Southwest Ohio

Travel Guide

In this corner of Ohio, discover charming towns with attractions such as art museums, amusement parks, farmers markets and craft breweries. Springfield even has a downtown whitewater park.

Southwest Ohio has something for everyone. Walk in the footsteps of a famous sharpshooter, a heroic abolitionist and a U.S. president. Spend some time seeing all that Cincinnati has to offer, but don’t miss the many towns spread throughout the region.

When he visited Cincinnati in 1892, Charles Dickens deemed it “a beautiful city, cheerful, thriving, and animated.” Over a century later, that description still applies. Explore Over-the-Rhine, the city’s historic district, check out the exhibits in the Cincinnati Museum CenterOpens in a new window and the Cincinnati Art MuseumOpens in a new window and meet the animals in the Cincinnati ZooOpens in a new window. Learn about the fight for abolition at the Harriet Beecher-Stowe House and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Visit DaytonOpens in a new window, a small city with a lot to offer. Stroll through Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum, the resting place of Orville and Wilbur Wright. Discover some of their inventions at Carillon Historical Park and learn more about the history of flight at the National Museum of the United States Air ForceOpens in a new window. Admire exhibits in the Dayton Art InstituteOpens in a new window and explore the cultural attractions in the Oregon District.

Stop by Greenville, the home of Annie Oakley. Learn all about the legendary member of Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show at the Annie Oakley Center at Garst Museum.

In Georgetown, tour U.S. Grant Boyhood Home & Schoolhouse. This humble colonial home is where Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president grew up.

Go to Mason for heart-pumping fun. Kings IslandOpens in a new window amusement park offers fun for the whole family, with roller coasters, a children’s park and water rides.

Explore the picturesque red-brick campus of Miami University in Oxford. Enjoy the great outdoors in nearby Hueston Woods State Park.

If you think Miami University is a misnomer, wait until you drive through Southwest Ohio. Towns with foreign-inspired names, such as Moscow and Lebanon, can be found throughout the region.

Where to stay in Southwest Ohio

Fountain Square

Downtown Cincinnati

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Ample dining options, fascinating museums, and great live music are just a few top things to explore in Downtown Cincinnati. A visit to Great American Ball Park or Fountain Square might round out your trip, and you can jump aboard the metro at Fountain Square Tram Stop or Cincinnati Cyclones Tram Stop to get around town.

Downtown Cincinnati
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Norwood

Unique features of Norwood include the shopping and restaurants. Make a stop by Rookwood Commons or Drake Planetarium while you're exploring the area.

Norwood
Dayton showing a lake or waterhole and kayaking or canoeing as well as a small group of people

Downtown Dayton

Unique features of Downtown Dayton include the theatres and bars. Make a stop by Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center or Victoria Theater while you're exploring the area.

Downtown Dayton
Washington Park

Over-the-Rhine

You might enjoy the restaurants while in Over-the-Rhine. Cincinnati Music Hall is a notable sight, and you can get around town at Liberty & Race Tram Stop or 12th & Vine Tram Stop to see more of the city.

Over-the-Rhine
Krohn Conservatory which includes a garden and autumn leaves

Mount Adams

Mount Adams is noteworthy for its restaurants, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Cincinnati Art Museum and Krohn Conservatory.

Mount Adams
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Hyde Park

While there might not be top attractions in Hyde Park, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Rookwood Commons and Cincinnati Observatory Center.

Hyde Park

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Things to do