Cincinnati to Niagara Falls road trip: Drive time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Cincinnati to Niagara Falls drive are Columbus, Cleveland and Buffalo. The distance from Cincinnati to Niagara Falls by car is 436 miles, with a 6h26m driving time.
Planning a Cincinnati to Niagara Falls road trip itinerary
The drive from Cincinnati to Niagara Falls takes you from southern Ohio to arguably the world’s most famous waterfall.
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.
There are two cities called Niagara Falls, one either side of the infamous waterfall. The city of Niagara Falls, Canada, offers much more for tourists, and is something of a mini-Vegas. You’re better off crossing the border and choosing from a vast array of experiences in Niagara Falls, Canada.
However, for the purposes of this guide, we’ll assume you’re staying in the United States. Things to do in Niagara Falls, New York include the Maid of the Mist boat ride to the base of the falls, a Cave of the Winds highlights package tour and a mobsters tour full of stories that takes in the illuminated falls after dark.
Cincinnati to Niagara Falls distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Cincinnati to Niagara Falls is 436 miles. That makes for a driving time of around six hours and 26 minutes. The quickest route is largely along the I-71 and I-90.
The best stops on a Cincinnati to Niagara Falls road trip itinerary are Columbus, Cleveland and Buffalo.
For more ideas of things to do, check out the guides to the individual legs of the Cincinnati to Niagara Falls road trip.
Cincinnati to Niagara Falls 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.
Cincinnati to Niagara Falls road trip stops: Cleveland
There are many strong attractions in Cleveland, including the Cleveland History Center. But the big stand out is the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. It’s an extremely reverent trawl through rock ‘n roll history, looking at the origins and development of the genre. There’s a massive amount of memorabilia, with sections devoted to several Hall of Fame inductees.
The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame is dense, detailed and capable of sucking up the best part of a day.
Alternatively, Cleveland tour options focus on neighbourhood food scenes, the city’s best craft breweries and Downtown’s public art.
Cincinnati to Niagara Falls drive: Buffalo
Buffalo is often written off as the gateway to Niagara Falls, but there’s more to the city than that. Cultural highlights include Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, the Buffalo Museum of Science and the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.
The waterside Buffalo Harbor State Park, meanwhile, offers paddleboard and kayak rentals plus a beach and playgrounds.
Good experiences in Buffalo include Best of Buffalo double decker bus tours, a history of chicken wings food tour and the Theodore Roosevelt Inauguration National Historic Site.
For excellent places to stay in Buffalo, try the historic landmark Richardson Hotel or the charming Hotel at the Lafayette.
More Cincinnati road trips
Akron to Cincinnati | Cincinnati to Atlanta | Cincinnati to Boston | Cincinnati to Buffalo | Cincinnati to Chicago | Cincinnati to Cleveland | 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 | Philadelphia to Cincinnati | Pittsburgh to Cincinnati.
More Niagara Falls road trips
Albany to Niagara Falls | Chicago to Niagara Falls | Cleveland to Niagara Falls | Detroit to Niagara Falls | Pittsburgh to Niagara Falls | Rochester to Niagara Falls | Syracuse to Niagara Falls.