New York City to Cincinnati drive: Distance, time & best stops

Planning a New York City to Cincinnati road trip itinerary

The New York City to Cincinnati drives take you from the Big Apple to southern Ohio.

Highlights of New York City include the Empire State Building, the 9/11 Memorial Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the American Museum of Natural History.

For great New York tours, try the boat trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, a night time city lights helicopter flight and a Greenwich village food tour.

More unusual options include catacombs tours, a round-Manhattan architecture cruise and a guided exploration of Grand Central Station’s secrets.

Cincinnati is the biggest city in southern Ohio, with a wealth of attractions. Among the more distinctive are the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the American Sign Museum.

Top Cincinnati activities include underground tours – some with beer tasting – and food tours by streetcar. You can also try baseball history toursindoor skydiving and guided ghost walks.  

New York City to Cincinnati distance and driving time

By car, the distance from New York City to Cincinnati is 637 miles. That makes for a driving time of around nine hours and 50 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-78, I-81, I-76, I-70 and I-71.

The best stops to add to a New York City to Cincinnati road trip itinerary are Harrisburg PA, Pittsburgh and Columbus OH.

For more things to do, check out the guides to individual legs of the New York City to Cincinnati road trip.

Best stops between New York City and Cincinnati: Harrisburg PA

Top Harrisburg experiences include scavenger hunts and visiting the State Capitol Building.

The National Civil War Museum is the major attraction, though. This dense, detailed and reverent museum takes visitors through the American Civil War, from causes to aftermath.

New York City to Cincinnati road trip attractions: Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania is a monstrously underrated city, with a series of stellar attractions. Get great views from the top of the Duquesne Incline, enjoy the globally-themed rooms at the unmissable Cathedral of Learning and become immersed in pop art at the Warhol Museum.

You can explore Pittsburgh with a hop-on, hop-off bus pass. Pittsburgh experiences include bike tours full of stories, guided whiskey-themed walks and craft beer sampling on a multi-brewery tour.

For Pittsburgh hotels with great reviews, try the Italian villa-style Priory Hotel or the often good value Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown.

New York City to Cincinnati drive: Columbus OH

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.

The Roebling Bridge in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Roebling Bridge in Cincinnati, Ohio. Photo by Emilyd3/ Pixabay.

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