By Brian Lenz · Posted on January 20th, 2025
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Curious about the Cincinnati Streetcar? I’ve got all info!
When my family and I moved to Cincinnati a few years ago, we had no idea what to expect, and it feels like every week we’re discovering new activities and places to explore. Navigating downtown can be challenging with all the one-way streets, streetcar, and the buses.
However, riding the Cincinnati streetcar (also known as the Connector) offers a convenient and stress-free way to explore the downtown area! Come discover the Connector and all the must-see spots!
Cincinnati Streetcar Quick Guide
Cincinnati has a strong history with streetcars. In the streetcar heyday, Cincinnati had over 200 miles of track, but the electric streetcar was discontinued in 1951. In 2016, the newest version of the electric streetcar, called Connector, was reintroduced to downtown.
Fun Fact: The first electric streetcar in Cincinnati is dated back to 1889 and by the 1930’s only cost 10 cents.
While there is no fee for riding the Connector (yes you read that correct that its FREE!), one does have to pay for downtown parking and could be at a premium if other events are going on.
Parking: The public lots will either charge you for an hour or all day, whereas a garage will charge you per hour which could be cheaper depending on how long your visit is. However, garages are not friendly to oversized vehicles so plan accordingly.
The Connector operates everyday but will extend the core hours for special events. M-F 7:30am-11:30pm, Saturday: 8:30am-11:30pm, Sunday: 9:30am-9:30pm
Cincinnati Streetcar Route
The Connector is an all electric streetcar that is on a ~3.6 mile figure 8 like type loop. The Connector travels only one way but with 3 to 5 streetcars on the track at any time, the wait time for the next streetcar is no more than 15 minutes.
There is an app available to get an accurate time of arrival (the stops that I had used did not have a countdown for the next car contrary to the Connector website). You can find the link to download the app here.
There are multiple stops with multiple points of interest along the route that are worth visiting. I have included some of the more popular stops:
- Music Hall/Washington Park-Cincinnati Music Hall is home to the Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and offers architectural tours as well. Washington Park lies directly in front of the Music Hall and has an outdoor porch to get light refreshments. It also has a large green space and children’s playground.
- Findlay Market-Cincinnati’s oldest and largest farmers market hosting over 50 full-time merchants. The market is open Tuesday through Sunday all year round.
- The Brewing District-Self explanatory on this one🙂
- Fountain Square-Considered by some to be central Downtown. This fountain has food trucks set up in the summertime and Christmas trees and an ice rink in the wintertime.
- Roebling Bridge-One of the many bridges that cross the Ohio River and connects Ohio to Kentucky. This particular bridge was designed John Rooebling (who also designed the Brooklyn Bridge) and has a QR codes along the walking path providing an oral history of the bridge.
- The Banks– Includes all the sporting arena’s and numerous parks along the riverfront.
What To Expect
The total loop takes ~30-40 minutes on a normal day. However, it does run in the same lanes as traffic so it is worth noting that during rush hour and during high traffic events such as sporting events, this timing will be longer. While riding the streetcar, one can see the Washington Park, Cincinnati Music Hall and other historic architecture.
The streetcar is arranged that single seats are at each end and with larger grouping of seats in the middle. The seats were molded plastic with a stop request button spaced ~3 seats apart. During the workday, the streetcar had a steady stream of riders but was never packed.
Each of the Connector loading platforms have a ramp and is at the same elevation making it easy for strollers and wheelchairs to access although it is recommend to go through the middle doors since they are wider.
Advice: When traveling on the street car, remember to keep keep alert of your surroundings. *As my luck would have it, I did have an incident where someone wanted to fight me while i was working on my phone, but that was only 1 rider out of everyone I encountered*
Exploring Cincy By Streetcar Itinerary
I have compiled a family friendly itinerary to explore downtown Cincinnati. This itinerary does involve a lot of walking but it is worth it to see all the sites!
It should be noted that Cincinnati is divided into different neighborhoods and is not uncommon if you hear locals using them.
Morning: Breakfast and an OTR Tour
The Over-The-Rhine (OTR) district was founded by German settlers and is considered to be one of the largest, most intact urban historic districts. Taking a tour of the OTR district is a great way to see the some of the architecture, murals and even an underground crypt.
The tour takes ~2.5 hours but isn’t that long of a walk. The starting point of the tour begins less than 2 blocks from stop 13 on streetcar route.
Afternoon: Exploring the waterfront
Stop by the area known as The Banks and explore the riverfront. While your there, grab a bite at Wild Eggs and enjoy brunch at stop 2 on the route.
- Take a walk around Smale Riverfront Park providing great lookouts over the Ohio River and also a small water attraction for kids to play with.
- Explore the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center diving deep into the history of American slavery and the underground railroad and the role Cincinnati played. I would leave ~1-2 hours for this activity.
- Walk across the Roebling Bridge-Predecesor to the more famous Brooklyn Bridge. Look for the QR codes along the path to hear an oral history of the bridge and listen to the bridge “sing” as the car traffic crosses the metal grating. I would plan about ~1-2 hours for this activity as well.
Evening: Take a bite of German food and play some arcades
As mentioned before, the OTR district was founded by German settlers. Therefore, its only appropriate to cross the river into Kentucky and eat at Hofbräuhaus – Newport for authentic German food.
After dinner, cross the river again and go to Pins for drinks (they do offer non-alcoholic drinks for youngsters) and some indoor fun. They have pin bowling, arcades machines and a rooftop deck to overlook the city. I have also gone next door to Insomnia cookies and had some cookies and ice cream for desert.
This is easily accessible from stop 6 on the streetcar route.
For us, we usually finish off an evening with a ghost tour.
Click here to Book your Ghost Tour!
Interesting Note: The Cincinnati Music Hall have been featured in shows such as Ghost Hunters and Most Terrifying Places in America.
Where to Stay
There are a quite a few hotels in downtown Cincinnati. While most of them are within walking distance of any of the stops, I would recommend the following:
–Best Budget Spot – Hampton Inn & Suites Cincinnati-Downtown. This hotel is located right in Downtown about a block away from Fountain square.
–Best Mid-Range Spot –Hyatt Regency Cincinnati. This hotel is also two blocks away from Fountain Square but across the street from the Duke Energy Convention Center.
–Best Luxury Spot – AC Hotel Cincinnati at The Banks. This hotel is located right next to The Great American Ballpark and offers a great overview of the Ohio River.
FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions.
Is the Cincinnati streetcar still free?
Yes! The Cincinnati streetcar is completely free for everybody (including non-residence)! However, it is important to note that The Connector only runs downtown and all parking downtown is fee based.
How long is the Cincinnati streetcar Loop?
The Connector loop is ~3.6 miles loop.
How late does the Cincinnati streetcar run?
Th streetcar runs 365 days a year with adjusted hours for special events. For normal operations, the streetcar ends service at 11:30 pm Monday -Saturday and 9:30pm on Sundays.
Are dogs allowed on the Cincinnati streetcar?
Only service animals are allowed on the streetcar. All other pets on the streetcar must be in pet carriers.
Is there other options for public transport?
Yes! The metro bus system is also based in downtown and will travel much further to the outskirts of Cincinnati and other notable places of interest. However, the metro does charge a fee depending on the distance.
Conclusion
As you can see from above, downtown Cincinnati has a lot to offer. While the city is very walker friendly, the streetcar is a convenient way to get around! To learn more, visit the Connector website here.