
When I’m in or around Cincinnati, I enjoy visiting CVG (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport) in Hebron, Kentucky, to photograph airplanes. There is a fantastic plane-spotting location at CVG airport. It is a small park overlooking the cargo terminal, runways, and aircraft taking off and landing. The park is thoughtfully designed and includes amenities like restrooms, a playground for kids, plenty of parking, and trash bins. It’s located on a hill, providing a nice vantage point. Plane spotting in Cincinnati is surprisingly enjoyable!
The park is not right next to the airport’s runways, but it is close. You’ll need a good zoom lens to capture close-up shots of the planes. It’s a perfect spot if you’re early for a flight. It’s also ideal when you’re waiting to pick someone up. A five minute drive will get you to airport entrance. It is called the “CVG Airplane Viewing Area.”

Cincinnati is one of the busiest cargo hubs in the U.S., making it a great place to see cargo planes. You’ll often spot Amazon Prime Air and DHL planes, including plenty of 767s. CVG also has several passenger flights daily. You can sometimes watch planes landing. However, most of the activity involves takeoffs. The runway near the cargo terminal offers some excellent views, especially when planes take off to the west—it’s quite scenic.
Eventually, I’d like to visit Anchorage, Alaska, which is the main hub for cargo plane activity in the U.S., but CVG is a solid spot for plane spotting in the Northern Kentucky, Southern Ohio, and Eastern Indiana regions. It’s a must-visit for aviation enthusiasts in the area! If you are looking for a fun plane-spotting location at CVG, this one is for you.
I use a 150mm-600mm Sigma lens to get close. When I want to get a lot closer, I set my crop mode to 1.6, bringing the lens to 960mm. Still, this isn’t close enough for several of the runways. For the one closest to the park, it is perfect.
































On a windy day in September, I went to CVG Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport. I spent a few hours plane spotting. My goal was to photograph many takeoffs and landings featuring various types of airplanes. This plane spotting at CVG was practice for my my LAX plane spotting in October at Clutter’s Park.

Over three hours, I was able to photograph dozens of Airbus and Boeing aircraft from companies such as Amazon Prime and Southwest Airlines. There were several smaller regional gets and a bunch of medium-range aircraft such as the Boeing 737. I was photographed a Kalitta Air 747, the queen of the skies. The most prominent plane I saw was the Boeing 767, a perfect aircraft to carry large amounts of cargo. I read that CVG is the 4th busiest cargo airport in the USA. Based on the number of arrivals and departures, I’d say that is probably true.

Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport, located just across the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati, is a bustling hub of travel and connectivity. Serving millions of passengers each year, this state-of-the-art airport offers a seamless and efficient travel experience. Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport features modern infrastructure and spacious terminals. It provides a wide range of amenities to cater to the needs of both business and leisure travelers.

The airport serves a multitude of airlines, providing extensive connectivity to domestic and international destinations. From the moment travelers step foot in this vibrant airport, they are greeted with a sense of warmth and hospitality. With its convenient location and world-class facilities, Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport is truly a gateway to memorable journeys.
