20 Holiday Road Trip Ideas Within Driving Distance of Cincinnati

Nashville, Tennessee Distance: 4-5 hours Head to the heart of Tennessee this year for a real honky-tonk Christmas and a perfect weekend getaway with some friends. Looking to have a night out but Broadway isn’t your style? No worries, Nashville has an extensive list of speakeasies and pop-up bars that are perfect for a boozy scavenger hunt with seasonal cocktails and friends. Can you really visit Nashville without some live music? Check out the Ray Stevens Cabaray Showroom’s holiday show or the Opry Country Christmas, and sing your heart out. Photo: facebook.com/nashvillemusiccity

Fairfield County, Ohio Distance: 2-2.5 hours This hidden gem is the perfect day trip or weekend stay-cation packed full of family-friendly fun. They have a myriad of hotel and motel options, but we recommend one of their historic bed and breakfasts like the Dum-Ford House or the Ohio Log House for that Hallmark Christmas vibe. Check out their Festival of Lights, running through Christmas Day, or one of their Tinsel and Traditions events. Catch a show at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, and you can’t leave without grabbing lunch or dinner from A&J Wingburger. Photo: Provided by Josie Wadlow

Red River Gorge Robbie Ridge Road, Stanton, Ky. Distance: 2 hours and 15 minutes In east-central Kentucky, you’ll find the Red River Gorge, where the land is rich with sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, natural bridges and trails that draw in hundreds of hikers and campers every year. The large amount of sandstone has made “the Red” one of the most popular rock climbing destinations in the world. You also can’t forget to stop by Miguel’s Pizza on Natural Bridge Road while you’re there — a Red River Gorge tradition. Photo: Facebook.com/OfficialRedRiverGorge

Downtown Columbus, Ohio Distance: 1.5-2 hours Want to immerse yourself in another city for a day or two? Head to downtown Columbus for those Christmas-in-the-city vibes that you’ve been trying to capture this season. For an elevated stay, The Junto or Hotel LeVeque have crafted the perfect indulgent boutique stay experience. The Franklin Park Conservatory debuted their Conservatory Aglow this month, and it will be open through Jan.5, featuring thousands of twinkling lights and the best seasonal tunes — and you can’t miss out on a photo opp in the iconic rainbow tunnel. If you’re heading down for the weekend, check out Festive Fridays in the Columbus Commons with live music, hot chocolate, carousel rides and a bar with boozy hot beverages. Heading down for a more romantic weekend? Grab tickets to see the classic holiday performance of The Nutcracker by BalletMet Columbus, and enjoy a five-course tasting dinner at the award-winning Refectory. Photo: facebook.com/downtowncolumbus

Santa Claus, Indiana Distance: 2.5-3 hours It’s all in the name, really. This cozy town is a match made in heaven for those looking for an immersive holiday experience. For the full home-away-from-home experience, we recommend checking out one of Santa Claus’s cabins and cottages, especially for larger groups and families. The Santa Claus Land of Lights Festival is perfect for an evening of family fun, with a 1.2-mile drive through dazzling lights telling the story of Rudolph; it’s only $20 per passenger vehicle. Looking to get in a little history lesson? You can check out the Santa Claus Museum and Village to learn all about the town’s magic and even write a letter to Santa. You’ll probably be hungry after all that exploring, but don’t worry, Santa Claus is packed with plenty of dining options like Angelo’s Pizza (try their famous breadsticks) or Darlena’s Lincolnland Restaurant for a hearty home-cooked meal. Photo: facebook.com/SantaClausIndiana

French Lick, Indiana Distance: 2.5-3 hours Best known for their yearly Polar Express excursions, it’s no surprise that this town is a lover of all things festive. Though it is sold out for the season, you may have gotten lucky and already purchased your tickets for the 2024 Polar Express ride, with hot chocolate served by dancing chefs, the classic ticket and silver bell. But if not, never fear, there are still plenty of options to have a full-festive weekend. French Lick Resort’s 50 Days of Lights kicked off last week, and runs through Jan.6 featuring a variety of different events throughout the week like Santa’s Toy Maker Workshop, Santa Claus Meet and Greet, Christmas Drive-In Movies, Cookie Decorating with Mrs. Claus and more. Photo: facebook.com/frenchlickresort

