25 Weekend Vacation Destinations Within Driving Distance of Cincinnati

Maysville, Kentucky

Distance: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Step back in time in Maysville, Kentucky, a small town located along the Ohio River. Celebrate the arts in many different ways in this quaint historic town by enjoying a show at the famed 1889 Washington Opera House. You can head over to the Russell Theater and enjoy an Art Deco experience in a place that once hosted a red carpet event for Rosemary Clooney (whose hometown is Maysville) at the opening of The Stars are Singing. For some history, walk around and discover Underground Railroad sites, or do a tour and tasting at the Old Pogue bourbon distillery, open since 1876.

Nashville, Indiana

Distance: 2 hours
If you don’t want to drive all the way to Tennessee, there is a Nashville much closer that’s still full of music and adventure. Head out to Nashville, Indiana — just two hours outside of Cincinnati — where you can bike, hike (at Brown County State Park), learn to line dance, take horse-drawn tours of the historic area and drink at plenty of local breweries, wineries and distilleries. Watch live music at the historic Brown County Playhouse or enjoy some of the beautiful artwork scattered around town.

Columbus, Indiana

Distance: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Columbus, Indiana is known for its architecture and public art with a popular annual festival called Exhibit Columbus that celebrates art and design throughout the community. Take a guided tour of the Miller House, a famed Midcentury Modern home known for its colors, thoughtful design and breathtaking gardens. For some historic architecture, take a tour of the Inn at Irwin Gardens, a 1910 unique Edwardian-era development. Or if you prefer a self-guided tour, download the Downtown Audio tour app that walks you through 18 stops throughout Columbus.

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Distance: 4 hours and 45 minutes
If you thought Cincinnati embraced its German heritage, experience more of that in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Known as “Michigan’s Little Bavaria,” in the winter the snow tops the Germanic architecture throughout the town. Skate outside at the Zehnder Park ice rink and, to escape the cold, head to one of the town's indoor water parks. Frankenmuth also has a full schedule of festivals including Zehnder’s Snowfest, which has been going strong for over 30 years. Frankenmuth is also home to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, the year-round "World's Largest Christmas Store."

Madison, Indiana

Distance: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Madison, Indiana sits along the Ohio River and is known for being the country's largest contiguous National Historic Landmark District. There are tons of tours offered throughout the town: take a tour on a carriage, a walking tour through downtown, even a ghost tour of some particularly spooky spots. Celebrate the arts at any of the music venues in Madison or head over to the arts and culture district. Grab a beer at one of the many breweries and relax by the river.

Yellow Springs, Ohio

Distance: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Located a little over an hour outside of Cincinnati, Yellow Springs is a small town with a ton of recreational activities. There are more than 15 eateries and pubs, many different wineries, bike trails and shops to explore. There’s also Young’s Jersey Dairy farm, which features a restaurant, entertainment venue, miniature golf course, batting cages and delicious homemade ice cream.

Point Pleasant, West Virginia

Distance: 3 hours
Head east to the beautiful town of Point Pleasant ,West Virginia. Stay at the historic Lowe Hotel or spend time in nature by camping at Krodel Park. There is tons of history and mystery to learn about in Point Pleasant. Stop by the Point Pleasant River Museum and Learning Center or for something spookier, visit the Mothman Museum and statue. Aspiring cryptozoologists can learn more about the town's claim to fame: being the hometown of Mothman, a supernatural winged humanoid and harbinger of disaster.

Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Maker's Mark Distillery, 3350 Burks Spring Road, Loretto, Kentucky
Distance: 2 hours and 30 minutes
There are now roughly 20 stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail (and more if you add in the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour), including Bulleit Distilling in Shelbyville, Four Roses in Lawrenceburg, Woodford Reserve in Versailles and Maker's Mark in Loretto. Each stop offers tours and tastings of its unique spirits. Bring a Ketuncky Bourbon Trail passport with you to get a stamp at each place you stop.

Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Distance: 4 hours
This little village in Cuyahoga County was built around the Chagrin Falls waterfall that runs right through downtown. The town is home to over 75 independent shops and restaurants and offers a host of festivals throughout the year. In the spring and summer, flowers bloom throughout Chagrin Falls, making it a beautiful Instagram-worthy destination.

