How to Plan Your Ohio Moonlight Journey: A Complete Guide

Completing the Ohio Moonlight Journey — visiting all 12 official Moonlight Lodges — is one of the most rewarding experiences available to Masons and Masonic enthusiasts in the Midwest. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to plan and execute your journey successfully.

Step 1: Understand the Moonlight Lodge Calendar

The 12 Moonlight Lodges hold their regular communications on or near the full moon each month. Your first step is to download our Moon Calendar, which lists the 2026 full moon dates alongside each lodge's scheduled meeting windows.

Because lodge meetings are tied to the lunar cycle, you'll visit lodges on a monthly schedule. Most journeyers complete the full circuit over 12 months — one lodge per full moon — though some ambitious brothers have completed the journey in as few as 6 months by attending two lodges per moon cycle.

Step 2: Map Your Route

The 12 lodges are spread across Ohio from the Lake Erie shoreline to the Ohio River valley. We recommend organizing your visits geographically to minimize driving. A few natural groupings:

• Southern Ohio Cluster: Western Sun No. 91 (Wheelersburg), Portland No. 366 (Oak Hill), Montgomery No. 94 (Hillsboro)
• Central Ohio Cluster: Several lodges accessible from Columbus within a 1-2 hour drive
• Northern Ohio Cluster: Lodges near the Lake Erie corridor

Step 3: Contact Each Lodge in Advance

Before arriving at any lodge, reach out by phone or email to confirm the meeting date and time, and to announce yourself as a visiting Mason or Moonlight Journey participant. Most lodges are extremely welcoming to visitors, but advance notice ensures you'll be properly accommodated.

Many lodges hold festive board dinners before or after their meetings — advance notice gives them the opportunity to include you in their hospitality planning.

Step 4: Bring Your Certificate

When you begin the Moonlight Journey, you'll receive an official Moonlight Journey certificate. This certificate is your travel document — bring it to every lodge you visit. The lodge secretary will stamp and date the section designated for that lodge, creating a permanent record of your visit directly on the certificate itself.

Step 5: Earn Your Certificate

Once you've visited all 12 lodges, submit your documentation through the Royal Scofield Society to receive your official Moonlight Journey certificate. This handsome document recognizes your dedication to Ohio Masonic heritage and serves as a lasting memento of your travels.

Practical Travel Tips

• Book lodging near each lodge — many of these communities have charming small-town hotels and bed-and-breakfasts.
• Drive the back roads — the scenic routes between lodges often pass through historic Ohio towns worth exploring.
• Combine with family travel — the regions surrounding most Moonlight Lodges offer excellent outdoor recreation, historic sites, and local dining.
• Connect with brothers along the way — the Masonic network in Ohio is strong; you'll often find that a phone call ahead opens doors to dinners, tours, and lasting friendships.

Start your journey today with our Moon Calendar and Journey Planner tools.