Middletown

Middletown is a city of 51,000 people (2020) in Ohio, north of Cincinnati and a short drive south of Dayton.

Understand

Read

U.S. Vice-President-elect JD Vance describes his life in Middletown in Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis (2016).

Tourist information

• Middletown tourist information website

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

• 1 Middletown Regional Airport (MWO  ^IATA), 1707 Run Way. A General aviation airport. (updated Jan 2022)

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

• 2 Great Miami River Trail (runs parallel to the Great Miami River and SR 4 inside the city). 77 miles of shared use trail that follows the river. Middletown/Trenton is its southern-most point. The northern most point is in Piqua, Ohio. (updated Jan 2022)

By bus

• 3 BCRTA (Butler County Regional Transit Authority), 55 S Broad St, ☏ +1 513 785-5237. M-Sa 6:30AM–6:30PM, closed Sunday. Runs a bus network within Middletown, and connects with Hamilton and Oxford. Free within Middletown. (updated Jan 2022)

See

Artwork commemorating the canal.

• 1 Miami University, Middletown Branch Campus, 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.  
• 2 Canal Museum, 1605 N Verity Pkwy (Smith Park), ☏ +1 513 422-7161. Typically only open Sundays. Displays photos and artifacts from Middletown's heyday as a booming stop on the Miami-Erie Canal. (updated Jan 2022)
• 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 1950s 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, ☏ +1 513-852-2766, info@pendletonartcenter.com. (updated Dec 2018)
• 3 Bulls Run Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum, 3909 Rosedale Rd, naturalist@bullsrun.org. (updated Apr 2019)

Do

• 1 Sunset Park (on Bellemonte just off central). It has a pool open to the public and is host to some local events during the summer. 
• The Windemere Event Center, 2 S Main St. Frequently hosts parties and events (updated Apr 2019)

Events

• Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival (The Ohio Challenge). A hot air balloon festival in mid-July with lots of activities, food, and drink. The event is typically held at Smith Park on Tytus Avenue. (updated Mar 2022)
• 4 Light Up Middletown, 500 Tytus Avenue (take I-75 to Exit 32 (SR122) and follow the signs to Smith Park). 6PM-10PM Thanksgiving-New Years Eve. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, a drive-thru Christmas light display. They have a radio station that is coordinated with some of the lights and loudspeakers across a portion of the park. Open regardless of the weather, including all holidays. Santa and Mrs. Claus, every F and Sa 7-9PM thru Dec 23. Be prepared for long lines, more than 30 minute wait. Any Donation. (updated Jan 2022)
• 2 First Friday Downtown Middletown (follow SR122, then head to Central Ave). 5PM-8PM. Art studios and stores are open with specials on the first Friday of each month. (updated Jan 2022)

Buy

• 1 Towne Mall Galleria (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. 
• Grandpa's Candy Shop. (updated Dec 2018)
• 2 Marie's Crafty Hut, 2910 Towne Blvd (in front of Walmart), ☏ +1 513 480 2072, mch@mariescraftyhut.com. M-Sa 10AM-7PM, closed Sunday. This a unique craft store of more than 20 vendors that rotate month to month. Items vary between jewelry, clothing, blankets, and home décor. (updated Jan 2022)

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.

• 1 The Jug, 3610 Central Avenue, ☏ +1 513 424-1677. It has been a Middletown tradition for years, serving hamburgers via a carhop. 
• 2 The Meadows, 2102 Yankee Road (in the south end), ☏ +1 513 422-2131. A long-time local establishment. 
• 3 Grecian Delight, 1300 Cincinnati-Dayton road, ☏ +1 513 424-5411. It has fantastic gyros and traditional Greek desserts. 
• Triple Moon Coffee Shop (corner of Central and Broad). Lunch sandwiches and wraps, bagels and other breakfast food, good coffee. (updated Dec 2018)
• Combs BBQ, 2223 Central Ave. Fun atmosphere. (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)

Drink

• Carol's Speakeasy (at the intersection of Cincinnati-Dayton Road and Central Ave). (updated Dec 2018)
• The Well, 4371 S Dixie Hwy (Cincinnati-Dayton Road), ☏ +1 513-422-3287. Lots of booze flowing here. 
• Bourbon's Kitchen, 2231 N Verity Pkwy, ☏ +1 513-217-0099. 
• 1 Gravel Road Brewing Company, 916 1st Ave. 

Sleep

• 1 Fairfield Inn Middletown, 6750 Roosevelt Pkwy, ☏ +1 513 424-5444, fax: +1 513 424-5444. 
• 2 Comfort Inn, 6575 Terhune Dr, ☏ +1 513 727-8440. 
• 3 Drury Inn, 3320 Village Dr, ☏ +1 513-425-6650. Nice, pet-friendly hotel. 

Connect

• 1 Middletown Public Library, 125 S Broad St, ☏ +1 513-424-1251. (updated Apr 2019)

Go next

• Cincinnati
• Dayton

Routes through Middletown

Dayton ← Franklin ←

N  S

→ Monroe → Cincinnati