Ripley, Ohio

Distance: 1 hour
Just about an hour east of Cincinnati sits a beautiful historic town along to Ohio river. Ripley prides itself on its abolitionist history and visitors can see historic homes involved with the Underground Railroad. Enjoy a night under the stars at one of Ripley’s four campgrounds or head into town for antiquing, crafting, eating or drinking. If you’d rather sleep inside, stay at a bed and breakfast in town or rent a vacation home to relax and enjoy the water.

Ohio's Amish Country

Distance: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Amish Country, which includes Holmes County and surrounding counties in northeast central Ohio, features bakeries, buggy rides, museums, delicious cheeses and even the world's largest cuckoo clock (located in Sugarcreek). Take in the beautiful countryside and catch a glimpse of life the way it existed in Ohio before the advent of cellphones, the internet and other modern conveniences.

Red River Gorge, Kentucky

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.

Bass Islands

Distance: 3 hours and 45 minutes + ferry ride to the island
Just north of Sandusky, Ohio, you’ll find North Bass Island, Middle Bass Island and South Bass Island, surrounded by the beautiful water of Lake Erie. The Bass Islands are small in size, but there’s more than enough to do with state parks, boating, water sports, eating and shopping. North Bass Island, however, is only open for camping. Put-In-Bay, located on South Bass Island, is considered “The Key West of the North” and has a great nightlife scene and many places with live entertainment. To get there, you’ll have to take a ferry, boat or plane.

Mammoth Cave National Park

1 Visitor Center Parkway, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Distance: 3 hours
Mammoth Cave, the largest cave system known in the world (400+ miles to be exact), is just a 3-hour drive south of Cincinnati. The park offers tours of the caves, hikes, canoeing on the Green River, horseback riding, camping and more.

Oxford, Ohio

Distance: 1 hour
You don’t have to be a college student to enjoy a weekend in Oxford, Ohio. Enjoy connecting with nature at one of Oxford's many nature trails. Hueston Woods State Park and lodge is right nearby for fossil hunting, camping, golfing, fishing, boating, hiking, horseback riding and picnicking. Take a historic walking tour of the uptown business district or take a trip through the beautiful Miami University campus. Go shopping and grab something to eat downtown and try to avoid drunk college kids.

Hocking Hills State Park

19852 OH-664, Logan, Ohio
Distance: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Hocking Hills State Park has five different sections within the 9,000+ acres of land to explore. Millions of guests embrace the forest year-round by hiking, rock climbing, canoeing and camping on one of the 200 campsites in the area. A must-see is Ash Cave, an out-of-this-world rock formation that just so happens to be the biggest recess cave in the state.

Rabbit Hash, Kentucky

Distance: 45 minutes
A scenic, 45-minute drive southwest takes you to Rabbit Hash, known for its historic general store and its series of dog mayors. The Rabbit Hash General Store was known as “the best known and best preserved country store in Kentucky," until it was destroyed by a fire in 2016, later to be restored and reopened in April 2017.

Louisville, Kentucky

Distance: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Louisville is Kentucky’s most populated city with an endless amount of things to do year-round. Visit the historic Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory where they have been making the famous Louisville Slugger bats since 1884. Bask in historic architecture in the Historic Old Louisville neighborhood, the nation’s largest group of Victorian mansions. Or, if you’re visiting during the first week of May, you have to experience “The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports” at the world famous Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Derby Festival.

Metamora, Indiana

Distance: 1 hour
This beautiful canal town in Indiana offers an step back in time to the 1800s. Visit the beautiful Metamora Grist Mill, an operational water-power mill that grinds cornmeal and flour which you are able to purchase. Take a ride on the scenic Whitewater Valley Railroad that travels along the canal. There's also lots of antiquing here.

Lake Cumberland

Distance: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Lake Cumberland is a tourist favorite in southern Kentucky. This huge reservoir is the place to be on a warm, sunny day for boating, fishing, jet skiing or just cooling off in the water. There's also a 18-hole mini golf course. You can stay in a houseboat, cabin, hotel or camp.