Middletown (Ohio)

Middletown is a city in Ohio, north of Cincinnati and a short drive south of Dayton.

Get in

Downtown Middletown

By car

The easiest way into Middletown is by taking exit#32 from I-75. This is state route 122, also known as Roosevelt Boulevard, and also known as Martin Luther King Dr. This is the main commercial area for the city. From Hamilton, Ohio state route 4 will lead you into the south end before reaching downtown, then changing into Verity Parkway. From the west, following Ohio 122 will lead you into downtown after crossing the Little Miami River.

By plane

• 🌍 Middletown Regional Airport (MWO  ^IATA). A General aviation airport. (updated Dec 2018)

Get around

By Car

Driving in Middletown is easy for locals, but can be a bit confusing for out-of-towners. The city only has one freeway ramp, exit #32, which is state route 122. State route 122 is known as Roosevelt Blvd, which is part of the Martin Luther King beltway. Major east-west roads are Oxford State in the south end, which connects Middletown with Trenton as state route 73, 14th street, part of the Martin Luther King beltway, Central Avenue, which is the main downtown corridor (and curiously changes to coles road at the Warren County line), Manchester Avenue (One of 3 Manchesters in Middletown), and Verity Parkway, part of state route 73. North-South routes are Cincinnati-Dayton Road (another with multiple names, Dixie Highway and Old 25), Breiel Boulevard, which is a very heavily traveled route, University Boulevard (part of Martin Luther King beltway), Verity Parkway, and Main Street. The street system, while it may seem odd, has its advantages. Most streets, even residential are far wider than necessary, and one can get anywhere in the city in fifteen minutes. Rush hour traffic usually means waiting an extra light cycle for the arrow. Red light cameras are frequent.

By bike

• 🌍 Bike trail (Runs parallel to the Great Miami River and SR 4 inside the city.). 

By Bus

• BCRTA. Runs a small bus network within the city limits single fare is $1.25.. (updated Apr 2019)

See

Artwork commemorating the canal.

• 🌍 Miami University, Middletown Branch Campus, located on Tytus Avenue, just off Verity (Smith Park). There is a fishing pond, walking trails, and many sporting areas. Also offers frequent stage performances, as well as walking trails and tennis courts.  
• Canal Museum, 1605 N Verity Parkway (Smith Park). displays photos and artifacts from Middletown's heyday as a booming stop on the Miami-Erie Canal. 
• There is a great view of the city from the hill on SR122 just west of town.
• Another great view is from the top of the empty parking garage downtown on Verity. Many advertisements from the 50s are still painted on buildings, such as vintage coca-cola ads.
• AK Steel, a major employer in the area, has two HUGE flames shooting into the night sky, one blue, and one yellow.
• Pendleton Art Center, 1105 Central Ave, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. (updated Dec 2018)
• 🌍 Bulls Run Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum, 3909 Rosedale Rd, e-mail: [e-mail]. (updated Apr 2019)

Do

• 🌍 Sunset Park (on Bellemonte just off central). has a pool open to the public and is host to some local events during the summer. 
• Haven Yoga Studio, 1131 Central Ave (in the Torchlight Pass building). Offers yoga, massage, meditation, and other healing arts. (updated Apr 2019)
• The Windemere Event Center, 2 S Main St. Frequently hosts parties and events (updated Apr 2019)

Events

• Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival: 19–20 July 2019. hot air balloon festival with lots of activities, food, and drink. The event is typically held in late July at Smith Park on Tytus Avenue.
• First Friday's Downtown: art studios and stores are open with specials on the first Friday of each month from 5p-9p
• Light Up Middletown, fantasy light display, "Admission by Cash Donation – You set the price. 6-10 PM Every night, from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve Open regardless of the weather, including all holidays. Santa and Mrs. Claus, every Fri & Sat 7-9 pm thru Dec 23. Directions: Take I-75 to Exit 32 and follow the signs to downtown and Light Up Middletown"

Buy

• 🌍 Towne Mall Galleria (located just off the interstate). A dying mall, but a great place to go for a walk when the weather is bad. More than half the mall spaces are for rent. 
• SoulCraft. (updated Dec 2018)
• Flores Leather. (updated Dec 2018)
• Spoken Bicycles, 1201 Central Ave, ☎ [phone]. A bike shop that also sells craft beer. (updated Dec 2018)
• Grandpa's Candy Shop. (updated Dec 2018)

Eat

If you are not from the area, try some Gold Star or Skyline Chili for some local flavor. Many common chain restaurants are also available.

• 🌍 Stefano's, 2200 Central Avenue, ☎ [phone]. is a family-owned institution serving Italian food and a wood-burning pizza oven 
• 🌍 The Jug, 3610 Central Avenue, ☎ [phone]. has been a Middletown tradition for years, serving hamburgers via a carhop 
• 🌍 The Meadows, 2102 Yankee Road (in the south end), ☎ [phone]. a long-time local establishment 
• 🌍 Grecian Delight, 1300 Cincinnati-Dayton road, ☎ [phone]. has fantastic gyros and traditional greek desserts 
• Gracies, 1131 Central Ave. Upscale casual atmosphere, urban chic comfort food (updated Dec 2018)
• Triple Moon Coffee Shop (corner of Central and Broad). lunch sandwiches and wraps, bagels and other breakfast food, good coffee (updated Dec 2018)
• Mockingbirds Cafe (Central Ave across from Cincinnati State). Healthy and delicious lunch options, not open late (updated Dec 2018)
• Combs BBQ, 2223 Central Ave. Fun atmosphere (updated Dec 2018)
• Evonda's Cafe (inside the Pendleton Art Center at the corner of Central and Broad). delicious goulash, soups, sandwiches, salads, and desserts (updated Dec 2018)
• The Slice, 1300 Central Ave. awesome pizza by the slice (updated Dec 2018)
• Central Pastry, 1518 Central Ave. donuts and many other fantastic bakery items (updated Dec 2018)
• Spinning Fork (Verity Pkwy). Italian food (updated Dec 2018)

Drink

• Carol's Speakeasy (At the intersection of Cincinnati-Dayton Road and Central Ave). (updated Dec 2018)
• Otte's Pub (Cincinnati-Dayton Road). (updated Dec 2018)
• Lakeside (On Tytus). (updated Dec 2018)
• Bourbon's Kitchen, 2231 N Verity Pkwy, ☎ [phone]. (updated Dec 2018)
• 🌍 Rolling Mill Brewing Company, ☎ [phone]. (updated Apr 2019)

Sleep

• 🌍 Fairfield Inn Middletown, 6750 Roosevelt Parkway, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• 🌍 Holiday Inn Express, 6575 Terhune Dr, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 Drury Inn, 3320 Village Dr, ☎ [phone]. Nice, pet-friendly hotel. 

Connect

• 🌍 Middletown Public Library, 125 S Broad St, ☎ [phone]. (updated Apr 2019)

Go next

• Cincinnati
• Dayton

Routes through Middletown

Dayton ← Franklin ←

N  S

→ Monroe → Cincinnati