7 Unexpected Day Trips from Cincinnati

Are you looking for day trip ideas from Cincinnati? Today, we’re sharing seven of our favorite excursions outside the Queen City. From a unique general store that lies across the Kentucky border, to a stunning mansion in Indiana, to the state of Ohio’s capital, you’ll find all of these day trip options within two hours of Cincinnati.

Columbus, Ohio

Distance from Cincinnati: 107 miles, or 96 minutes, give or take a few minutes depending on traffic.

Set on the Scioto River, Columbus is Ohio’s capital city and largest city, with nearly one million residents and growing. You could easily spend a full weekend in Columbus, exploring all the fun things to do.

Whether you have a whole day or just a few hours to spend, these are some of my favorite things to see in Columbus:

• Stroll through the one-of-a-kind Topiary Park
• Take a self-guided tour of the German Village- book lover’s won’t want to miss the Book Loft of the German Village!
• Explore the Short North District, starting with the North Market where you’ll find a variety of vendors and food options.
• You’ll find COSI (Center of Science and Industry) is fun for kids and adults; especially if your visit coincides with the monthly COSI After Dark Event.
• The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is home to over 10,000 animals and counting. This spring, they’ve had a rash of births and we all know how cute baby animals can be. TIP: Visit during the week to avoid the biggest crowds.
• Visit the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to see the gardens seamlessly blend with the art of Chihuly and others.

If you happen to visit Columbus on a Thursday, don’t miss the food trucks at Columbus Commons!

Louisville, Kentucky

Distance from Cincinnati: 100 miles, or 100 minutes, give or take a few minutes, depending on traffic.

Kentucky’s largest city sits on the Ohio River and could easily keep you busy for DAYS! Known for horses, bourbon and amazing food, you won’t leave Louisville disappointed!

I recently spent several days exploring the city and if I had to condense three days into a short day trip, these are the activities you should choose from:

• Take a tour for those 21+ at the Oxmoor Farm– a 200+ year historic estate that is the newest edition to the Bourbon Trail.
• Browse Fleur de Flea, a 35,000 square foot flea market with something for all budgets.
• Visit J. Graham’s Cafe, the on-site restaurant at the historic Brown Hotel for their famous Hot Brown dish.
• Join Louisville Historic Tours for a walk through Old Louisville, one of the largest historic districts in the country.
• Visit Cave Hill Cemetery where many prominent and well-known Louisvillians, including Muhammad Ali and Colonel Harlan Sanders, are buried.

Rabbit Hash, Kentucky

Distance from Cincinnati: 35 miles or 50 minutes.

Rabbit Hash is a tiny village that sits along the scenic Ohio River that makes the perfect day trip from Cincinnati. This spot is most famous for the Rabbit Hash General Store that has been in operation since 1831, except for several months when a devastating fire shut it down. In addition to snacks, sundries and handcrafted goods, the general store also sells antiques and collectibles.

Just like you would expect from a 19th-century general store, the front porch is line with chairs where locals and visitors sit back and enjoy the social center of Boone County; often greeted by the resident canine mayor.

Before you head back to Cincinnati, take a detour past Big Bone Lick State Park, where you can see a bison herd as well as many dinosaur fossils that were found on the property.

Extend your day trip with a ferry ride over the river to Rising Sun, operated by the Rising Sun Casino where you’ll find additional food, hotel and sight seeing options.

Dayton, Ohio

Distance from Cincinnati: 54 miles, or one hour.

Another fun city in Southwest Ohio is Dayton and bonus, it’s under an hour drive from Cincinnati.

As the birthplace of Orville Wright and home to Wright Patterson Air Force base, there are many aviation-related attractions to be found. But that’s just a start. Dayton has much more to offer. A few highlights of a day trip to Dayton should include:

• The National Museum of the United States Air Force is a must!
• Visit the Wright Brothers Memorial and Aviation Trail. Visit 8 of the 17 sites on the official brochure and receive a free “Wilbear Wright” aviation teddy bear.
• Visit the Carillon Historical Park to learn about Dayton’s history. Don’t miss the stunning display of National Cash Registers, carousel and the original 1905 Wright Flyer III (also on the Aviation Trail). Plan a minimum of 1 1/2 – 2 hours though I could spend an entire day exploring the grounds and exhibits.
• The Dayton Art Institute is worth seeing for the building along.
• And if you love funerary art, the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is stunning. I listed it on my must see cemeteries in Ohio.

Aurora, Indiana

Distance from Cincinnati: 34 miles, or 42 mintues.

Cross over into Indian and head to the charming town of Aurora to tour the Hillforest Victorian House Museum, a National Historic Landmark. This Italian Renaissance mansion was completed in 1855 on a beautiful plot overlooking the Ohio River. This property has some unique features that I’ve personally not seen in other historic properties that I’ve toured.

Tours are offered daily between April and December, in addition to several special events throughout the year. Before you head back to Cincinnati, take a few mintues to explore the historic buildings and shops along Aurora’s Main Street.

Carmel, Indiana

Distance from Cincinnati: 122 miles, or two hours.

Carmel is much more than just a suburb of Indianapolis. It’s a charming town best known for arts, culture and design. Them summer months are full of festivals and fairs in Carmel, including the Carmel International Arts Festival.

If you are only visiting on a day trip from Cincinnati, I recommend spending your day exploring the Carmel Arts & Design District. Carmel also has bike trails and gardens, but shopping along Main Street is the most unique thing to do in Carmel.

Lexington, Kentucky

Distance from Cincinnati: 83 miles, or 90 minutes.

If you love horses, then Lexington, Kentucky is the perfect day trip from Cincy. Kentucky’s second-largest city is in the heart of horse country and is home to many attractions worth visiting.

The Kentucky Horse Park offers the International Museum of the Horse and the Hall of Champions, a who’s who of racing legends. Other things to see in Lexington include:

• Stop by Keeneland Race Course if you visit during a live race or simply take a tour if it doesn’t.
• The Mary Todd Lincoln House is open to tours March- November.
• If you like weird roadside attractions, and you’ve watched the movie, you may consider a stop to see Cocaine Bear.
• and finally, if you like unique cemeteries you’ll want to see this one for horses, though there’s also a horse memorial walk in the horse park.

What day trips ideas would you add to this list?