This is a record of the week-long bike ride that I did in October of 2025 from Cincinnati to Cleveland. Although residents who live in Ohio (or a nearby state) could easily do
this trip on their own, I joined the tour guided by Cycle of Life Adventures. I was able to rent a bike and helmet,
which was nice because I live in Seattle. Also, I didn't have to make any reservations. There is an official website for the OTET - Ohio To Erie Trail that
will give you the route if you want to try this ride on your own. Interactive Route map for Cincinnati to Cleveland ride
This is an easy and enjoyable ride. The tour group had friendly riders, the guides were cheerful and well prepared. The places we stayed were nice, and we got plenty of
good food to eat. The bike trails in Ohio are in amazing condition, flat and well maintained.
Because I have friends and relatives in Cleveland, I spent the week preceding the tour visiting. Unfortunately, Amtrak does not have a route between Cleveland and Cincinnati. The
Cincinnati main bus station is 13 miles from downtown. So I ended up flying from Cleveland to Cincinnati, which meant I had to go through OHare. In hindsight, it would have been smarter to simply drive the car I rented
in Cleveland down to the Cincinnati airport and pay the extra charge for dropping it off at a different location than where I rented it from. Probably would have been cheaper than flying and more convenient too. Cycle Of Life Adventures
met me at the airport and shuttled me to the starting hotel.
My friend Lance also joined this bike tour, so we shared hotel rooms (and so saved the expense of paying the single supplement for rooms).
8:40 AM flight Cleveland to OHare 90 minute layover in OHare 10:45 AM flight to Cincinnati, landing at 1:10 PM 2 PM pickup at Cincinnati airport by Cycle-of-Life 5 PM orientation meeting Holiday Inn Express, Bellevue Kentucky 70 miles, 1822’ elevation Purple people bridge, Smale park, Sawyer Point and International Friendship Park, Little Miami River Scenic Trail, and Fort Ancient Earthworks. 59 miles, 917‘ elevation Ohio farmland and smalltown Americana. Camp Chase Trail and Lower Scioto Greenway to Columbus with thriving art and craft beer communities. 52 miles, 1083' elevation Alum Creek and Heart of Ohio trails. Ariel Foundation Park. Woodward Opera house, 19th century theater. 41 miles, 1234’ elevation Mohican Valley trail. Heart of Ohio Amish country. Second longest covered bridge in Ohio, Bridge of Dreams. Historic town of Millersburg. 68 miles, 1718’ elevation Holmes County trail and picturesque rural roads. Amish towns of Fredericksburg and Holmesville. Ohio & Erie National Canalway Heritage area. 46 miles, 840’ elevation This Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath trail and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Edgewater Park and Cleveland Public Square. Tour ends at 4 PM at Cleveland Hopkins airportItinerary
Sunday October 19 2025
Monday October 20 2025
Cincinnati/Newport to Xenia
Tuesday October 21 2025
Xenia to Columbus
Wednesday October 22 2025
Columbus to Mt. Vernon
Thursday October 23 2025
Mt. Vernon to Millersburg
Friday October 24 2025
Millersburg to Akron
Saturday October 25 2025
Akron to Cleveland
Item Date Cost Roundtrip flights Seattle to Cleveland Oct 8 - 28 $202 Flight from Cleveland to Cincinnati via Chicago Oct 19 $162 Rental car in Cleveland prior to bike tour (11 days) Oct 8 - 19 $355 Rental car in Cleveland after bike tour (3 days) Oct 25 - 28 $137 Cycle of Life Adventure Cin to Cle tour (includes $300 promotional discount off of price) Oct 19 - 25 $2600 Cycle of Life Adventure bike rental Oct 19 - 25 $195 Total $3651
