Understand
[edit]Local information
[edit]- Wapakoneta town website
Get in
[edit]
By plane
[edit]- 1 Neil Armstrong Airport AXV (AXV IATA), 7776 OH-219 (10 mi (16 km) southwest of the city center). A General aviation airport.
Wapakoneta is about 10 miles northeast of the Neil Armstrong airport in neighboring New Knoxville as well as roughly 16.5 miles southeast from the Lima Allen County Regional Airport (AOH IATA), 700 Airport Dr, Lima, OH 45804. Wapakoneta is also a 50-minute drive from the Dayton International Airport (DAY IATA), a 1½-hour drive from John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH IATA), and a 1½-hour drive from Toledo Express Airport (TOL IATA).
By car
[edit]Wapakoneta lies on i-75 and US-33. Wapakoneta is accessible North and South by exits 111 and 113 on i-75 as well as being accessible East and West by exits 38B, 37, 36, and 35 on US-33.
Get around
[edit]In the city center, the main hub is East Auglaize Street, which runs east–west just south of the Auglaize River. This street passes through Wapakoneta's historic downtown district, home to many of the city’s small local businesses, including antique shops, eateries, a coffee shop, and more. Downtown also hosts key community events like the Wapakoneta Summer Moon Festival in early July and the Children’s Hometown Holiday celebration in December.
To the southeast of town lies Wapakoneta’s major commercial and dining corridor along Bellefontaine Street, about one mile from downtown. Locals often refer to this area as “Hamburger Road” due to the many fast food options such as McDonald’s and Burger King. It also includes local favorites like El Azteca, La Neta Mexican Grill, and Max’s Dairy Bar. This district features the city’s primary shopping destinations, including Walmart, Aldi, Dollar Tree, and Lowe’s. At the eastern end of Bellefontaine Street, Interstate 75 (Exit 111) and U.S. Route 33 (Exit 38B) intersect near the TA Truck Stop. Located just east of this district along South Wood Street is one of Wapakoneta's most unique attractions: the Temple of Tolerance.
To the north of downtown, a secondary commercial corridor runs along Defiance Street and Lincoln Avenue. This area features additional dining and shopping options such as Happy Daz, RJ’s Coffey Cup, Community Market, and Dollar General. On the western end of the corridor is Grand View Plaza, a small strip mall offering a variety of local services and stores.
The Auglaize County Fairgrounds is located along West Auglaize Street, about 1.5 miles west of downtown. It has two entrances: one on Auglaize Street and another on Dearbaugh Avenue, which intersects Auglaize Street near the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office. The fairgrounds host events throughout the year, including the Auglaize County Fair in mid to late August, the St. Joseph 4th of July Festival, the Wapak Tug Fest in late May.
See
[edit]
| “ | One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. | ” |
—Neil Armstrong | ||
- 1 Armstrong Air & Space Museum, 500 Apollo Dr (just west of I-75 at exit 111), ☏ +1 419-738-8811, fax: +1 419 738-3361. Hours: M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM, holidays noon-5PM, closed on Thanksgiving. Dedicated to Wapakoneta-native Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the Moon. Adult $8, child 6 - 12 $4, child 5 & under free; school groups $3 per student.
- 2 Bicycle Museum of America, 7 W Monroe St, New Bremen, ☏ +1 419-629-9249.
- 3 Airstream Factory, 419 W Pike St, Jackson Center, toll-free: +1-877-596 6111. Factory tour of the iconic luxury trailer makers, once a day during the week.
- 4 Auglaize County Courthouse.
- 5 Wapakoneta Historical Museum, 206 W Main St.
- 6 The Temple of Tolerance (The Rock Garden), 203 S Wood St, ☏ +1 419-738-4474. 24/7. The Temple of Tolerance, also known locally as The Rock Garden, is a unique backyard art installation located in Wapakoneta’s city center. Built by local historian Jim Bowsher, the site features an eclectic collection of massive stones, monuments, and historical artifacts, arranged in a sprawling garden that encourages exploration and reflection. It's free to visit and open to the public year-round, offering a peaceful yet thought-provoking experience tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood. Free.
Do
[edit]- 1 Veterans Memorial Park.
- 2 Auglaize County Fair.
