How to Plan a Cincinnati Reds Weekend Trip (Even If You’ve Never Been)
There’s something special about a baseball weekend in a new city.
You get the energy of the stadium, the walkable excitement around the ballpark, and a built-in reason to explore somewhere new.
For us, the best baseball trips include wandering a little, finding a good place for a drink before the game, and leaving enough time to just enjoy the atmosphere.
And if you’re thinking about planning a trip to see the Cincinnati Reds play at Great American Ball Park, the good news is Cincinnati is one of the easiest baseball cities to plan a relaxed weekend trip.
Stay Close to the Stadium
One of the best things about Cincinnati is how walkable the riverfront area is.
If you stay downtown, you can walk almost everywhere you’ll want to go during a baseball weekend.
Hotels near the stadium that work well include:
• AC Hotel Cincinnati at The Banks
• The Westin Cincinnati
• Hampton Inn & Suites Cincinnati-Downtown
The Banks area between the river and the stadium fills up with fans on game days, and the entire district starts to feel like a pre-game celebration.
Walk the Riverfront Before the Game
Before heading to the stadium, we love walking along the river.
The parks along the Ohio Riverfront Park offer great views of the river and the bridges connecting Ohio and Kentucky.
You’ll see fans in Reds jerseys everywhere, boats moving along the water, and the excitement building as game time approaches.
It’s a relaxed way to start the evening.
What we love most about baseball weekends is how simple they can be.
You don’t need a packed itinerary — just a walkable city, a good hotel, and time to enjoy the atmosphere.
We’ve found the same thing happens on cruises too. Some of our favorite moments happen when we slow down and enjoy the experience, like we talked about in our post on What Sea Days Are Really Like on a Cruise.
Grab a Drink at a Pre-Game Bar
Part of the fun of baseball trips is the atmosphere before the first pitch.
Some great spots near the ballpark include:
• Moerlein Lager House
• Holy Grail Tavern and Grille
• Yard House
Arriving an hour or two early gives you time to soak in the energy of the crowd before heading into the stadium.
Take the Stadium Tour
If you have time earlier in the day, consider taking a tour of Great American Ball Park.
You’ll get access to areas most fans never see, including the dugout and press areas, along with exhibits that highlight the long history of the Reds.
For baseball fans, it’s a great way to start the day.
What to Bring to the Game
Most stadiums now have strict bag policies, so planning ahead helps.
A few things we always bring:
• a clear stadium bag
• a small travel backpack for exploring the city
• a portable phone charger
Having a small bag that works for both sightseeing and stadium entry makes the day much easier.
Why Baseball Trips Are So Fun
What we love most about baseball weekends is how simple they can be.
You don’t need a packed itinerary.
Just a good hotel, a walkable area, and a stadium full of fans who are all there for the same reason.
Some of the best travel memories happen in the moments in between.
Walking to the stadium with a crowd in red jerseys.
Talking baseball with strangers at a bar.
Watching the lights come on over the field as the sun sets over the river.
And if you’re planning a baseball trip, Cincinnati is a great place to start.
What we love most about baseball weekends is how simple they can be. You don’t need a packed itinerary — just a walkable city, a good hotel, and time to enjoy the atmosphere. That relaxed approach is something we’ve learned over time, especially when we started planning trips without overplanning.
Where We Like to Sit
Everyone has their favorite place to sit in a ballpark, but over time we’ve found ourselves coming back to the same area at Great American Ball Park.
We love sitting behind the home dugout.
There’s something special about being close enough to watch the players interact, see the game from their perspective, and feel the energy of the crowd around you.
One of my favorite moments happens late in the game when the starting pitcher is finishing his outing. When the crowd rises for a standing ovation as he walks off the mound, you can really feel the appreciation for the performance.
Those moments are part of what makes seeing the Cincinnati Reds play in person so memorable.
Quick Game Day Tips
If it’s your first time visiting Great American Ball Park, a few simple tips can make the experience even smoother.
Arrive early
Give yourself at least an hour before first pitch to enjoy the riverfront and pre-game atmosphere around the stadium.
Walk if you’re staying downtown
The area around the stadium is very walkable, especially from hotels near The Banks district.
Bring a stadium-approved bag
Most MLB stadiums have clear bag rules, so a small clear stadium bag makes entry faster.
Check the pitching matchup
If you're lucky enough to see a strong starting pitcher finish his outing, the standing ovation from the crowd is one of the best moments in the park.
Our “Go Back and See” List
One thing we’ve learned about travel is not to try to see everything in one trip.
Instead, we travel like we’re going back.
Sometimes that means noticing things we don’t have time for the first visit and putting them on a mental list for the next trip.
Cincinnati is one of those cities we’ve returned to several times, and each trip we’ve explored something new.
Some of the things we’ve already gone back to experience include:
• taking the tour of Great American Ball Park
• exploring the historic streets and restaurants in Over-the-Rhine
• visiting Findlay Market
• spending more time walking along the riverfront
Traveling this way makes every trip feel a little deeper.
Instead of rushing through a checklist, we let each visit add another layer to the experience.