Overview
Oxford is a small town in Butler County in Southwest Ohio. It is best known for being home to Miami University.
11 sights · 8 things to do · 18 places to eat · 9 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Oxford
Miami University
212 Roudebush Hall, campus is primarily comprised of red-brick Georgian style buildings and broad lawns. Founded in 1809, this Public Ivy university named in honor of the Miami Native American tribe. At one time it was t…
Miami University Art Museum
Karl Limper Geology Museum
William Holmes McGuffey Museum
Written by educator William H. McGuffey, the Eclectic McGuffey Reader was the primary material used to teach reading to five generations of Americans. A sculpture in his honor stands in front of McGuffey Hall near the no…
Differdange Castle
Dewitt Log Homestead
listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 23°F. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Cincinnati)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CVG Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport, Cincinnati / Covington — 32 mi away (major hub). Directions
- LUK Cincinnati Municipal Airport Lunken Field, Cincinnati — 33 mi away. Directions
Oxford is 30 miles northwest of Cincinnati, 35 miles southwest of Dayton and about 5 miles east of the state boundary separating Ohio and Indiana.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Freedom Summer '64 Memorial, Miami University Art Museum, Karl Limper Geology Museum
- Lunch Bagel & Deli Shop
- Afternoon William Holmes McGuffey Museum, Oxford Memorial Park Pavilion
- Dinner Bruno's Pizza
- Evening Skipper's Pub & Top Deck
Day 2
- Morning Differdange Castle, Miami University
- Lunch Fiesta Charra
- Afternoon Black Covered Bridge, Green Beer Day
- Dinner La Bodega
- Evening The Wood's
Day 3
- Morning Hueston Woods State Park, Lorenzo Langstroth Cottage
- Lunch Paesano's Pasta House
- Afternoon Oxford Farmer's Market
- Dinner Phan-Shin
- Evening O'Pub
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Uptown Oxford is a charming five block district with a variety of restaurants, including fine dining, pizza parlors, sub shops and college pubs.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Recognized as a Public Ivy, which describes state-funded public universities with academic programs akin to the Ivy League schools, Miami University has a body of more than 16,000 students in a town with a summer population just over 10,000. The City of Oxford's predecessor, College Township, was founded one year after Miami University was established in 1809. Miami was the second university in the United States west of the Appalachian Mountains (after Ohio University (1804) in Athens).
Tourist information
Get in
Oxford is 30 miles northwest of Cincinnati, 35 miles southwest of Dayton and about 5 miles east of the state boundary separating Ohio and Indiana.
By plane
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River, so the distance is farther than that of Cincinnati, amounting to an approximately 50 mile drive to Oxford.
- Dayton International Airport (DAY) is also a short distance from Oxford (approximately 45 miles).
By car
Oxford is probably one of the most difficult cities in Ohio to locate by car. Oxford is most easily accessed:
- Off of I-70 west of Dayton via the Eaton exit heading southbound on US-127 and then westbound on SR-73 or
- Off of I-70 west of Dayton via the Eaton exit heading southbound on US-127 and then southbound on SR-732 or
- Via I-275 (Cincinnati outer belt) using the Colerain exit and heading northbound on US-27
By bus
Barons Bus Lines provides transportation connecting Miami University with Indianapolis, Indiana and Cincinnati, Ohio. The fare is $10 one way and runs 365 days a year. Barons Bus Lines connect directly to Greyhound buses that travel across the country, making travel to and from Oxford by bus relatively simple ? Campus transit.
Get around
By foot
Oxford is a small town that can be easily traversed by foot. From the eastern edge of the Miami University campus to the western edge of Uptown Oxford, one could walk the distance in less than 30 minutes.
By bus
BCRTA is the bus system in Oxford. Transportation can be provided around campus, to off-campus housing, and Uptown. There are also routes that travel to the regional branches of Miami University. Students, faculty, and staff may ride freely by displaying their University ID cards and all public passengers must pay $2 for fare. During fall, spring and winter terms the BCRTA buses run daily. Transit is greatly reduced during the summer months.
See
As in most U.S. college towns, much of the art and cultural amenities are provided by the university. In Oxford, these include:
See Miami University
212 Roudebush Hall, campus is primarily comprised of red-brick Georgian style buildings and broad lawns. Founded in 1809, this Public Ivy university named in honor of the Miami Native American tribe. At one time it was the fourth largest university in the U.S., behind Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth, and became known as the "Yale of the Early West". Accordingly, Miami's Elliott and Stoddard Halls, near the center of the academic quad, were modelled after Yale's Connecticut Hall.
See Freedom Summer '64 Memorial
Located on Miami's historical Western Campus, this memorial commemorates civil rights workers who trained here in 1964. Three of these workers were later found murdered in Mississippi.
