It’s road trip season! You don’t have to go far from home for an adventure to remember. Explore these four outdoor destinations, all within four hours of Cincinnati, as mapped out by travel expert Wes Mergard of Travel With Wes. Roll down the windows, turn up the tunes and buckle your seatbelts for summer fun that is well worth the drive.
Clifty Falls State Park
1½ Hours From Cincinnati
Clifty Falls is tucked away along the Ohio River near Madison, Indiana. It makes a great weekend day trip destination. It’s the kind of place where you can chase waterfalls, explore caves, enjoy foliage and cap it all off with an afternoon of exploring Madison’s charming small-town vibes. It’s one of my favorite spots in the area for photography!
There’s one main road that winds through the park, with incredibly easy access to most of the park’s best features. While there are a number of great hiking trails that wind through the park (over 15 miles of them), you can also see some of the park’s top attractions, like its namesake Clifty Falls or Little Clifty Falls, with short walks from nearby parking lots. Given the easy access to waterfalls and vista views, this is a family-friendly destination, especially for those with small children.
Clifty Falls is a great destination for all seasons, but for the best waterfall viewing experience, try to time your visit after we’ve had some rain, when the water flow will be the most powerful.
Consider making a weekend of your visit. Clifty Inn is located within the park and offers beautiful views of the Ohio River. There’s also a campground available if spending the night outdoors is more your speed. CliftyFallsStatePark.com
Red River Gorge
2 Hours From Cincinnati
Red River Gorge is south, just east of Lexington. I like this area because it checks all of the boxes when I’m looking to get lost in nature. It’s an easy drive with tons of great cabin options and lots to do.
My favorite hike on this list is the Auxier Ridge Trail. It’s about four miles roundtrip and the vista views of Courthouse Rock are unmatched. For the best experience at Auxier Ridge, head out for sunset. Be sure to pack a headlamp for the hike back. Don’t miss out on Natural Bridge–a short (but steep) hike will take you to the top, where you can enjoy incredible panoramic views. There’s also a chairlift to the top if that’s more your style.
Discover cave kayaking, rock climbing, late-night bonfires, zip lining and so much more awaiting you at The Gorge! RedRiverGorge.com
Hocking Hills State Park
2½ Hours From Cincinnati
Hocking Hills is tucked away within the rolling forests of Southeastern Ohio. I love going for a couple of nights at a time to unplug.
What really sets Hocking Hills apart are thesuper unique cabin experiences. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway, a luxury stay with all the bells and whistles or an adventurous treehouse, Hocking Hills has awide range of rentals. During my last visit,we stayed at Raven’s Retreat, a remote cabin on 58 acres, featuring a hot tub, fire pit, sauna, yoga deck in the forest and space for up to 16 guests.
Be sure to spend some time in the Old Man’s Cave area. Another one of my top picks is the Rock House hike. Home to the only cave in the park, it boasts 25-foot-high ceilings and is 200 feet long! HockingHills.com
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
3½ Hours From Cincinnati
Cuyahoga Valley is Ohio’s only National Park. It resides in the North, between the cities of Akron and Cleveland, and takes about 3½ hours by car from Cincinnati. Although there are a few decent hiking trails here (my favorite is The Ledges Overlook), the experience here is less hiking-oriented than other options on this list.
Instead of booking a cabin, I’d suggest using Cleveland as your home base for a two- or three-night weekend getaway to the area. Not only can you explore the park, but you can take in all that Cleveland has to offer as well. Consider getting out on Lake Erie, taking the family to Cedar Point or strolling through the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to round out your weekend.
Inside the National Park itself you’ll find a lot of history about the Erie Canal system which once powered Ohio’s economy. There are a number of well-preserved lock systems scattered throughout the park. You can even take a scenic train ride through the park aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. This is a great way to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.
My favorite photography spots in the park and surrounding area are the Station Road Bridge, which towers high above the Cuyahoga River, Tinker Falls or Brandywine Falls–both waterfalls are located just outside the official National Park boundaries. If you’re looking for a great place to ride bikes or go bird watching, Beaver Marsh is another one of my favorite spots in the park.
Since Cuyahoga Valley is a bit further away, I’d encourage you to spend a little bit more time there to take in everything the region has to offer. NPS.gov/cuva/index.htm
Travel With Wes
Meet Travel Guru Wes Mergard
Looking for better travel experiences or inspiration for your next big bucket list trip? Check out Wes Mergard, a Cincinnati native of 35+ years and the founder of Travel With Wes. When he’s not publishing helpful guides on his travel blog, video guides on YouTube or travel inspiration on Instagram, Mergard is taking travelers to bucket list destinations around the world: Norway’s Northern Lights, Germany’s Oktoberfest, European hot spots Paris and Amsterdam and Canada’s Banff National Park. Keep up with Wes’ latest travels and drone photography online, where he’s amassed over 40,000 followers in the travel niche.
“Chase waterfalls, explore caves, enjoy foliage and cap it all off with an afternoon of exploring Madison’s charming small-town vibes.”
“I’d suggest using Cleveland as your home base. Consider getting out on Lake Erie, taking the family to Cedar Point or strolling through the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to round out your weekend.”