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Distance: 4-5 hours Use some of that holiday PTO and spend a weekend in the Smokies. This spot is perfect for anyone looking to get the most out of a long weekend, with jam-packed days from sunup to sundown. Pigeon Forge has plenty of hotels, cabins and even pet-friendly stay options if you’re looking to bring your four-legged bestie. For the perfect festive activities, you can’t miss seeing the queen of Christmas’s rendition at Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas, with five million twinkling lights and delicious comfort food. You can also spend your weekend getting caught up on your last-minute gift shopping, with Pigeon Forge’s endless options of trinket shops and boutiques. facebook.com/mypigeonforge

Legendary Lights of Historic Clifton Mill For the 36th year, Clifton Mill will be decked out in dazzling lights this winter — 4 million of them. The historic Yellow Springs mill, plus the surrounding trees, riverbank and covered bridge, will all be illuminated from bottom-to-top in colorful lights. Nov. 29 through Dec. 30. $15 for adults; free for 3 and under. 75 Water St., Yellow Springs. Photo: facebook.com/Clifton Mill

Augusta, Kentucky Distance: 45 minutes-1 hour This small town is just a short drive from the Queen City, and is known on TikTok as Kentucky’s rendition of Stars Hollow, and if there’s anything Gilmore Girls did right, it was the holidays. Perfectly capture that small town Christmas vibe at one of their lodges or bed and breakfast options like Del’s Cabin or the Green Door Cottage. Grab your favorite seasonal drink from The Youngblood’s Corner Cafe, and stroll through the Augusta General Store and enjoy a slow-paced weekend or day trip. Photo: Predhead, Wikimedia Commons

Medina, Ohio Distance: 3-3.5 hours This small but mighty town might not have been on your bucket list of weekend trips, but it is now. Enter a world of all things Christmas at Castle Noel, the largest indoor Christmas attraction in America, featuring collections of Hollywood movie props, animated New York City Christmas windows and dazzling installations and sculptures. Looking for an extra pick-me-up for holiday cheer? Medina is home to the Jilbert Winery, with endless tasting and by-the-glass wine and beer options. After a jam-packed day, you’re probably ready for your head to hit the pillow. No problem, Medina has plenty of historic award-winning bed and breakfast options. Photo: facebook.com/CityofMedina

Photo: facebook.com/@OurBrownCounty

Danville, Kentucky Distance: 2-2.5 hours Named one of the “Cutest Christmas Towns in the South” by Southern Living, this town is a must-stop for a cozy holiday day trip. With lots of comfortable and quaint bed and breakfast options, you can also easily turn this day-trip into a weekend getaway. Visit the McDowell House Museum as it transforms into an 1800s holiday experience, browse their downtown boutiques and enjoy dinner and bourbon at Copper and Oak — after all, you are in Kentucky. Photo: facebook.com/DanvilleKentucky

Hocking Hills State Park 19852 State Route 664 S., Logan, Ohio Distance: About 2 hours 30 minutes This park includes stunning cliffs, waterfalls and hemlock-shaded gorges. There are many biking and hiking trails for exploring the park’s natural beauty, as well as a 17-acre lake where you can boat and fish. Photo: Katherine Barrier

Louisville, Kentucky Distance: 1.5-2 hours Louisville, Kentucky is a great spot for a weekend away, or just a day trip if you’re looking for something fun to do. Lights Under Louisville is the only underground holiday light show in the world, and features 850 lit characters and over 3 million lights as you embark on a 30-minute drive through the Louisville Mega Caverns. Still not finished with your Christmas shopping? Ditch the department stores and spend the afternoon strolling Louisville’s Village Christmas Market with over 40 locally-owned boutiques. Photo: facebook.com/gotolouisville

