If you’re ready to take a two-day vacation, head to the great city of Cincinnati, OH. In this booming cultural center, you can not only explore tons of museums but also hike outdoors in the many city parks. All the while, you can stop for a bite to eat at some of Ohio’s best restaurants and maybe get a taste of the city’s iconic chili.
Consider renting an RV for your trip if you’d like to travel with all the comforts of home. In an RV, you don’t have to worry about taking your luggage from hotel room to hotel room, and you’ll already have your main mode of transportation. Larger RVs can comfortably seat and sleep up to 10 people or more, so you can travel in large groups with ease.
Search RV rentals in the Cincinnati area.
Preparing for Your Cincinnati RV Trip
The first order of business is to pick your ideal RV rental. Whether you’re new to camping in an RV or a seasoned pro, you can find any size of rig you feel comfortable handling. For easy driving, consider taking a small motorhome, like a Class B campervan or one of the smaller Class C motorhomes, which is similar to operating a large van. If you have your own towing vehicle, you can rent a travel trailer, which is available in many different lengths. With a longer travel trailer, driving may be more difficult, but you will have more space for storage and sleeping.
Book your RV trip confidently by checking out these helpful planning resources:
• Choosing the Best RV Size for Your Group
• How to Pack for an RV Trip
• How to Rent an RV Step by Step
Once you’ve selected the RV you want to book for your trip, you’ll want to reserve an RV campsite near Cincinnati. When looking at different campgrounds, you’ll want to find out what amenities the campgrounds offer, like electrical hookups or laundry facilities. It’s also helpful to check with the campgrounds to see if your RV rental size fits their campsites. Some local options you may like include Kings Island Camp Cedar, FMCA Campground, and BEYONDER Getaway Rising Sun.
Find other campground options in our comprehensive list of top-rated campgrounds in Cincinnati.
Day 1: Exploring the City Museums
Morning: Browse the Art Museum
To start off your two days in Cincinnati, head to the Cincinnati Art Museum, where you can peruse over 67,000 works. The museum’s art collection spans over 6,000 years, and there is an on-site cafe if you’d like to have some breakfast.
Lunch: Try the Chili
For your first day, be sure to try Cincinnati’s world-famous chili at lunchtime. You can stop by Camp Washington Chili, which serves chili and other casual eats 24 hours a day.
Afternoon: See the City’s Museum Center
There’s something for everyone to see at the Cincinnati Museum Center, found in the heart of downtown. Within the center, visitors can enjoy The Children’s Museum, an OMNIMAX theater, and The Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. There are also smaller museums within the center focused on specialized areas of history, like a Pompeii exhibit.
Setting Up Camp
When you’re ready to settle down for the day, head over to the RV campground that you’ve made a reservation at. Once there, a camp host will help you check in and find your campsite. After that, park your RV, level your camper, and attach any available hookups. If you don’t feel like setting up camp, you can also have your RV rental delivered right to your campsite. To do this, just filter your RV rental search by delivery options.
Dinner: Dining In or Stopping by a Local Favorite
One of the best ways to enjoy your RV is by cooking in the vehicle’s kitchen or having a cookout on the campfire. Most RVs have full kitchens and lots of pantry space, so you can pack food for your trip or head to a local grocery store in Cincinnati. Alternatively, you can dine out at another local hotspot, like Americano downtown for a burger.
Day 2: Entertainment and Outdoor Hikes
Morning: Take a Scenic Walk
Cincinnati has many beautiful green spaces to enjoy, including Ault Park, which has hiking trails for you to use. You can also picnic at the pavilion and stoll in some landscaped gardens for free.
Lunch: Dine Outside
For lunch on your second day, you may either have a picnic at the park or dine outdoors at Arthur’s . Arthur’s is a classic American food joint with an outdoor patio surrounded by greenery, and it offers takeout if you’d like to have your meal by the campfire at your campground.
Afternoon: Stroll the Zoo
For a scenic afternoon, check out the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Not only does this zoo feature a myriad of animals, but it also has over 3,000 types of plants on display. Visitors may enjoy a ride while here or check out the 4D theater if they’d like.
Evening: Enjoy a Live Show
At the end of your day, kick back and relax during a live performance in Cincinnati. One top venue you may enjoy is the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater, which regularly puts on plays and musicals.
Day 3 and Beyond in Cincinnati
You can see plenty of Cincinnati in two days, but spending even longer can give you time to truly see all the museums and attractions.
If you can stay longer in town, consider adding the following to your Cincinnati itinerary:
• Learn About Wildlife at the Conservatory: Check out the Krohn Conservatory, which features over 3,500 plant species that you can read about on multiple displays. You can also see a small waterfall there or attend a butterfly show.
• See the World-Renowned Aquarium: Cincinnati’s Newport Aquarium is a top-rated attraction, and it features everything from a huge jellyfish room to water tunnels and penguin exhibits.
Fall Activities
Fall is a great season to see Cincinnati, and you can start a fall trip by visiting the city’s Burger Farm & Garden Center, which offers pumpkins and blooming flower arrangements in the fall months. You can also head to the Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park if you’d like to see some top-rated horror-themed attractions.
Indoor Activities
For days that are too cold or rainy to spend outside in Cincinnati, check out indoor attractions, like the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, which is a museum focusing on slavery history in America. You could also see the Taft Museum of Art, which is a moderately small art museum with works by artists of the Renaissance.
When you’re ready, Cincinnati is ready for you with many dining, entertainment, and recreational opportunities. Enjoy the city comfortably from the seat of your RV rental and see what the city has to offer, whether it’s an art museum or a city hiking trail.
