Quick Facts: Port: Marietta, Ohio, USA | Country: United States | Terminal: Ohio River public landings / Marietta riverfront docks | Dock (alongside) | Distance to city center: 0.2–0.5 miles from the riverfront | Time zone: Eastern Time (ET), UTC−5 / UTC−4 DST
Marietta is the riverfront home port and primary stop for American Cruise Lines and other small-ship operators running the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers — and it’s one of the most genuinely historic, walkable, and underrated river cruise ports in the entire country. Founded in 1788 as the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory, it packs an extraordinary amount of early American history, craft breweries, and authentic small-city charm into just a few square blocks. Your single most important planning tip: don’t sleep in — the compact historic core is entirely walkable from the dock, and early risers get the best light at the earthen mounds, the quietest museum experience, and the pick of tables at the town’s beloved breakfast spots.
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Port & Terminal Information
Marietta doesn’t operate a large purpose-built cruise terminal the way ocean ports do — river cruise ships tie up directly along the Marietta Riverfront, with the primary docking area near the Ohio River confluence with the Muskingum River, just steps from downtown. American Cruise Lines, American Queen Voyages, and Victory Cruise Lines typically dock at or near the Marietta City Dock / Fort Harmar Bridge area, with the exact berth varying slightly by vessel size and water levels. Confirm your ship’s exact landing position with your cruise director the evening before your port day.
- Terminal facilities: There is no formal cruise terminal building with amenities. The riverfront area has public restrooms near Muskingum Park, a small visitor kiosk, and open green space. Don’t expect baggage storage, ATMs, or Wi-Fi at the dock itself.
- ATMs: The nearest ATMs are within 3–5 minutes’ walk into downtown — try First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union on Front Street or the Fifth Third Bank branch on Putnam Street.
- Tourist info: The Marietta/Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau maintains a welcome center at 316 Third Street (about a 6-minute walk from the typical dock landing), stocked with maps and knowledgeable staff.
- Wi-Fi at dock: Not available dockside. Free Wi-Fi is available at the Washington County Public Library (615 Fifth Street) and at most cafés within a 5-minute walk.
- Distance to city center: The historic core of downtown Marietta is effectively 0 to 0.5 miles from the riverfront docks — check the exact dock location on Google Maps.
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Getting to the City
The outstanding news for river cruisers in Marietta: you almost certainly won’t need any transportation at all. The city is famously walkable, and nearly every attraction worth visiting is within 1 mile of the riverfront. That said, here are your options:
- On Foot — Strongly recommended. Downtown Marietta’s entire historic core — Campus Martius Museum, the Mound Cemetery, the Ohio River Museum, restaurants, breweries, and boutique shops — is all within a 10–15 minute flat walk from the dock. The riverfront Muskingum Park is essentially right at your gangway, and the charming streets of the historic district begin immediately.
- Bus/Metro — Washington County has limited public transit (Washington County Transit, 740-373-0015). Fixed routes exist but are not oriented toward tourist use; schedules are infrequent (often 1–2 buses per hour) and coverage of the tourist zone is minimal. Fare is approximately $1.50 per ride. Not a practical option for a shore day.
- Taxi / Rideshare — Uber and Lyft both operate in Marietta, though availability can be limited, especially during morning departure times. Estimate $6–10 for a ride from the dock to any point in town. Traditional taxis: try Marietta Taxi (740-374-1600); expect $8–12 for in-town trips. No known scam risk — local drivers are straightforward.
- Hop-On Hop-Off — No HOHO bus operates in Marietta. The city is simply too compact to need one.
- Rental Car / Scooter — Practical if you want to reach the state parks, covered bridges of the surrounding county, or the Hocking Hills area. Enterprise Rent-A-Car has a Marietta location (approximately 2 miles from the dock; call ahead to confirm hours: 740-376-1511). Not necessary for a standard city shore day.
- Ship Shore Excursion — American Cruise Lines and similar operators offer excellent organized excursions here — particularly the narrated historical walks, the Mound Cemetery tours, and occasionally private museum access. These are worth booking if you want expert interpretation of the prehistoric earthworks or the Revolutionary-era history; the context genuinely enriches the experience. For independent booking options, browse Marietta tours on Viator or check GetYourGuide for available experiences.
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Top Things to Do in Marietta, Ohio
Marietta punches far above its weight for a city of 14,000 people — between its Native American earthworks, its role as the gateway to the Northwest Territory, its stunning river setting, and its genuinely good food and drink scene, you’ll find yourself wishing your port day were longer. Here are the standout experiences, organized to help you plan efficiently.
