Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Car Rentals: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty are located at the airport. Happily, when you drive across the Ohio River via the interstate freeway from Northern Kentucky into downtown Cincinnati, there is NO bridge toll.
Taxis: catch them in the baggage claim area of Terminal 3 or call 859-767-3260 or use the courtesy phone near the exits of Terminals 1 and 2 to arrange for 24-hour service. One-way from the airport to downtown costs $25. You can dependably hail a taxi at most downtown hotels.
Shuttles to Downtown Cincinnati and Covington, KY cost $14 one-way and $24 round-trip. Rates to other locations vary. Though Walk-up service is available, call 24 hours in advance to guarantee a reservation. Board just outside baggage claim or call 859-261-8601 or 800-990-8841.
TRAINS
Amtrak Cardinal service between Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and NYC runs 3 days per week. There is also an Amtrak motor coach from Cleveland to Columbus to Cincinnati.
TRANSIT
SORTA Metro Buses: Although nothing stands out as having tourist-quality, Metro buses run throughout greater Cincinnati and TANK buses run in northern Kentucky.
TOURS
Secret Passages Tour
Presented by JLG (Journey Legacy Gratitude) Tours, Secret Passage is Cincinnati’s Definitive Underground Railroad tour experience and African American Heritage tour; half, full and 2-day tours available which include authentic slave narratives, a re-enactment, a soul food lunch, and a moving tribute at the River Jordan; 513-563-9380
Academy of Travel & Tourism
Cincinnati Public School, 2400 Madison Road; 513-533-5798
CRUISES
BB Riverboats
Romance, scenery, and the city skyline for lunch, dinner, and full day cruises; 1 Madison Ave, Covington, KY; 859-261-8500
Celebrations Riverboats
Best for cruising the Ohio River with groups of 50- 400 passengers; continental and seafood cuisine; 7612 Hamilton Avenue; Cincinnati; 513-931-6752
Delta Queen Steamboat Company
America's oldest, continuously operating cruise line offer 3 to 11 night, all-American cruise vacations aboard genuine paddle wheelers; long cruises begin in New Orleans to Memphis to St. Louis (up the Mississippi River), then up the Ohio River to Cincinnati; 1380 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans; 888-888-1890
DRIVING
Cincinnati Freeway Network: Situated at the intersection of Interstates 71, 74, and 75, Cincinnati is within a day’s drive of nearly half of the nation’s population. With no rail transit system, this car-centric metro area relies on an extensive freeway network and several bridges between Downtown, the airport and circulating around the suburbs. Commutes hours into downtown can be daunting. Freeway names are:
71 Interstate from Columbus to Cincinnati to Louisville
74 Interstate from Cincinnati to Indianapolis
75 Interstate from Dayton to Cincinnati to Knoxville
126 State Route (northern) Cross-County Freeway
271 Interstate inner beltway around Louisville
275 Beltway surrounding Cincinnati; goes by the major airport
471 Connector freeway between Downtown and I-275 to the south
562 State Route Norwood Lateral Expressway connecting I-75 and I-71
BLACK CULTURAL TRAVEL MADE EASY