6+ Hours at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport - Header image

6+ Hours at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport

Maeve Power
Spend your 6+ hour layover exploring the city or the surrounding area instead of sitting in the terminal. Check out these options for a longer layover at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Spend your 6+ hour layover exploring the city or the surrounding area instead of sitting in the terminal. Check out these options for a longer layover at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Head downtown

If you have a longer layover at CVG take advantage of your downtime and head into the city. Downtown Cincinnati is located 19.7 miles from the airport. The best and fastest option for getting downtown from the airport is by taxi. The city is built on the banks of the Ohio River and is a beautiful city to walk around and explore. The Botanical Gardens are a must-see or, for a more relaxing time, spend your day walking the city and enjoying the vibrant food scene. For more details on what to do during your layover in Cincinnati visit the Lonely Planet Guide to Cincinnati.

Avoid downtown

Rather than spending your layover in the city, instead, head to one of the many parks and recreation areas surrounding the airport and enjoy the beautiful landscape. Shawnee Lookout is a 1,515-acre park with golf, trails & historic buildings and archaeological earthworks. Spend your layover hiking the trails and get impressive views of the surrounding areas. Located 19.3 miles from the airport. You will need to get a taxi to the trailhead. When leaving the airport during your layover always make sure you leave plenty of time to get back to the airport and through security before your next flight.

Transport Options

Bus: The Airporter Bus connects the airport to downtown Cincinnati. Bus fare is only $3.50 per person, one way and runs from 5:00 – 00:00. Catch the bus from the east end of Baggage Claim.

Overnight Layover?

If you have an overnight layover at CVG and want to get a good night's sleep there are many options available to you at and near the airport. The DoubleTree by Hilton Cincinnati Airport Hotel is the only hotel located on airport grounds and is the best option for travelers with an early morning flight. The Cincinnati Airport Marriott and the Hampton Inn Cincinnati Airport North are both located 3 minutes from the airport and offer complimentary shuttle buses for guests.

Luggage Storage

As with most airports in the US, there are no luggage storage facilities available at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. If you have a layover at CVG and want to store your luggage try these options: Ask at the airport information desk for recommendations on nearby luggage storage facilities.  If you are heading downtown, check for luggage storage lockers at bus and train terminalsUse Google to find a luggage storage service. There are lots of apps and websites that offer luggage storage options in large cities across the US.
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