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With tasty restaurants, charming neighborhoods, and serene city parks, �侱�Գ����ԲԲ��پ�’s packed with impressive attractions and activities. But just beyond the Queen City, a host of day trip adventures await. And, the city’s proximity to Kentucky and Indiana means you can cross multiple states and sights off your bucket list, all within two hours.

The following six Cincinnati day trips offer a bit of something for everyone—from sports and roller coasters to outdoor adventures and adult beverages. Here are the best day trips from Cincinnati for a quick getaway:

Dayton, Ohio

Why go: Learn aviation history

Ohio is the, and it has two Dayton legends to thank: Wilbur and Orville Wright, the brothers who invented and flew the first aircraft. This aviation history abounds throughout the city, starting with the Wright Brothers National Museum in Dayton’s Carillon Historic Park. Beyond aviation artifacts like the 1905 Wright Flyer III plane, the Carillon Historic Park also features an onsite, with beers crafted using a traditional 1850s-era brewing process.

The, the largest and oldest military aviation museum in the world, is another Dayton gem. This hub, with 350 aerospace vehicles and thousands of artifacts, brings the U.S. Air Force’s history to life. And the, housed in the same building the Wright brothers used for their main business, a print shop, rounds out Dayton’s aviation attractions.

The best bites near the museum include craft beer and tater-tot heaven Warped Wing, named after the Wright brothers’ design feature of “.”

How to get to Dayton

Driving is the best way to get from Cincinnati to Dayton; public transit is available via Greyhound, but takes triple the time. The route is an easy one-hour drive up Interstate 75, with rental cars available throughout Cincinnati and at the CVG airport. If time allows, add a stop at Dayton-favorite, a no-frills but flavor-packed pizza spot, located just off I-75 (near the Dayton Mall).

Yellow Springs, Ohio

Why go: For the LGBTQI-friendly community

Spirited getaway Yellow Springs is one of Ohio’s most unique small towns—and it’s also among the most welcoming, with higher than most other Ohio communities. Peace signs, pride flags and Black Lives Matter window displays show that the city is proud of its inclusive values. Mark your calendar for late June when the Yellow Springs community comes together to celebrate, a gathering with a parade, tailgate and home-decorating contest.

Yellow Springs, also the home of comedian Dave Chappelle (who’s rumored to be), is a town of 3,400. Its downtown is packed with yoga studios, artist markets, and restaurants, including, a local favorite with ingredients sourced from 20 nearby farms. is bike-friendly, with an outdoor taproom adjacent to the 80-mile multipurpose.

How to get to Yellow Springs

Driving is the easiest mode of transport between Cincinnati and Yellow Springs. It’s just over an hour's drive up Interstate 75 to Interstate 675. Rental cars are available throughout Cincinnati and at the CVG airport. Stop for Midwest comfort food at, a chill American joint known for its award-winning wings sauces and fried vegetables.

Red River Gorge Geological Area, Kentucky

Why go: Climb and hike through glacier-carved landscapes

Red River Gorge Geological Area, known locally as “The Red,” is an action-packed oasis in Kentucky’s Daniel Boone National Forest—and one of the best day trips from Cincinnati, particularly for adventure seekers. The Red is legendary among rock climbers, with steep sandstone walls offering thousands of routes. Climbing guides like the local lead rock climbing and rappelling trips.

But this Kentucky getaway adventure extends well beyond climbing. Red River Gorge boasts over 70 trail miles along canyons, gorges, and arches. Some of the most include the three-mile Natural Bridge & Laurel Ridge Trail, as well as the four-mile jaunt to Gray’s Arch. kayaking and boat tours also wind through The Red’s caverns.

While you’re in town, don’t miss Miguel’s Pizza, for kick-starting The Red’s climbing scene in the 1980s. In addition to lunch, dinner, and margaritas, Miguel’s offers a rock-climbing store, along with nearby.

