If you’re planning a trip to enjoy all that Kings Island offers, with one of the best amusement parks in America that includes a water park, thrill rides, a replica of the Eiffel Tower and more, you’ll probably want to stay nearby to take advantage of it all. You’ll find quite a few good hotel options in the area, many of which are very affordable, along with some options that will put you conveniently between the park and downtown Cincinnati if you’re hoping to enjoy the city too. These picks, in particular, are sure to make for the ideal stay in the Mason/Cincinnati area for park-goers.
Great Wolf Lodge, Mason
A stay at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason will not only put you within a 5-minute drive of King’s Island, but you’ll be able to have fun both inside and outside the park. It hosts its own water park, complete with tube rides, slides, sprayers, a bucket dump, wave pool and lazy river. There’s also a game room, interactive games and themed restaurants. The variety of spacious suites includes options that are ideal for families like the Wolf Den Suite and KidKamp Suite, which have separate sleeping areas for the kids with bunk beds, Nintendo games and TVs.
The Best Western Premier Mariemont Inn, Cincinnati
While Best Western is a well-known chain hotel, this one offers something quite different. A boutique hotel, it sits within a building that looks as if it should be in a Bavarian village but it’s been here for nearly a century, a little over 20 minutes from Kings Island. Downtown Cincinnati is just 15 minutes away making it a great pick for those who want to enjoy both the park and city attractions. It has a bar serving wine and cocktails and a restaurant serving American fare The on-site restaurant, National Exemplar, serves American-style cuisine for all meals and has an outdoor patio. Rooms feature fireplaces, Tempur-Pedic beds, high-end bath amenities and large work desks.
Residence Inn by Marriott Cincinnati Northeast/Mason
Just two miles from Kings Island pools and rides, Residence Inn by Marriott is a family favorite. Those who want to do some shopping while they’re here will be within a short drive of Cincinnati outlet stores as well. When you aren’t out and about, take advantage of the indoor pool and 24-hour gym, and even use the BBQ on the patio to save on dining out. The hotel hosts regular evening socials and provides a full, hot complimentary breakfast while many restaurants are nearby. Studios come with kitchenettes, living areas with sofa beds and flat-screen TVs.
Hyatt Place Cincinnati Northeast
Just five miles from the amusement park, Hyatt Place Cincinnati Northeast offers a stay that brings the comforts of home, complete with mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, wet bars, coffeemakers and work desks as well as separate living rooms with sofabeds. Popular among both tourists and business travelers, it has a heated indoor pool and a 24-hour gym, a cafe/bar and both a market and business center open 24/7.
Hilton Garden Inn Cincinnati/Mason
Just a 10-minute drive from Kings Island, less than 20 miles from downtown Cincinnati attractions, the Hilton Garden Inn offers a comfortable stay in a well-known chain with all the usual amenities and then some. There’s an indoor pool, a fitness center and a 24-hour business center, as well as a full-service on-site restaurant. Rooms feature custom-designed beds, microwaves and mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, desks and flat-screen TVs. Book a suite for a pull-out sofa – some also include a whirlpool tub.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Mason
Also within a 10-minute drive from the amusement park just a couple of minutes off I-71, this Holiday Inn Express & Suites offers a clean and comfortable stay with rooms that include flat-screen cable TVs, free Wi-Fi, microwaves, mini-fridges and desks. Book a suite for a separate living space with a pull-out sofa. All come with great high-pressure showerheads. There’s an indoor pool and gym as well as a business center and complimentary breakfast bar.
Best Western Mason Inn
Perfectly situated for fun, this Best Western is just four miles from the park and seven miles from The Beach Waterpark at Adventure Landing. Start your day with the free breakfast buffet and then when you aren’t out and about, enjoy the hot tub, indoor pool and 24-hour business center. If you haven’t gotten enough of a workout, there’s a fitness room on-site too. Rooms include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges and coffeemakers. Suites add extra space with separate living areas.
Drury Inn & Suites Cincinnati Northeast Mason
About 10 minutes south of Kings Island, just minutes from the Great American Ballpark and Newport Aquarium, Drury Inn & Suites Cincinnati Northeast Mason provides a clean and comfortable stay that includes a complimentary hot breakfast along with free popcorn and soda. There’s a 24-hour business center and fitness center, as well as an indoor pool and whirlpool ideal after a long day of work or play. Rooms include free Wi-Fi, microwaves, TVs, refrigerators and coffeemakers. Book a suite for a separate living area with a sofa bed.
Kirkwood Inn, Mason
Just four miles from Kings Island, Kirkwood Inn offers a bed-and-breakfast stay in a picturesque six-acre setting with warm and welcoming staff. Guests rave about the hot breakfast buffet, served in the historic 18th-century farmhouse, and there’s also an outdoor pool open seasonally, nature trails, gardens, a gazebo and lovely patio. Rooms are traditionally furnished and come with mini-fridges, coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. It’s worth upgrading to a suite which comes with electric fireplaces and whirlpool tubs.
The Golden Lamb, Lebanon
About a 15-minute drive from Kings Island, The Golden Lamb Inn offers a historic stay in downtown Lebanon just a minute on foot from the Warren County Historical Society & Museum. It sits within a 19th-century brick building that includes a vintage restaurant serving American cuisine as well as a tavern. Enjoy a free continental breakfast on weekdays and brunch on weekends for an additional fee. The rooms are all uniquely designed, named for famous guests, with a long list who’ve stayed here, like Charles Dickens, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Ronald Reagan. Expect period-style decor and antique furnishings. Some come with a canopy or four-poster bed. Modern amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen cable TVs and free Wi-Fi.