- 3 Summer Moon Festival. Early July.
- 4 Wapa Theater (Brown Theater), 15 Willipie St, ☏ +1 419-738-3718.
- 5 Escape Wapak, 1101 Lincoln Ave, ☏ +1 419-549-1684. Escape rooms, rage rooms, laser tag, nerf arena, paint rooms, and more.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Casa Chic, 109 W Auglaize St, ☏ +1 419 738-2298. Boutique-style gift shop offering home décor, jewelry, and seasonal items. A popular downtown stop for locals and visitors alike.
- 2 Auglaize Antique Mall, 116 W Auglaize St, ☏ +1 419-738-8004. A large antique store located just off downtown Wapakoneta. Features multiple vendor booths with vintage furniture, collectibles, memorabilia, and home décor. A great stop for treasure hunters and nostalgia lovers.
- 3 Relics, 114 W Auglaize St, ☏ +1 419-649-7588. A shop specializing in handcrafted and vintage-style Wapakoneta and Ohio-themed apparel and goods.
- 4 Dad's Toy Shop, 123 W Auglaize St, ☏ +1 419-738-2007. A classic hobby shop with RC cars, model trains, collectibles, and toys. Great for kids or nostalgic hobbyists.
Eat
[edit]- 1 J. Marie's Wood-Fired Kitchen and Drinks, 7 W Auglaize St, ☏ +1 419-674-2436. Excellent pizza, friendly staff, if a little slow service. Decor better than the pictures on the web site.
- 2 LaGrande Pizza & Subs, 16 S Blackhoof St, ☏ +1 419-738-6050.
- 3 RJ's Coffey Cup, 901 Defiance St, ☏ +1 419-738-2191.
- 4 Al’s Woody’s Diner, 9 N Wood St, ☏ +1 419-738-9111.
- 5 The Side Rail, 17 E Auglaize St, ☏ +1 419-738-6593.
- 6 The Whaling Knife, 11 Willipie St, ☏ +1 419-738-7888.
- 7 El Azteca, 1345 Bellefontaine St, ☏ +1 567-356-5226.
- 8 La Neta Mexican Grill, 1262 Bellefontaine St, ☏ +1 567-356-5226.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Alpha Cafe, 7 E Auglaize St, ☏ +1 419-738-2013.
- 2 Winans Coffee & Chocolate, 24 E Auglaize St, ☏ +1 419-738-7946.
- 3 Coffé Amor Roastery & Cafe, 7 N Water St, ☏ +1 567-319-9925.
- 4 Coffé Amor at Wapak YMCA, 1100 Defiance St, ☏ +1 419-204-0174.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Best Western Wapakoneta Inn, 1008 Lunar Drive, ☏ +1 419-738-2050.
- 2 Wingate By Wyndham Lima, 175 W Market St (close to Lima Airport), ☏ +1 419-228-7000.
- 3 Red Roof Inn & Suites Wapakoneta, 1659 Bellefontaine St, ☏ +1 419-738-2184. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM.
- 4 Super 8 by Wyndham Wapakoneta, 1011 Lunar Dr, ☏ +1 419-738-8810. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM.
Connect
[edit]- 1 Auglaize County Public Library, 203 S Perry St, ☏ +1 419-738-2921.
- 2 Wapakoneta Post Office.
Go next
[edit]- 6 Grand Lake St. Marys (Mercer County, west of Wapakoneta and south of Route 29.). 204 campsites, 166 are equipped with electricity. Facilities include flush toilets, laundry, showers, pet camping, swimming beach, boat launch, boat docks/tie-ups, five air-conditioned Camper Cabins, two spacious Cedar Cabins, naturalist scheduled programs, movies, Friday through Sunday night, boats have no limits on horsepower, seven launch ramps, fuel, boat rentals, seasonal dock rentals are available, wildlife refuge, fishing, hunting, 90 seasonal duck blinds, two public swimming beaches, camp store, games, bike and canoe rentals, miniature golf course, basketball, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and playground equipment.
| Routes through Wapakoneta |
| Toledo ← Lima ← | N  S
|
→ Sidney → Dayton |
Fort Wayne ← Jct  ←
|
W  E
|
→ Marysville → Columbus |