Bowling Green, Kentucky Distance: 3-3.5 hours Hear us out. We know this isn’t what you would call a hot-spot for vacationing, but they have some holiday festivities you won’t want to miss. Bowling Green is home to The Reindeer Farm, where visitors can meet real reindeers, enjoy food trucks, take photos and even visit with Santa. Bowling Green also hosts Bright Lights on Broadway, a free drive-thru lights show with some of your favorite holiday scenes. Take a trip back to the Wild West and enjoy some Southern comfort food at the Montana Grille, and don’t forget to grab dessert at Mary Jane’s Chocolates. Photo: facebook.com/thereindeerfarm

Cleveland, Ohio Distance: 4.5-5 hours Just a short four-hour drive away, Cleveland is a bustling spot with something going on every day. One of the most iconic Christmas attractions in Ohio is Cleveland’s A Christmas Story House, that was used in the iconic holiday film. You can go on a self-guided tour or take a guided tour of the house and accompanying museum to see well-known props from the film, shop the gift shop and even stay overnight if that’s your vibe. Cleveland is also home to the Cleveland MetroParks Zoo, and similar to the Queen City, transforms into a winter wonderland during the holidays. You can check out all your favorite animals accompanied with large light sculptures and dazzling lights throughout the zoo. Photo: facebook.com/HouseFromAChristmasStory

Chicago, Illinois Distance: 4.5-5 hours There’s something so Gossip Girl coded about spending the holiday season in a big city, and Chicago has that vibe down pat. If you really want to capture the big city getaway, you can stay in one of Chicago’s high-rise hotels, like the Waldorf Astoria or the Four Seasons. Just like here in Cincinnati, Chicago’s Christkindlmarket is an immersive German-inspired holiday market where you can shop for a myriad of Christmas trinkets all while enjoying hot chocolate and other German-inspired treats. Get your ice skating on at the Maggie Daley Ice Skating Ribbon, just make sure to reserve your spot online in advance. And you can’t miss out on paying a visit to Rudolph’s Rooftop popup bar at the Londonhouse Chicago with igloos, great views and a delicious seasonal menu. Photo: facebook.com/ChooseChicago

Cambridge, Ohio Distance: 2.5-3 hours Hop in the time machine and head all the way back to the Victorian era, as this small town transforms into the Dickens Victorian Village each year for the holiday season. Guests can enjoy a walking tour that features a variety of scenes from Victorian life, a courthouse light show with thousands of dazzling lights and holiday music, carriage rides and if you plan your trip on Dec. 14 or 21, you can experience a guided trolley tour of the Dickens Victorian Village. Photo: facebook.com/DickensVictorianVillage

Steubenville, Ohio Distance: 4-4.5 hours This small town undergoes a complete makeover for the holiday season as it transforms into the Steubenville Nutcracker Village, an ultimate homage to the holiday trinket and performance. The village features the largest display of life-size nutcracker figures in the U.S. and is free and open to the public 24 hours a day. The Nutcracker Village also hosts additional events throughout the season, like ornament making, tea parties, historic home tours and more. So, make sure to check out their events calendar when planning your weekend trip. Photo: facebook.com/steubenvillenutcrackervillage

Frankenmuth, Michigan Distance: 4-5 hours This town is giving you the full Christmas experience, with a list of events, you can spend a weekend enjoying all the classic holiday festivities. The Frankenmuth Musical Tree Show runs daily, and features the beautifully lit 44-foot tree and the best holiday tunes filling the air. You can also skate your heart away at the Frankenmuth Ice Rink, and end your night at the Little Bavaria’s Driving Light Tour, featuring a self-guided tour of the town with hot chocolate, and be sure to grab a brochure to find all the best Stop ‘n Snap photo opportunities. Photo: facebook.com/frankenmuth