The Little Miami River cascading through the narrow rocky walls of Clifton Gorge surrounded by lush green forest near John Bryan State Park, Yellow Springs, Ohio
📷 Matt Kozlowski / CC BY 2.5

Ohio · United States

Cycling in Yellow Springs

Best season: April–October

Yellow Springs is the kind of small town rail-trail riders plan whole days around. It sits on the Little Miami Scenic Trail, a paved corridor of roughly 78 miles running from the Cincinnati suburbs northeast to Springfield, and the village — nine flat miles north of Xenia — makes a natural turnaround: coffee, murals, record shops and Young’s Jersey Dairy ice cream a short spin from the path, with Glen Helen nature preserve and John Bryan State Park just east of town.

Xenia Station, the restored rail hub down the trail, is where the region opens up. Five trails meet there, including the Prairie Grass Trail east toward Cedarville — part of the Ohio to Erie Trail’s cross-state route — so century-hunters and family riders both leave happy.

You don’t need to bring a bike. The Mills Park Hotel in the village center has rented cruisers to guests (call ahead — it’s seasonal), a summer bike stand rents vintage rides downtown, and a full-service shop sits across from the trail in Xenia. In Cedarville, the Hearthstone Inn fronts the trail directly and rents standard and tandem bikes by the hour or day, with in-room bike storage for riders passing through.

The corridor is shaded and gentle — old rail grade the whole way — so the season runs April through October, with fall color along the river gorges the local favorite. Summer weekends get busy near trailheads; start early for the quietest miles.

Weather in Yellow Springs

Live · NWS

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Typical by month

avg high/low · 1991–2020 normals · NEW CARLISLE
  1. Jan 38° 17° 3.2"
  2. Feb 41° 20° 2.4"
  3. Mar 52° 29° 3.3"
  4. Apr 64° 38° 4.3"
  5. May 74° 49° 4.5"
  6. Jun 82° 59° 4.4"
  7. Jul 86° 62° 4.5"
  8. Aug 84° 60° 3.1"
  9. Sep 78° 54° 3.2"
  10. Oct 66° 42° 2.9"
  11. Nov 53° 32° 3.1"
  12. Dec 42° 24° 3.1"

Bike-friendly hotels

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Guest bike rental Verified

Hearthstone Inn & Suites

Cedarville country inn sitting directly on the Ohio to Erie / Prairie Grass Trail (one hub from the Little Miami trail via Xenia Station) that rents bikes from $10/hour or $39/day, tandems included, with in-room bike storage allowed.

Before you book: Confirm 2026 rental rates, fleet size, helmets/locks, and whether trail-through cyclists can rent without staying.

Check rates ↗

Bike program verified via source (2026-07-11)

Guest bike rental Verified

Mills Park Hotel

Boutique hotel in the middle of Yellow Springs that rents cruiser bikes to guests (seasonal) about a mile from the Little Miami Scenic Trail; a past package bundled a 3-hour two-cruiser rental.

Before you book: Rental pages on the hotel's site look dated — call 937-319-0400 to confirm the program is running in 2026, current rates, and whether bikes are reservable.

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Bike program verified via source (2026-07-11)

Where to rent or borrow a bike

Rental shop Call to confirm

Bri's Bike Stand

From $20/2 hours

Vintage-bike rental stand in Kings Yard, downtown Yellow Springs — 15 refurbished bikes (riders 10+), $20/2 hr, $30/4 hr, $40/day; weekends noon–6 p.m., weekdays by reservation, through Labor Day.

Call ahead: Newspaper-sourced (opened July 2025, no website found) — confirm the stand is back for the 2026 season and current hours.

Details ↗

Reported via source (2026-07-11)

Rental shop Verified

K&G Bike Center

From $8/hour

Full-service shop at 594 N Detroit St, Xenia, across the street from the Little Miami Scenic Trail near the Xenia Station hub — rents bikes, tandems, kid trailers and trail-a-bikes at $8/hr or $32/day (2-hour minimum).

Call ahead: Confirm current hours and waiver requirement at (937) 372-2555.

Details ↗

Verified via source (2026-07-11)

Where these are on the map Yellow Springs

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