Cincinnati to Cleveland road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
The best road trip stops on the Cincinnati to Cleveland drive are Kings Island, Columbus and Mansfield. The distance from Cincinnati to Cleveland by car is 249 miles, with a 3h43m driving time.
Planning a Cincinnati to Cleveland road trip itinerary
A road trip from Cincinnati to Cleveland connects two of the biggest, most attraction-packed cities in Ohio. And it crosses the state from south to north in the process.
Top Cincinnati activities include underground tours – some with beer tasting – and food tours by streetcar. You can also try baseball history tours, indoor skydiving and guided ghost walks.
The best attractions in Cleveland include the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland History Center. Alternatively, Cleveland tour options focus on neighbourhood food scenes, the city’s best craft breweries and Downtown’s public art.
Cincinnati to Cleveland distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Cincinnati to Cleveland is 249 miles. You can expect a driving time of around three hours and 43 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-71.
The best stops along the Cincinnati to Cleveland road trip route are Kings Island, Columbus and Mansfield.
Cincinatti to Cleveland drive: Kings Island
Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, should fulfil all your theme park requirements. There are several thrill rides, including the giant frisbee-style Delirium, the shuttle-style Invertigo and Banshee, an inverted rollercoaster with seven inversions.
The Planet Snoopy section is more geared towards families and Coney Mall has rides that hark back to traditional fairgrounds.
Access to the Soak City water park is included in the ticket price.
Cincinnati to Cleveland road trip stops: Columbus
Columbus is the capital of Ohio, and has a series of worthy attractions. None are top tier must-sees, but several are pretty darned good.
In Columbus, a three day attractions pass covers most of the top sights. These include the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. For other Columbus experiences, try scavenger hunts, a town tour aboard the Trolley Pub and the Legoland Discovery Center.
Best attractions between Cincinnati and Cleveland: Mansfield
There are several attractions in the small Ohio city of Mansfield. These include the Buckeye Imagination Museum, which provides hands-on, play-based learning for kids, and historic Oak Hill Cottage.
The highlight, however, is the Ohio State Reformatory. This former prison offers several guided tours, including one with a Shawshank Redemption theme. The film was shot here. Other tours go into executions and life behind bars.
More Cincinnati road trips
Akron to Cincinnati | Cincinnati to Atlanta | Cincinnati to Boston | Cincinnati to Buffalo | Cincinnati to Chicago | Columbus to Cincinnati | Cincinnati to Dallas | Cincinnati to Denver | Cincinnati to Detroit | Cincinnati to Houston | Cincinnati to Kansas City | Cincinnati to Knoxville | Cincinnati to Indianapolis | Louisville to Cincinnati | Cincinnati to Memphis | Nashville to Cincinnati | Cincinnati to New Orleans | Cincinnati to New York City | Cincinnati to Niagara Falls | Philadelphia to Cincinnati | Pittsburgh to Cincinnati.
More Cleveland road trips
Cleveland to Atlanta | Cleveland to Baltimore | Cleveland to Buffalo | Cleveland to Chicago | Columbus to Cleveland | Dallas to Cleveland | Dayton to Cleveland | Cleveland to Detroit | Indianapolis to Cleveland | Louisville to Cleveland | Cleveland to Nashville | Cleveland to New Orleans | Cleveland to Niagara Falls | Cleveland to Philadelphia | Pittsburgh to Cleveland | St Louis to Cleveland | Toledo to Cleveland.