Getting There · Fifth Third Arena · Cincinnati
Getting to Fifth Third Arena — Transit, Rideshare & Walking Routes
Getting to Fifth Third Arena without the parking-lot headache is usually faster and cheaper than driving — especially on Cincinnati Bearcats game nights and major concerts, when the roads around University of Cincinnati campus, Cincinnati fill long before doors. Even at a compact venue holding 12,012, the streets around University of Cincinnati campus, Cincinnati tighten up fast during the pre-game window. This guide covers the transit lines that drop you closest to the arena, the rideshare zones, walking routes from University of Cincinnati campus, and what to know about late-night service after the final whistle.
About Fifth Third Arena
Home of the cincinnati bearcats. the arena has hosted events at this site since 1989. located at 2700 O'Varsity Way, Cincinnati, OH 45221.
Transit Routes to Fifth Third Arena
Metro buses serve the University of Cincinnati campus near the arena. Plan to step off at the nearest stop 30-45 minutes before doors. Transit is also the quickest post-event exit from Fifth Third Arena — you are moving while the parking lots around University of Cincinnati campus, Cincinnati are still emptying.
Rideshare Drop-Off at Fifth Third Arena
Uber and Lyft both serve Fifth Third Arena. On busy nights the apps route you to a designated drop-off zone near the arena rather than the front gates, keeping traffic and pedestrians separated. Surge pricing is usually shorter-lived at smaller venues. Still, walking a block or two from Fifth Third Arena before requesting your ride home keeps the wait time down.
Walking to Fifth Third Arena from University of Cincinnati campus
Fifth Third Arena is located at 2700 O'Varsity Way, Cincinnati, OH 45221, in the University of Cincinnati campus area of Cincinnati. While Fifth Third Arena is not in the core downtown area, the University of Cincinnati campus surroundings have sidewalks and pedestrian access from nearby parking areas, hotels, and transit stops. Walking in from a few blocks away also sidesteps the worst of the event-night traffic and is often the single fastest way to leave once the show ends. The walk to Fifth Third Arena is mostly outdoors before you reach the arena entrance, so check the forecast for evening events.
When to Arrive at Fifth Third Arena
Fifth Third Arena holds 12,012 for a typical event configuration. A compact venue like Fifth Third Arena means shorter entry lines, but you should still plan to arrive 30-45 minutes before doors on event nights. When the Cincinnati Bearcats have a sold-out crowd, add another 15-20 minutes to your buffer. The smaller footprint means you can get from the gate to your seat quickly once you are inside.
Late-Night Exit from Fifth Third Arena
If you took transit to Fifth Third Arena, your post-event exit plan hinges on the last departure from the nearest stop. Before the event, look up the schedule for the specific line referenced in the transit section above — (Metro buses serve the University of Cincinnati campus near the arena) — and screenshot it. Evening events at Fifth Third Arena typically let out between 10:00 and 11:00 PM, though encores and overtime can push later. Having the schedule saved means you can decide during the event whether to catch the last train or switch to a rideshare backup.