Philadelphia to Cincinnati drive: Distance, time & best stops
The distance from Philadelphia to Cincinnati by car is 572 miles, with an 8h20m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Philadelphia to Cincinnati drive are the Flight 93 National Memorial, Pittsburgh and Columbus.
Planning the best things to do between Philadelphia and Cincinnati
The drive from Philadelphia to Cincinnati takes you the historic former capital of the US to southern Ohio.
Key attractions in Philadelphia include the Museum of the American Revolution, the Independence Seaport Museum and the Penn Museum. For great Philadelphia tour options, try the Old City historic walking tour, a night tour exploring the city’s dark side or an It’s Always Sunny-themed tour of South Philadelphia.
If looking for Philadelphia accommodation, the Club Quarters Rittenhouse Square is often great value, while the Kimpton Hotel Monaco has style and personality.
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.
Philadelphia to Cincinnati distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Philadelphia to Cincinnati is 572 miles. That makes for a driving time of around eight hours and 20 minutes.
The best stops on the Philadelphia to Cincinnati road trip route are the Flight 93 National Memorial, Pittsburgh and Columbus. These are covered below, but for more options, head to the guides for the individual legs of the journey.
- Best three stops on the Philadelphia to Harrisburg drive.
- Best three stops on the Harrisburg to Pittsburgh drive.
- Best three stops on the Pittsburgh to Columbus drive.
- Best three stops on the Columbus to Cincinnati drive.
Philadelphia to Cincinnati drive: Flight 93 National Memorial
The Flight 93 National Memorial pays tribute to the fourth plane that crashed on 9/11. This is the plane that was heading for the US Capitol Building, but the crew and passengers fought the hijackers until it crashed in a field.
The Flight 93 National Memorial is near the settlement of Shanksville. The Visitor Centre tells the story of what happened on board, while the 93ft-tall Tower of Voices plays 40 wind chimes, acting as the voices of the 40 passengers and crew.
Philadelphia 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.
Best stops between Philadelphia and Cincinnati: 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.
More Philadelphia road trips
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More Cincinnati road trips
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