How to get to Red River Gorge

Red River Gorge is two hours southeast of Cincinnati. Car is the easiest way to get from point A to B, with the drive mostly following Interstate 75 south to Interstate 64 east, before hitting several backstreets on the way into The Red. Build in time for a stop in Winchester, Kentucky, the—where you can sample this local delicacy across the town’s.

Mason, Ohio

Why go: Ride the rollercoasters at Kings Island

Cincinnatians grow up testing their roller-coaster limits at, a theme park in suburb Mason, just 25 minutes from the Queen City. Kings Island is among the best Cincinnati day trips, with 100 rides, shows, and attractions, plus 15 roller coasters, including the Orion, one of only seven giga coasters (rollercoasters with drops of 300 to 399 feet) in the world.

Food and drinks abound at Kings Island. For a local favorite, grab pizza from family-friendly , praised for its subtly sweet sauce. And �侱�Գ����ԲԲ��پ�’s famous Skyline Chili, beloved by many for its spaghetti with sweet chili on top, is available in the park as well.

Kings Island is easily doable in a day, but you can also stay overnight at the adjacent new, a luxury resort and RV park with onsite pools, camping, restaurants, bars, walking trails, and more. It’s less than a mile from the theme park.

How to get to Mason

Via car is the fastest way to get from Cincinnati to Mason. It’s a quick 25-minute drive to the northeast along Interstate 71 north. The park is right off the highway. You can also take the local to the park. This bus stops in downtown Cincinnati and travels north to the park.

Indianapolis, Indiana

Why go: Visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Museum

Like Cincinnati, Indianapolis is a charismatic Midwest city with its own vibrant culture, from art museum, one of the oldest museums in the country, to the, an urban getaway which plays host to the Indianapolis Zoo, the Indiana State Museum and an art museum dedicated to Indigenous and western art. Of course, no Indy trip is complete without a stop at its most famous attraction: the.

Erected in 1909, the speedway welcomes some of the fastest car races in the world, including the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day weekend (although different races run all year). To learn the history of this adrenaline-pumping track, visit the, with 37,500 square feet of exhibitions, including cars, racing records, and memorabilia.

Need a post-race bite or drink? Stroll a few blocks for hearty fare at or craft beer at, home to Indiana’s best-selling IPA, the Lift Off IPA. Both spots are less than one mile south of the track.

How to get to Indianapolis

Indianapolis is one hour and 45 minutes northeast of Cincinnati on Interstate 74. It’s most accessible via car, with rentals available throughout town and at the CVG airport. Grab a snack halfway between Cincinnati and Indianapolis in Batesville, Indiana, where the historic and recently renovated hotel,, boasts a new biergarten and bier hall serving authentic German fare.

Lexington, Kentucky

Why go: Explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Lexington is arguably the best place to soak up Kentucky’s culture, with attractions like the Keeneland horse-racing course and a host of stops to try the state’s signature beverage: bourbon. There are within 45 miles of Lexington and Kentucky makes% of the world’s bourbon. See the for proof.

The 250-mile Kentucky Bourbon Trail includes more than 30 distilleries, with shuttles and tours from Cincinnati, just 80 miles away. hosts private Bourbon Trail day tours to several distilleries like Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey, and Woodford Reserve. offers similar all-day excursions from Cincinnati as well.

If you’d rather hit multiple distilleries along the trail for a weekend-long trip, go a bit further west to Louisville, 90 minutes from Cincinnati, where offers two and three-day options to safely hop from distillery to distillery. You can also do a self-guided bourbon trail tour following. (Always have a designated driver).

How to get to Lexington

Private tours offer transportation from Cincinnati to Lexington. If you’re driving yourself, the ride is roughly one hour and 20 minutes south along Interstate 75. Louisville is 100 miles southeast along Interstate 71. Tour transport or rental cars are suggested, as public transportation isn’t efficient. If you’re driving to Lexington, make a quick stop north of the city in Georgetown, where restaurant pairs hip digs with drool-worthy comfort fare (don’t miss their crispy fried chicken).

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