Where to Go Skydiving near Akron, Ohio

Ready to see Akron, Ohio, and the surrounding areas differently? Try skydiving. Three places, all within an hour’s drive of Akron, will take you on a tandem skydive where you’ll soar above northeast Ohio, providing you with a once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll never forget.

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What to Expect When Going Skydiving

Photo via UnSplash by Neora Aylon

If you’ve never gone skydiving before, you probably have many questions about what to expect. While your instructor will provide all the information you need on the day of your jump, it’s a good idea to prepare yourself ahead of time.

Learn the Requirements

The United States Parachuting Association (USPA) is the governing body for skydiving in the United States. Any organization you choose to skydive with should employ USPA-rated instructional personnel. The USPA requires skydivers to be 18 years of age or older. When all USPA guidelines are followed, skydiving is an extremely safe sport.

Eat Breakfast

Don’t let nerves prevent you from eating a healthy breakfast. A breakfast high in protein, such as eggs or oatmeal, is a good choice. If you’re too nervous to eat much, try a smoothie.

Stay Hydrated

It’s easy to overlook signs of dehydration when you’re excited or anxious, so sip water before and after your jump. The effects of dehydration are magnified at high altitudes, so it’s essential to stay hydrated.

Wear the Right Clothes

Dress in layers. Temperatures drop at higher altitudes, and dressing in layers will allow you to stay comfortable when you’re on the ground preparing for your jump as well as when you’re 10,000 feet in the air. Check to see if the group you’re skydiving with provides jumpsuits. A jumpsuit will keep you warm and prevent grass stains on your clothes when you land.

Cleveland Skydiving Center

The Cleveland Skydiving Center is located about 45 minutes from Akron in Portage County. The center, which employs USPA-rated instructors, can accommodate groups of up to 10 tandem pairs at a time. When you register for your skydive, you’re scheduling an arrival time, not a jump time. Jump times are based on the length of the orientation and weather conditions, so plan to spend about half the day at the site. It’s unlikely you’ll be there for that long, but allowing extra time may let you wait out bad weather or any other issues that may occur.

If you want to hang out for a little while after your jump, the Cleveland Skydiving Center’s hangar contains several large televisions for post-jump review, as well as a lounge, kitchen, and bunk room equipped with bunk beds. Instructors build bonfires on some weekend nights, creating a fun, all-day experience for those interested. 

Note that jumpers must weigh less than 230 pounds, without exception. Jumpsuits are available upon request, and a photo and video package is available for an additional fee. Cleveland Skydiving Center welcomes those looking for a fun way to spend the day and those interested in becoming proficient in the sport by offering an Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) course. AFF is a popular program that trains students to jump independently and is the first step toward becoming a licensed skydiver.

Canton Air Sports

Canton Air Sports is located in Stark County, about half an hour south of Akron. Canton Air typically uses a Cessna 182 with room for two instructors and two students. On special weekends, Canton Air leases a bigger aircraft to accommodate larger groups. To start your jump, you’ll ascend to altitudes of between 9,000 and 14,000 feet. During your tandem jump with your USPA-rated instructor, you’ll free-fall at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour before your parachute opens and you glide back to earth.

Canton Air Sports has a weight limit of 220 pounds but will allow people weighing up to 250 pounds in some cases. Those weighing over 220 pounds should call and talk to an instructor before making a reservation. While the regular jumping season starts the first weekend of April and ends the second weekend of November, warm weather sometimes allows for a more extended season.

Plan to spend about four hours at the site on the day of your jump. Book online, but if you’re unable to make a reservation, give them a call. Instructors can often arrange their schedules to accommodate more people than the online system will allow. Canton Air Sports offers military, student, and public service personnel discounts. 

AerOhio Skydiving Center

AerOhio started in 1950 as the Akron Skydivers Club and transitioned to a business in the 1990s. Located in Ashland, about an hour’s drive from Akron, AerOhio’s USPA-certified instructors have completed thousands of training hours, going well beyond the minimum required for certification.

After arrival, guests complete an orientation that typically lasts about twenty minutes. After orientation, the center’s Super Grand Caravan airplane, which can accommodate up to 16 people, will take jumpers to the jump zone, which is at an altitude of between 10,000 and 13,000 feet.

AerOhio is happy to accommodate more experienced skydivers and those new to the sport. To participate in jumps for experienced skydivers, you must be a USPA member, have a current reserve pack card, and present a current logbook. Rental rigs are available for licensed skydivers. Wingsuit jumping, a type of skydiving where participants soar through the air wearing a specially designed, inflatable suit, is known for experienced skydivers. After completing 200 jumps, you can start working on your first Wingsuit Jumps Course.

Book online to reserve your skydiving experience. Jumps occur Tuesday through Sunday, weather permitting. The maximum weight for skydivers is 250 pounds, and a video and picture package is available for purchase at an additional cost.

Let Us Know How To Stay Active & Connected in Northeast Ohio

We hope this list helps you plan your next big adventure. If we’ve missed a skydiving opportunity that you know of, please reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to add it to our list. Just reach out to us at Volkswagen of Streetsboro, and we’ll add it to our list. We look forward to hearing from you!