Where to Run in Cincinnati

It is often said that the best way to explore a city is on foot, and running in Cincinnati, Ohio, is no exception. Also known as the Queen City, Cincinnati earned its nickname in the early 1800s for its reputation as the finest, most cultured city in the west. Today, it’s considered the cultural center of southwestern Ohio, northern Kentucky and southern Indiana, infused with arts and a robust foodie scene, supported by strategic planning and conserved through historic preservation.

This Midwest city has deep German roots and a rich history as a brewing town. In fact, Cincinnati hosts the largest Oktoberfest in the United States—and the fourth-largest in the world—with more than 700,000 beer lovers attending every year. It’s no surprise that this beer-loving city kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with the Hudepohl 14K/7K and is home to the TQL Beer Race Series.

What’s more, the City of Seven Hills challenges the common assumption that the Midwest is flat. Runners can challenge themselves with hills, enjoy flat routes and take in scenic vistas of the Queen City. Here is everything you need to know about running in Cincinnati.

Fleet Feet: Cincinnati’s Local Running Resource

Runners gather outside Fleet Feet Cincinnati.

The best way to familiarize yourself with the local running scene is to start with the local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet Cincinnati has eight locations: Blue Ash, West Chester, Oakley, Loveland, O’Bryonville, Glendale, Fifty West and Newport just over the river in Kentucky.

Blue Ash, Oakley, Fifty West and Newport have active running clubs and training programs with hundreds of active participants of all experience levels and paces. Can’t make the group runs but still want to connect? Join Fleet Feet Cincinnati’s Strava Group.

Need help planning for a race or figuring out what to wear for Cincinnati’s weather? Whether you’re visiting from out of town or new to running, we’ve compiled tips for running in Cincinnati to eliminate the guesswork.

Running Cincinnati’s Neighborhoods

Runners run through Cincinnati's neighborhoods.

Cincinnati is a very runnable city. The city’s neighborhoods have plenty of well-lit sidewalks, making it easy to run safely. For low-light and dark runs in the morning, evening and night, it’s still important to gear up with lights and reflective accents so motorists can see you. Don’t forget to keep your eyes and ears open for approaching vehicles, cyclists and other pedestrians.

When you want to get off the roads, Cincinnati’s trail system is the perfect place. The Cincinnati Riding Or Walking Network (CROWN) includes a dozen existing trails in Cincinnati’s neighborhoods, with plans to connect all of them for more than 100 miles of dedicated paths for running, walking and biking.

It’s worth noting that Cincinnati is spread out across a whopping 52 neighborhoods, and a car is the quickest and easiest way to get around. However, Cincinnati’s bus system connects the city’s neighborhoods to Downtown, and the Connector, Cincinnati’s electric-powered streetcar, operates a free, 3.6-mile loop connecting Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine and Banks neighborhoods via the Central Business District.

Here are a few of our favorite neighborhoods for running in Cincinnati.

Blue Ash

Approximately 20 minutes north of downtown Cincinnati, Blue Ash is ideal for runners who want to step out their front door and run their neighborhood. When sidewalks get busy, locals head to Sharon Woods for crushed-gravel trails or Summit Park, a 130-acre space with paved and dirt trails perfect for running, plus a variety of free fitness classes throughout the year.

Check out these Blue Ash routes created by the Fleet Feet Cincinnati Blue Ash store:

2 Mile Sycamore Junior High - Map - Turn by Turn
3 Mile Neighborhoods - Map - Turn by Turn
5 Mile Blue Ash Road - Map - Turn by Turn
5 Mile Carpenter's Run - Map - Turn by Turn
6 Mile Big Loop - Map - Turn by Turn
13 Mile Bigger Loop - Map - Turn by Turn
15 Mile Around Town Loop - Map - Turn by Turn

Clifton

Just nine minutes from downtown Cincinnati, Clifton is a quiet, residential community where runners can enjoy tree-lined streets flanked by historic mansions. To get your nature fix, head to Rawson Nature Preserve, Mt. Storm Park or Burnet Woods. For a post-run snack, check out the cafes on Ludlow Avenue.

Glendale

Glendale is great when you need a flat route for an easy run. This village has several passive parks with beautiful, tree-lined paths where you can enjoy a peaceful and quiet run. While you’re there, swing by Fleet Feet Cincinnati’s Glendale store for all of your running needs.

Loveland

Thanks to its prime location along the Little Miami River, Loveland runners can hop on the Little Miami Scenic Trail. Fleet Feet Cincinnati Loveland is right off the trail, making it the perfect spot to grab more fuel mid-run.

Mariemont

Home to miles 15-16 of the Flying Pig Marathon, Mariemont offers runners a welcome break from the city’s hills. Running in Mariemont feels like a trip back in time. This quaint area is modeled after an English garden neighborhood and offers shady streets, Tudor-style buildings and loads of historic charm.

Mount Lookout

This Cincinnati neighborhood makes the list because it’s home to two nice parks for running: Ault Park and Alms Park. Ault Park offers paved paths, gardens and a fitness circuit, plus several dirt trails winding through forest. It’s a popular spot for cherry blossoms in the spring. Alms Park features a 1.3-mile loop that includes an overlook of Cincinnati’s municipal airport, Lunken Field.

Oakley

Known for its walkability, Oakley is home to several beautiful parks, craft breweries, restaurants and shopping. Runners benefit from Wasson Way, a 3.5-mile multi-use trail that connects to other trails and multiple Cincinnati neighborhoods. Ask the outfitters at the Fleet Feet Cincinnati Oakley location for their favorite routes or where to grab a coffee.

