Pittsburgh to Cincinnati road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops

The best stops on a Pittsburgh to Cincinnati road trip are the John and Annie Glenn Museum, Columbus and Kings Island. The distance from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati by car is 289 miles, with a 4h26m driving time.

Planning a Pittsburgh to Cincinnati road trip itinerary

A Pittsburgh to Cincinnati road trip links western Pennsylvania to southern Ohio. But more importantly, it joins two of the most outrageously underrated cities in the US.

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.

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.  

Pittsburgh to Cincinnati distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati is 289 miles. That makes for a driving time of around four hours and 26 minutes. The quickest route goes along the I-70 and I-71.

The best stops to add to a Pittsburgh to Cincinnati road trip itinerary are the John and Annie Glenn Museum, Columbus and Kings Island.

Pittsburgh to Cincinnati road trip attractions: John and Annie Glenn Museum

Astronaut turned senator John Glenn was born in Cambridge, Ohio. Confusingly, however, his childhood home has been moved to nearby New Concord, where it is now a museum of American history.

The John and Annie Glenn Museum attempts to explain decades of change through the life and work of John, and his disability rights campaigner wife Annie. Topics touched upon include American family life during the Great Depression, the home front in WWII and the Space Race.

Best stops on a Pittsburgh to Cincinnati road trip: 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.

Pittsburgh to Cincinnati 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.

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

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