Sometimes one of the best weekend plans isn’t actually in Indianapolis — it’s just a short road trip away.
This summer, we made the drive to Mason, Ohio, to experience the Cincinnati Open, and after spending time around the grounds, watching practices, catching matches and exploring everything happening beyond the courts, we understood why this tournament has become such a special summer experience.
Just about two hours from Indianapolis, the Cincinnati Open gave us more than two weeks of world-class tennis, but what we loved most was that you didn’t have to be a hardcore tennis fan to enjoy it.
There was food, drinks, live music, fan experiences and, of course, plenty of opportunities to see some of the best tennis players in the world from surprisingly close.
For us, it was the kind of easy weekend road trip from Indy that deserved a spot on the summer calendar.
The Cincinnati Open Experience Started Before the Big Matches
One of our favorite things about the Cincinnati Open was how different the experience felt depending on when you visited. The tournament kicked off with Community Weekend on August 8 and 9, giving fans a chance to experience the grounds before the main draw really got going.
This was where the Cincinnati Open felt especially accessible. There were activities for families, entertainment, opportunities to explore the grounds and, one of our favorite parts, plenty of tennis practices. Seeing the players practice was honestly one of the highlights of our visit.
Watching professional tennis on TV is one thing. Standing just a few feet away while some of the best players in the world practiced their serves, worked through drills or prepared for their next match was completely different.
And because there were so many practice courts around the Lindner Family Tennis Center, walking around became part of the experience. You never really knew who you might see next.
Practices, Early Rounds and Tennis Everywhere
As the tournament moved into its opening rounds, the energy around the grounds changed.
Matches were happening across multiple courts while players continued practicing throughout the day, which meant there was almost always something to watch. This was probably our favorite way to experience the Cincinnati Open.
Instead of arriving for one match and leaving, we spent time walking around, checking the schedule, watching practices, and jumping between different courts. At one point, you could be watching one of the biggest names in tennis practice just a few feet away, and shortly after, you could be sitting down for an actual tournament match.
That freedom made the experience feel much more personal than we expected. Our biggest takeaway was simple: don’t stay in one place. Walking around and exploring was part of the fun.
It Wasn’t Just About Tennis
Something else we quickly realized was that the Cincinnati Open wasn’t designed only around what happened on the court. You could easily spend an entire day there.
Between matches, we found plenty of places to grab food, get a drink, sit down for a while or simply enjoy the atmosphere around the grounds. The Commons became one of the main gathering areas, with shaded seating, entertainment and plenty of food options.
There was also a great mix of local Cincinnati favorites and other options throughout the tournament. Fans could find Skyline Chili, Graeter’s Ice Cream, and plenty of other choices ranging from quick snacks to full meals. And yes, there were plenty of drinks too.
Bars and drink stations were spread around the grounds, with cocktails, local craft beer and the tournament’s signature drinks available throughout the day. Having a drink, finding some shade and deciding which court to visit next became part of the Cincinnati Open experience itself.
The Fan Experience Made a Difference
Another thing we enjoyed was how much there was to discover between matches.
The Cincinnati Open had fan activations, shopping, merchandise, live music, and different spaces where you could take a break from the August heat. The Kroger Indoor Fan Zone was especially convenient, with air conditioning, programming, games, and other activities happening throughout the tournament.
These little breaks made it much easier to spend several hours — or basically an entire day — at the tournament. And that’s something we didn’t fully expect before going.
We initially went for the tennis. We ended up enjoying the entire experience around it.
Finals Weekend Felt Completely Different
By the second weekend, everything changed.
The practices and early-round atmosphere gave way to much more intense tennis as the tournament reached its final stages. With fewer players remaining, every match felt bigger, and Center Court became the center of the action.
The semifinals brought some of the most exciting tennis of the tournament before everything came down to Championship Sunday.
[HERE WE WILL ADD THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S 2026 CHAMPIONS + A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FINALS.]
Seeing the Cincinnati Open go from the relaxed atmosphere of Community Weekend and early practices to the intensity of Finals Weekend showed us just how different this tournament could feel from one week to the next. And honestly, we liked both sides of it.
Two Weeks, Two Completely Different Experiences
If we learned anything from our time at the Cincinnati Open, it was that there wasn’t really a “wrong” weekend to visit. The first part of the tournament was perfect for exploring.
You could watch practices, discover players on smaller courts, enjoy the fan experiences and move around without feeling like your entire day revolved around one big match. Finals Weekend was different.
That was when the atmosphere became more intense, the crowds got louder and every point felt more important. If you’re planning a future trip from Indianapolis, the weekend you choose really depends on the experience you want.
For us, being able to experience both sides made the trip even better.
Was the Cincinnati Open Worth the Drive from Indianapolis?
Absolutely.
One of the reasons we wanted to share this experience on We Like Indy was that it’s easy to forget just how much there is to experience within a couple of hours of Indianapolis.
The Cincinnati Open was a perfect example.
In roughly two hours, we went from Indy to one of the biggest tennis tournaments in the country, where we could watch some of the best players in the world, discover new players, enjoy great food and drinks and spend an entire day surrounded by the energy of professional tennis.
It worked as a day trip, but turning it into a weekend made even more sense.
Whether you’re a huge tennis fan or just looking for something different to do next summer, this was one road trip we would absolutely make again.
And after experiencing the Cincinnati Open ourselves, it’s officially one of those summer weekends we’ll be looking forward to next year.
Cincinnati Open
Lindner Family Tennis Center
6100 Legacy Park Way
Mason, OH 45040
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