Runnable Cities Near Cincinnati

Newport

Head just over to Newport, Kentucky, for gorgeous views of the Cincinnati skyline from the pedestrian trails along the waterfront. For extra miles, it’s easy to run over the Ohio River into Cincinnati across one of the runner-friendly bridges, including the Purple People Bridge, CW Bailey Bridge, Taylor-Southgate Bridge and the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, which is a historic landmark. Don’t forget to swing by Fleet Feet Cincinnati’s Newport store when you’re in town.

Cincinnati’s Best Running Routes

With so many amazing running routes in Cincinnati, you can’t go wrong. We’ve narrowed it down to some of Cincinnati’s most popular running routes based on distance, trails and hills.

Runners jump for joy during a group run in Cincinnati.

Shorter Runs in Cincinnati

Spring Grove Cemetery is a large and scenic cemetery, and it’s runner friendly. They just ask runners to be respectful of other visitors, and shirts are required. This Strava map will get you 4.2 miles and 100 feet of elevation.

Mill Creek Greenway along the Ohio River offers 3.5 miles of paved trail where runners can see wildlife and public art, and even taste samples from an edible forest garden. This trail is undergoing restoration to extend the trail up to 14 miles.

Cincinnati’s Eden Park is versatile—run as many laps as you can around Mirror Lake, get up to 4.6 miles through the park, or weave in and out while incorporating nearby neighborhoods for more miles.

Otto Armleder Park has a 1.9-mile loop that is perfect for runners who like to keep an eye out for birds. The trail has several birdhouses to encourage nesting for native blue birds, plus tree swallows and osprey can be spotted in the park.

Longer Runs in Cincinnati

Connect the Otto Armleder loop to the Lunken Airport Bike Path via the connector trail to get just around nine miles.

The Little Miami Scenic Trail is 78 miles end-to-end, ideal for ambitious ultra runners needing longer distances without too much route planning.

A woman runs through a trail in Cincinnati.

Hilly Runs in Cincinnati

Southern Cincinnati is known for its hills. If you run from Newport toward Cincinnati, you can easily get 500 feet of elevation between roads and bridge crossings.

Devou Park in nearby Covington, Kentucky, has multiple dirt trails with plenty of hills. Trek to the top of their highest hill for panoramic views of downtown Cincinnati.

Shawnee Lookout offers some hills on their nature trails and 4.3 miles of former golf-cart paths. Runners can get spectacular views of the Ohio River and Great Miami River valleys.

Trail Runs in Cincinnati

Glenwood Gardens features crushed-gravel trails, ideal for easy days and perfect for newbies exploring trail running for the first time. Check out these four tips for your first trail run.

California Woods is flat and well maintained, making it another great option for newbies or an easy day for experienced trail runners.

The Cincinnati Nature Center is a well-maintained, beautiful park with a 12.5-mile trail loop. This is the best option for a long trail run in the city, but it’s worth noting that it’s very hilly if you’re taking the entire loop.

Check out our top 5 parks for trail running in Cincinnati, or our resource to learn more about running Southwest Ohio’s trails with Fleet Feet Cincinnati.

Where to Fuel Up Post-run in Cincinnati

Runners love a post-run coffee, beer, snack or meal. Here are a few of our favorite local spots in Cincinnati to fuel up after a run.

Coffee and Breakfast

The Sleepy Bee Cafe, with locations in Blue Ash and Oakley, is a breakfast spot serving locally sourced food that tastes good and makes you feel good. You’ll often see members of our run club there enjoying a post-run breakfast!

Carabello Coffee is a cozy gathering spot in Newport that locally roasts coffee beans and offers craft coffees and pastries. It’s a great place for a caffeine boost or small breakfast after your run.

Coffee Please in Madeira is a homey café and bakery serving up specialty coffees and drinks, baked goods and tasty breakfast.

A man eats a big, soft pretzel after a run in Cincinnati.

Pints, Snacks, Meals and Sweet Treats

When you join us for a group run at our Fleet Feet Cincinnati Fifty West store, be sure to visit our neighbor, 50 West Brewing for a craft beer or a burger. You can’t miss them—they’re right next door!

For a taste of Germany, head across the river to Hofbräuhaus Newport for a beer and a meal. We love that their menu accommodates vegetarian, gluten free and Lent. We love the fried pickle chips and Hofbräuhaus pretzels and beer cheese.

This idea may be better suited for pre-race dinner. Head to any Skyline Chili location in Cincinnati for a 3-Way: a bed of spaghetti loaded with their secret-recipe chili and topped with a mound of shredded cheddar cheese. Make it a 4-Way with diced onions or beans, or a 5-Way with both. If you’re experiencing Skyline for the first time it might seem weird, but it’s better than any generic pre-race pasta dinner.

For a locally owned chili option, check out Blue Ash Chili, located in the same plaza as Fleet Feet Cincinnati Blue Ash store. You’ll get the feel of a small-town diner while munching on Cincy-style chili, plus custom burgers and other hearty meals.

When you’re running in Mariemont, treat yourself to a post-run sweet treat from Graeter’s Ice Cream Shop in Mariemont Square. Be sure to check out their menu of seasonal ice cream flavors—even in winter!

Don’t hesitate to check in with the Fleet Feet Cincinnati team for answers to all of your questions about running in Cincinnati, training groups, group runs and workouts, Cincinnati races and more.

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