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Must-See
1. Campus Martius Museum ($10 adults / $5 ages 6–12 / under 6 free) — This is the essential Marietta experience, and it’s not close. The museum preserves an actual original structure from the 1788 fortified settlement — the Rufus Putnam House — inside the museum building itself, making it one of the most viscerally compelling early American history sites in the country. The exhibits trace the founding of the Northwest Territory in extraordinary detail, with original documents, weapons, maps, and personal effects from the settlers. Check for guided tour availability on Viator. Plan 60–90 minutes minimum; history buffs could easily spend 2 hours. Open Tuesday–Saturday 9:30 AM–5:00 PM, Sunday noon–5:00 PM.
2. Ohio River Museum ($10 adults / $5 children / combo tickets available with Campus Martius) — Operated by the Ohio History Connection, this compact but richly detailed museum tells the story of the Ohio River’s central role in American commerce, migration, and culture. The highlight for most visitors is the W.P. Snyder Jr., the last surviving steam-powered sternwheel towboat in the United States, permanently moored outside and available to board. Look for combined history tour options on GetYourGuide. Allow 45–60 minutes. Seasonal hours — confirm ahead; typically open May through October.
3. Mound Cemetery (free) — One of the most haunting and historically significant spots in all of Ohio, just 3 blocks from the riverfront. This active cemetery surrounds a 30-foot-tall Adena culture earthen mound estimated to be 2,000–2,500 years old, and it’s the burial site of more American Revolutionary War officers per square foot than any other location in the nation. The juxtaposition of 18th-century gravestones and a pre-Columbian earthwork is genuinely extraordinary. Self-guided; no admission, no booking required. Allow 20–30 minutes. Open daily dawn to dusk.
4. Sacra Via & The Earthworks (free) — Marietta contains some of the best-preserved Hopewell and Adena culture earthworks in North America, and many of them are hiding in plain sight within the city’s street grid. The Sacra Via (Sacred Way) was a ceremonial graded roadway connecting the river to the main earthwork complex — you can walk its route today along Sacra Via Street. The Conus (a large conical mound) sits in the middle of Mound Cemetery, and Quadranau (a smaller mound) is preserved in a neighborhood park. Self-guided walking maps are available at the CVB visitor center. Allow 30–45 minutes for a focused earthworks walk.
5. The Anchorage House (Lafayette Hotel) ($6–10 for a drink at the riverfront bar) — The Lafayette Hotel at 101 Front Street is a Marietta institution, a grand riverfront hotel dating to 1918 with a spectacular view of the Ohio River confluence from its lobby and terrace bar. Even if you’re not eating a full meal, stopping in for a coffee or a local craft beer at the Gun Room Lounge — a bar decorated with an extraordinary collection of antique firearms — is a quintessential Marietta experience. No booking needed for a casual drink. Allow 20–30 minutes.
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Beaches & Nature
6. Muskingum Park & Riverfront (free) — The beautifully maintained green park that runs along the Muskingum River just above its confluence with the Ohio is effectively Marietta’s front yard. Wide walking paths, river views, historic interpretive signage, and a relaxed, genuinely local atmosphere. The Ohio River Rowing Association sometimes has sculls on the water in the morning — a lovely sight. No booking needed. Allow 20–40 minutes for a stroll; longer if you bring a picnic from a nearby café.
7. Hocking Hills State Park (free / $8 parking) — This is a day-trip option, not a walk from the dock, but if you have a rental car and a full day, Hocking Hills is one of Ohio’s most spectacular natural areas — a landscape of dramatic sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, and old-growth hemlocks about 75 miles northwest of Marietta (approximately 90 minutes’ drive). Old Man’s Cave is the iconic trail, and it’s genuinely breathtaking. Best for ships with late afternoon or evening departures. Check guided Hocking Hills tours on Viator. Realistically requires a full 8+ hour day ashore.
8. Wayne National Forest (Marietta Unit) (free) — Ohio’s only national forest has a unit that begins essentially at Marietta’s eastern edge. The Covered Bridge Scenic Byway — a self-drive route through the forested hills of Washington County passing historic 19th-century covered wooden bridges — is one of the genuinely lovely short drives in this part of Ohio. 9 covered bridges are accessible within 30–45 minutes of the city. Requires a rental car; allow half a day minimum. Free entry.
