Dayton International to Cincinnati?

October 20, 2012 8:23 PM

What's the cheapest way to get from Dayton International Airport to downtown Cincinnati?

Asking for a friend, whose flight arrives mid-afternoon. Renting a car is not an option.

posted by null14 to Travel & Transportation around Cincinnati, OH (4 answers total)

The Dayton RTA bus map doesn't show service to the airport itself, but RTA buses do service West National Road just outside the airport complex; nearest bus stop (at Helke Rd and W. National Rd) is about two miles from the terminal (a long walk or a short cab ride). The Dayton RTA Trip Planner indicates that, on a weekday late afternoon, you should be able to catch the #17 bus to York Commons, and transfer to the #34 bus to the Greyhound Depot at 2705 Shiloh Springs Rd, a $2 trip. Greyhound seems to offer a 7:20 pm bus to Cincinnati (at least some days), for $13 and up (cheapest if you reserve on the web).

Caveats: I haven't been to Dayton in a long while, and I've never tried riding the bus there. I'll defer to any current locals for a more experience-based answer. Please use the links above to confirm bus schedules for your planned travel date/time.
posted by Dimpy at 10:06 PM on October 20, 2012

Correction to the above: looking at the #17 bus route a little more carefully, it looks like the nearest late-afternoon bus stop may be at N. Dixie Rd and W. National Rd, making the distance from the terminal more like 3 miles. And the access road leading away from the terminal looks completely unsafe for pedestrians (no sidewalk), so a cab ride ($3.75 + $2/mile) to the bus stop may be necessary.
posted by Dimpy at 10:54 PM on October 20, 2012

Greyhound to Cincinnati seems like a good bet. But public transit to the Greyhound station? I don't know. Dayton's not very transit-oriented. If they meant for people to take it to the airport, you'd think they'd have a route that GOES to the airport.

I'd suggest just taking a cab to the Greyhound station (which is actually quite nice, by the way). I have no idea what cab fare would cost, but I do believe you'll actually get there.
posted by gueneverey at 7:20 AM on October 21, 2012

Good point -- the 3-mile cab ride to the bus stop is already a ~$10 fare. It's only a 9-mile cab ride to the Greyhound station (~$22 fare). Going via public transit adds at least an hour and saves only about $10.
posted by Dimpy at 9:50 AM on October 21, 2012