Ohio River Cruises From Pittsburgh
Start where the Ohio begins and follow it into the heart of the country.
Get Free Heartland River Cruise QuotesWhere the Ohio Begins
Ohio River cruises from Pittsburgh begin at one of America’s great river junctions. At the Point, the Allegheny flows in from the north and the Monongahela from the south, and together they become the Ohio. Pittsburgh grew rich on the river trade, and its bridges — the city has hundreds — are the first thing you notice from the deck.
| Itinerary | Direction | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio River Cruise | Pittsburgh → Louisville or Louisville → Pittsburgh | 9 days / 8 nights | The core Ohio cruise |
| Grand Ohio River | Pittsburgh → St. Louis | About 15 nights | The whole river to its mouth, then up the Mississippi |
River Towns on the Way
Marietta, Ohio
The first organized American settlement of the Northwest Territory, at the mouth of the Muskingum.
Maysville, Kentucky
A brick river town with a long history in the tobacco and river trade.
Madison, Indiana
A preserved 19th-century river town with a large National Register historic district.
Cincinnati and Louisville
The two big cities of the middle Ohio; see Cincinnati & Louisville.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Ohio River cruises from Pittsburgh go?
The standard cruise runs downriver to Louisville over 9 days and 8 nights; the Grand Ohio continues all the way to St. Louis. Both also run in reverse, ending in Pittsburgh.
Which ports are on the way?
Listings for the longer voyage include Marietta, Maysville, Cincinnati, Madison, Louisville, Henderson, Evansville and Paducah. The shorter cruise covers the upper part of that route. Ports vary by sailing.
Is there anything to do in Pittsburgh before the cruise?
Plenty: the Point where the rivers meet, the inclines up Mount Washington for the view, and museums such as the Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie museums.
Before You Sail
Allow a night in Pittsburgh. Ride the Duquesne or Monongahela incline to Mount Washington for the classic view of the three rivers, walk Point State Park, and visit the Strip District’s markets. For the boats themselves, including the paddlewheelers that sail the Ohio, see our sister site Sternwheeler Cruises.
Locks on the Ohio
The Ohio is a staircase of navigation pools, held back by a series of locks and dams maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Riverboats pass through several on the way to Louisville, and each transit is an event: the boat eases into the chamber, the gates close, and the water level changes while guests watch from the rail. Towboats pushing long strings of barges share the locks, and their pilots’ skill in the chambers is something to see. Ask your cruise director which locks the boat expects to pass in daylight.
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