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Day Trips
9. Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park ($6 adults / $4 ages 3–12 / ferry required) — Just 7 miles south of Marietta on the West Virginia side of the Ohio River (in Parkersburg, WV), Blennerhassett Island is one of the most dramatic historical sites in the entire river system. Irish aristocrat Harman Blennerhassett built a palatial mansion here in 1800 and became embroiled in Aaron Burr’s notorious conspiracy to create a new empire in the American West. The restored mansion, horse-drawn wagon rides, and living history interpreters make this an exceptional excursion. Requires driving to Parkersburg (~15 miles) and taking the island ferry (runs May–October). Look for Blennerhassett tours on GetYourGuide. Allow 3–4 hours total.
10. Parkersburg, West Virginia (free to visit; varies for attractions) — Directly across the Ohio River (15 miles south), Parkersburg has its own appealing Victorian downtown, the Smoot Theatre (a beautifully restored 1926 movie palace), and the Oil & Gas Museum telling the story of the region’s petroleum history. A reasonable side trip if you have a car and a full day; not worth the trip if time is limited when Marietta itself deserves your hours.
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Family Picks
11. The Children’s Toy & Doll Museum ($5 adults / $3 children) — A total hidden gem at 206 Gilman Avenue, this volunteer-run museum houses an extraordinary collection of antique and vintage toys, dolls, cast-iron banks, and games spanning 150 years of American childhood. Kids and nostalgic adults alike find it genuinely delightful. Seasonal hours — call ahead (740-373-5900). Allow 30–45 minutes.
12. Marietta Sternwheel Festival (free admission / food and ride costs vary) — If your port day happens to fall in early September, you may arrive during one of the great small-city festivals in the Midwest. The Sternwheel Festival draws dozens of historic steamboats and paddlewheelers to the Marietta riverfront for a long weekend of river history, live music, food, and fireworks. Even a partial overlap with this event transforms a good port day into an unforgettable one. Typically held the first weekend after Labor Day.
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Off the Beaten Track
13. Fenton Art Glass Factory Tour ($5 / free for children under 3) — NOTE: Fenton’s main factory was in Williamstown, WV (just across the river, about 15 miles from Marietta) before the original company ceased production, but the tradition of art glass in this region runs deep. The Fenton Art Glass Gift Shop & Museum in Williamstown is worth the short drive for glass art enthusiasts. The delicate, brilliantly colored hand-blown glass made in this region is one of the great American craft traditions. Check for glassblowing and crafts tours on Viator. Allow 45–60 minutes.
14. Ely Homestead at Barlow (call for hours / small donation) — About 20 minutes east of Marietta in rural Washington County, this preserved 19th-century farmstead offers a remarkably authentic glimpse into pioneer-era Ohio farm life. The Washington County Historical Society maintains the property. Requires a car and works best as a detour on the covered bridge scenic byway. Allow 45 minutes. Best for history enthusiasts who’ve already done the downtown highlights.
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What to Eat & Drink
Marietta’s food scene is small but impressively good — rooted in American Midwest cooking (think proper chili dogs, hand-cut steaks, and incredible pie), but elevated in recent years by a thriving craft brewery and local farm-to-table movement. The riverfront and Front Street area concentrate most of the best options within an easy walk.
- The Levee House Café — Beloved local institution in a beautifully restored Victorian building at 127 Ohio Street, directly on the riverfront. Known for exceptional weekend brunches, housemade soups, and creative sandwiches. Relaxed atmosphere, river views from some tables. Price range: $10–18 per entrée. Reservations recommended for weekend lunch.
- Marietta Brewing Company — 167 Front Street; craft beer brewed on-site with a solid pub menu. The riverfront patio is prime real estate on a nice day. Try the River Rat Red Ale or their seasonal wheat beer. Burgers and flatbreads $12–16; pints $6–8.
- Austyn’s Restaurant at the Lafayette Hotel — 101 Front Street; white-tablecloth dining in Marietta’s most historic hotel. Excellent for a proper sit-down lunch with Ohio River views. Entrées $18–32. Make reservations the moment you know your port schedule.
- Ohio Grille — A classic American diner experience at 213 Putnam Street; locals pack it for breakfast. Biscuits and gravy, three-egg omelets, and properly strong coffee. The real Marietta morning. Breakfast $7–12.
- DaVinci’s Ristorante — 220 Front Street; Italian-American in a cozy brick setting, popular with locals for dinner. Good pasta, excellent house salad dressing (ask for extra). Entrées $14–24.
- Tim’s Drive-In — 1030 Pike Street (a short rideshare away); a genuine Ohio institution serving char-grilled burgers and hand-dipped milkshakes since 1957. Absolutely worth the trip if you want a taste
📍 Getting to Marietta OH, Ohio
Use the interactive map below to explore the port area and plan your route from the terminal.
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