Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) serves the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area, despite being located in Hebron, Kentucky—13 miles south of downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. The airport's code comes from its original name, Covington (the nearest city when it opened).

The airport has three concourses (A, B, and C) connected to a single main terminal. CVG was formerly a major Delta hub and remains a significant cargo airport. Today it's served by multiple carriers with Frontier and Delta being the largest.

Key airlines: Frontier (largest), Delta, American, United, Southwest, Allegiant, and seasonal charters.

CVG is located in Northern Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati:

• To downtown Cincinnati: 13 miles (21 km), 20-30 minutes
• To Covington/Newport: 10 miles, 15-20 minutes
• To Lexington, KY: 80 miles, 1 hour 15 minutes

The airport is easily accessible from I-275 and I-75.

Uber and Lyft operate at CVG with pickup on the ground level of the terminal.

Taxis are available from the ground transportation area:

• To downtown Cincinnati: $35-45 (25-30 minutes)
• To Covington/Newport: $25-35 (15-20 minutes)
• To Florence, KY: $20-25 (10-15 minutes)

TANK Bus (Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky)

Route 2X connects CVG to downtown Cincinnati:

• Journey time: 45-55 minutes
• Cost: $2.00
• Frequency: Limited—approximately every 30-60 minutes during weekday rush hours
• Hours: Limited service; no late night or weekend service

1. Exit to ground transportation
2. Board TANK Route 2X at the bus stop
3. Transfer downtown to Metro for other Cincinnati destinations

Note: Public transit to CVG is very limited. Most travelers use rideshare or rental cars.

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
Terminal Garage	$22/day	Covered, direct terminal access
ValuPark	$10/day	Free shuttle, 5-minute ride
Economy Lot	$7/day	Free shuttle, 7-10 minute ride
Cell Phone Lot	Free	30-minute limit for pickup

Pre-book online at cvgairport.com for discounts up to 25%.

CVG has solid dining options across all concourses:

Concourse A:

• Chick-fil-A
• Starbucks

Concourse B:

• Graeter's Ice Cream: Local Cincinnati institution—try the Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip
• Gold Star Chili: Cincinnati-style chili (yes, on spaghetti)
• Adriatico's Pizza
• Starbucks
• Chili's

Concourse C:

• LaRosa's Pizzeria: Regional favorite
• Dunkin'

Best bets: Graeter's for dessert and Gold Star Chili for a Cincinnati culinary experience.

Network: CVG Free WiFi

• Cost: Free, unlimited
• Speed: Good—suitable for streaming and video calls
• No registration required

SIM cards available from:

• InMotion store (main terminal)
• Verizon and AT&T options

Alternatively, purchase from carriers in downtown Cincinnati or local malls.

Multiple ATMs located throughout:

• Main terminal
• Each concourse

Currency exchange: Limited services available. Use ATMs for best rates if arriving internationally.

Main Terminal & Concourses:

• Cincinnati-themed shops: Local sports gear (Bengals, Reds, FC Cincinnati)
• Hudson News (books, snacks, travel items)
• Tech accessories at InMotion
• Duty-free (limited, for international departures)

Delta Sky Club

• Location: Concourse B
• Access: Delta Sky Club membership, Delta One/First, Delta Reserve Amex, Delta Platinum/Diamond status
• Amenities: Food, drinks, WiFi, showers
• Hours: Varies with flight schedule

The Club CVG

• Location: Concourse B
• Access: Priority Pass, Lounge Club, $45 walk-in
• Amenities: Hot food, drinks, WiFi
• Hours: 05:00-20:00

No Amex Centurion or United Club at CVG.

Several hotels are within minutes of the airport via shuttle:

Cincinnati offers a blend of Midwest charm, craft beer, and unique food culture:

Top attractions (with travel time from airport):

• Over-the-Rhine (OTR): 25 min—trendy neighborhood with restaurants, bars, and Italianate architecture
• Findlay Market: 25 min—Ohio's oldest public market (since 1855)
• Cincinnati Zoo: 30 min—one of the nation's best zoos
• Great American Ball Park: 25 min—home of the Cincinnati Reds
• Paycor Stadium: 25 min—home of the Cincinnati Bengals (NFL)
• Newport Aquarium: 20 min—across the river in Kentucky
• Roebling Suspension Bridge: 25 min—predecessor to the Brooklyn Bridge

Cincinnati food specialties:

• Cincinnati chili: Meat sauce served over spaghetti with cheese (try Skyline or Gold Star)
• Goetta: German-inspired sausage with oats (breakfast staple)
• Graeter's Ice Cream: French pot ice cream, especially Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip

Local tips:

• The Banks area along the riverfront has restaurants and nightlife
• Kentucky side (Covington, Newport) has great bars and is walking distance from downtown Cincinnati
• Cincinnati has a thriving craft beer scene—visit Rhinegeist or MadTree breweries
• The city is hillier than expected—prepare for some inclines