekly with many favorites always available. The beautiful taproom is also an art gallery featuring a wide array of local and regional artists. Brewery tours every Saturday at 4 pm. Enjoy the deck overlooking the Little Miami Scenic Trail. 

Sleep

There are many comfortable and unique places to stay in Yellow Springs

• Arthur Morgan House Bed and Breakfast. 
• Grinnell Mill Bed & Breakfast. 
• The Springs Motel. 
• Jail House Suites, 111 N. Winter St (one block from downtown), ☏ +1 937 626-2227. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM. Fully renovated historic town jail offers a contemporary private suite for short term stays. $75-110. 
• Mills Park Hotel, 321 Xenia Ave. 7, ☏ +1 937-319 0400. (updated Mar 2018)

Connect

• 1 Yellow Springs Community Library (Yellow Springs Branch Library), 415 Xenia Avenue, ☏ +1 937-352-4003. Offers free Wi-Fi and public computers. (updated Nov 2018)

Cope

WYSO broadcast station

• 2 WYSO (91.3). An NPR Affiliate with local programming run by Antioch College. (updated Dec 2018)

Go next

The cities of Columbus and Cincinnati are each about an hour's drive from Yellow Springs if you are looking for a more urban setting.

Routes through Yellow Springs

Findlay ← Springfield ←

N  S

→ Xenia → Wilmington