25 Weekend Roadtrip Ideas Within Driving Distance of Cincinnati

Cedar Point

1 Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, Ohio
Distance: 4 hours
Located in Sandusky, Cedar Point is the second oldest amusement park in the country. The park has a record-breaking 71 rides that bring millions of guests in each year. The multiple award-winning park is just a four-hour drive from Cincinnati. The park is scheduled to open May 29.
Photo via Facebook.com/CedarPoint

Dayton

Distance: 1 hour
Only about an hour away from Cincy, some notable attractions here are the Dayton Art Institute and the National Museum of the US Air Force, which has more than 360 aircrafts and missiles to view. The city also has great restaurants, breweries, shopping, parks and outdoor recreation.
Photo via Facebook.com/DowntownDayton

Hoosier National Forest

811 Constitution Ave., Bedford, Indiana
Distance: 2 hours
Just over in south-central Indiana is where you can find Hoosier National Forest. The 203,000-acre forest is a great place to hike, camp, ride horses, fish and bike. This massive piece of land has lots of special attractions including Patoka Lake, which is the second largest reservoir in the country.
Photo via Facebook.com/HoosierNF

Gatlinburg

Distance: 4 hours and 45 minutes
The wildfires that devastated Gatlinburg in 2016 did no harm to the town’s enthusiastic spirit. Gatlinburg is still full of fun activities and adventures for everyone. There are outdoor activities, family attractions, breweries, live entertainment, art galleries and more. A popular spot is Pigeon Forge, which has go-kart tracks, mini golf, restaurants and Dollywood, Country singer Dolly Parton’s Appalachian-themed park, which has over two million visitors every year.
Photo via Facebook.com/Dollywood

Chicago

Distance: 4 hours and 30 minutes
Chicago, home to some of the country’s most successful artists and entertainers, is just a drive through Indiana away. The Windy City sits right on Lake Michigan, and the endless list of activities makes it an excellent getaway for a weekend. You can relax at the beach and play sand volleyball with the locals or take a two-wheeled ride through the extremely bikeable neighborhoods. There are also various boat tours that lead you through the city via canal, giving you a glimpse into the history and architecture of Chicago. With attractions such as Millennium Park, the Museum of Modern Art and Navy Pier, a day downtown is sure to give you your big city fix.
Photo via Facebook.com/ChooseChicago