Columbus, OH to Cincinnati, OH (Ultimate Road Trip Guide)

August 29, 2023

As a local roofing company that serves both Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio, we know a thing or two about fun things to do in the area. If you’re itching for a fun road trip from Columbus, OH, to Cincinnati, OH, that you can accomplish in one day, we’ve got you covered!

Your journey will start in Columbus and ultimately end in Columbus, with five fun stops along the way. Feel free to customize your trip or switch it around by starting in Cincinnati and ending in Columbus. Grab your friends, fill up your tank, and pick your road trip playlist— let’s get started!

Fuel Up Before Leaving Columbus ☕

While you’ll literally need to fill up your gas tank for the 106-mile journey from Columbus to Cincinnati, you’ll also need to fill up your coffee cup. Sorry, we don’t make the rules.

Before you hit the road, grab a coffee and a treat so that you’re energized and ready to go. Two of our favorite Columbus coffee shops close to Interstate 71 (that will carry you directly to Cincinnati) are Parable Coffee and Bottoms Up Coffee.

Parable Coffee is a bright, airy, and trendy spot that offers delicious espresso, lattes, and seasonal drinks. Plus, there’s hot chocolate, tea, and matcha for non-coffee drinkers. Don’t forget to grab a delicious croissant supreme or other pastry before getting on the interstate!

Bottoms Up Coffee boasts “the most unique coffee drink in Columbus,” according to 614 NOW Magazine. Their Rainy Day drink has a large cotton candy cloud hovering over a cup of their house-blend coffee. It’s truly something not to be missed!

1st Stop: Soldiers Row Disc Golf Course 🥏

Once you’re caffeinated, and your gas tank is full, you’re ready to start your road trip! Depending on where you start from, your first stop at Soldiers Row Disc Golf Course is about a 50-minute drive outside of Columbus.

Whether you’re a disc golf pro or you’ve never tried it before, most people would agree that it’s a super fun activity to participate in while enjoying nature and chatting with your friends or family. This course is great for all skill levels— you can play all 18 holes or just try your hand at a few before hitting the road again. Don’t forget to bring bug spray!

2nd Stop: Stokes Berry Farm 🍓

If you’re road-tripping in June or July, picking fresh strawberries and raspberries at Stokes Berry Farm is a must-do activity! We can’t get enough of the fresh fruit on this farm. It always tastes even better when you pick it yourself.

And don’t worry if you’re not traveling through in June or July— there are still other activities to do here! You can enjoy a picnic on the property, go hiking along the creek, or go fishing! You’ll have to bring your own equipment for catch-and-release fishing, but no state fishing licenses are required since it’s on private property.

3rd Stop: Caesar Creek State Park 🌳

For any nature lovers in your car, Caesar Creek State Park can’t be missed on your way to Cincinnati. In addition to an impressive 1,300-foot public swimming beach, this beautiful state park also has:

• An archery range 🏹
• Mountain biking trails 🚵‍♂️
• A swinging bridge 🌉
• Scenic waterfalls 🌊
• Picnic areas 🧺
• Fishing 🎣

We also love checking out the Pioneer Village on site, which is a living history museum depicting life in the early 1800s.

If you’d like to split your road trip into two days instead of one, the campgrounds at Caesar Creek State Park are the perfect place to spend the night!

4th Stop: Ozone Zipline Adventures at YMCA Camp Kern 🪂

Get ready to prove everyone who says “Ohio is boring” wrong. Ozone Zipline Adventures offers a 6-line tour that crisscrosses the Little Miami River. This is a safe, fun, and once-in-a-lifetime experience that you definitely don’t want to miss on your road trip from Columbus to Cincinnati. Just note that reservations are required 24 hours in advance!

Final Stop: Kings Island 🎢

You’re in the home stretch! Your last stop before arriving in Cincinnati is the nationally renowned amusement park: Kings Island!

Kings Island has:

• Big roller coasters
• Soak City Water Park (with 36 water slides!)
• Carnival-style rides & games
• Live entertainment
• Shopping
• Many food & drink options

Plus, if you’re road-tripping in the fall, you can check out Halloween Haunt starting weekends in September. This is the perfect activity to round out your road trip because you can spend just a few hours at the park, or you can break up the trip and spend a whole day there.

Kings Island is about 45 minutes outside of Cincinnati by car, so even if you want to stay at Kings Island until later in the evening, you can still get to Cincinnati without having a super long drive ahead of you.

Arrive in Cincinnati! 🚗

Congrats! You’ve completed a fantastic road trip and landed safely in Cincinnati. Spend as much time in Cincinnati as you want— whether that’s one night or a whole week.

When you arrive in Cincinnati, you’ll probably be hungry. So don’t worry; we’ve got you covered there, too. Here are some of our favorite Cincinnati restaurants for each meal so that you don’t have to think too hard when you’re feeling hangry.

Breakfast 🍳

For breakfast or brunch, we recommend French Crust Cafe & Bistro. Located in Over-the-Rhine right by Findlay Market, you’ll love this little slice of Paris right in Cincinnati. Their croissants are to die for!

Lunch 🥪

Sandwiches for lunch just make sense, so why not check out the oldest family-owned and operated deli in Cincinnati? You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu at Silverglades Delicatessen. They have two locations— one on 8th & Sycamore and one at Findlay Market.

Dinner 🌮

Who doesn’t love really good Mexican food? We recommend checking out Nada for dinner. Located in downtown, Nada is a vibrant and modern Mexican restaurant that offers delicious tacos, enchiladas, margaritas, and more. Can’t make it in Cincinnati? No worries, because they also have a location in Columbus!

Here to Help Homeowners in Columbus and Cincinnati

We hope this guide helps you plan your road trip from Columbus to Cincinnati. (or vice versa!) You’ll have to let us know what your favorite stop is and which sandwich you end up getting at Silverglades.

As a local roofing company that serves both Columbus and Cincinnati property owners, you can count on Roof X to help you out beyond planning fun road trips. We provide full-scale roofing services that include roof repairs, roof replacements, and gutter installations for Ohio home and business owners. If you ever need a free roof inspection, give us a call!