See William Holmes McGuffey Museum
Written by educator William H. McGuffey, the Eclectic McGuffey Reader was the primary material used to teach reading to five generations of Americans. A sculpture in his honor stands in front of McGuffey Hall near the northeast corner of Spring Street and Campus Avenue across from the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity house.
See Differdange Castle
See Black Covered Bridge
A 206-foot span built in 1869 over Four Mile (Talawanda) Creek. This is the only covered bridge in Butler County that has remained in its original location (restored in 2000). Bicentennial marker and explanation on site.
See Pugh's Mill Covered Bridge
Do
Do Hueston Woods State Park
The park, operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, is composed of almost 3,000 acres in Butler and Preble counties. Visitors enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing in and canoeing on Acton Lake, and golf.
Do Green Beer Day
Do Miami University Performing Arts Series
Do Oxford Memorial Park Pavilion
On the northeast corner of High and Main Streets is the former home to the Oxford water tower (a bygone symbol of the town) and now provides an amphitheater for concerts and other performances.
Do Martin Luther King Jr. Park
It has dancing water fountains that provide enjoyment for children (both by viewing and playing in them).
Sports
The Miami RedHawks compete in NCAA Division I college sports, mostly in the Mid-American Conference. Since the MAC does not sponsor men's ice hockey, that team instead plays in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Football fans are also attracted by Miami's reputation as the Cradle of Coaches, having served as a rung (either as a player or coach) in some of the sport's most momentous coaching careers including: Earl Blaik, Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, Bill Arnsparger, George Little, Weeb Ewbank, Sid Gillman, Ara Parseghian, Bo Schembechler, John Pont, Bill Mallory, Jim Tressel, Joe Novak, Ron Zook, Dick Crum, Randy Walker, Terry Hoeppner, John Harbaugh, Sean Payton, and Sean McVay.
- Football - Yager Stadium, 30,012 capacity seating, the team that raised Super Bowl Champion Big Ben Roethlisberger!
- Basketball - Millett Hall, 9,200-seat arena, names like Wally "World" Szczerbiak, five-time NBA champ Ron Harper (twice with Lakers and thrice with Bulls), Randy Ayers (of NCAA basketball coaching fame including the Ohio State Buckeyes) and Wayne Embry (of NBA management fame including the Cleveland Cavaliers) made their mark playing b-ball at Miami before the NBA, coaching and other achievements.
- Baseball - McKie Field opened in 2002.
- Hockey - ice arena opened in 2006-2007 and too many professional hockey alumni to name.
Visit the official site or the unofficial fan site .
Buy
Eat
Uptown Oxford is a charming five block district with a variety of restaurants, including fine dining, pizza parlors, sub shops and college pubs.
Eat Bagel & Deli Shop
Bagel sandwiches.
Eat Paesano's Pasta House
Italian.
Eat Oxford Doughnut Shoppe
Doughnuts.
Eat Patterson's Cafe
Breakfast & lunch.
Eat Sohi Grilled Sandwiches
Subs & burgers.
Eat Spring Street Treats
Ice cream.
Eat Johnny's Campus Deli
American & beer.
Drink
Oxford has typically provided at least 1 bar for every 1,000 students at Miami University. The nightlife is very active Thursday through Saturday night, when most of the bars remain open until 2AM. At most places, if there is live music, expect a cover charge. Because Oxford was once known for its St. Patrick's Day celebrations, Spring Break now always occurs the week of March 17th. However, St. Patty's proxy, Green Beer Day, occurs the Thursday before Spring Break.
Bars
Drink Brick Street
If you are looking for a place to eat, a few drinks with friends, some amazing entertainment, or to let loose with some dancing, Brick Street is the place. There is something going on every night of the week: theme nights such as 90's Night, big-name bands, and local DJs.
Drink Mac & Joe's
Historically a pub with frequently scheduled Poetry readings.
Drink Steinkeller
German-style bar and restaurant (mostly American bar food) with a wide selection of German beers.
Drink O'Pub
Beer, wine, liquor, music.
Drink Circle Bar
Sports, darts, White Russians.
Drink Skipper's Pub & Top Deck
Munchies, liquor & beer.
Coffee & tea
Drink Kofenya
Has a very relaxed atmosphere, it's a hang out for many Miami students.
Drink Oxford Coffee Company
Coffee
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
- Marcum Conference Center is on the Miami University campus just north of East Quad.
Bed & Breakfast
Go next
- Cincinnati - most destinations can be reached in one-half to one hour.
- Dayton - about a 45-minute drive.
Nearby
Hamilton
City / town · 22 listings · 12 mi away
Fairfield
City / town · 8 listings · 16 mi away
Western Hamilton County
Rural area · 14 listings · 18 mi away
Middletown
City / town · 30 listings · 20 mi away
Springdale
City / town · 8 listings · 21 mi away
Monroe
City / town · 10 listings · 21 mi away
West Chester
City / town · 12 listings · 23 mi away
Connersville
City / town · 13 listings · 23 mi away
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