The Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers
Sternwheel country in America’s heartland.
Get Sternwheeler QuotesSternwheel Country: the Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee
East of the Mississippi, three rivers carried as much steamboat history as the big river itself. The Ohio flows from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Illinois; the Cumberland runs through Nashville; and the Tennessee loops through Alabama past Chattanooga. All three are still navigable, and riverboat cruises use them in late spring, summer and autumn.
The Routes
| Route | Rivers | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga – Nashville | Tennessee, Ohio, Cumberland | Chattanooga, Muscle Shoals and Florence, Shiloh, Paducah, Lake Barkley, Clarksville |
| Louisville – Pittsburgh | Ohio | Madison, Cincinnati, Marietta, Pittsburgh’s three rivers |
| Memphis – Louisville | Mississippi, Ohio | Paducah and the Ohio valley; a 2027 Viking itinerary |
| Memphis – Nashville | Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland | Music cities, Civil War river forts |
Itineraries and ship assignments change; our cruise advisors will confirm the current list.
Towns Along the Way
Chattanooga sits in a bend of the Tennessee below Lookout Mountain, with a walkable riverfront and the Southern Belle riverboat at its landing. Nashville, on the Cumberland, needs no introduction for music fans; compare Nashville hotels if you add a night. Paducah, where the Tennessee meets the Ohio, is known for its quilt museum and floodwall murals.
On the upper Ohio, Marietta was the first organized American settlement in the Northwest Territory and hosts a sternwheel festival; Pittsburgh, where the Allegheny and Monongahela form the Ohio, is where the first western steamboat was built.
Fall on the Heartland Rivers
Autumn is a fine time for these rivers, with color on the ridges of Tennessee and Kentucky and comfortable temperatures. Summer is hot but lively, with festivals in many river towns. For an Ohio River day on a historic steamboat, our sister site Steamboating Cruises describes the Belle of Louisville.
Locks and Lakes on the Heartland Rivers
Like the upper Mississippi, these rivers are chains of pools held back by dams. On the Tennessee, the TVA dams formed large reservoirs such as Kentucky Lake, and the Cumberland’s Lake Barkley lies alongside it, joined by a short canal. Passing through the locks, some with a sizable lift, is part of the experience, just as it is on the Ohio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take an overnight cruise on the Tennessee or Cumberland River?
Yes. American Cruise Lines sells week-long cruises between Chattanooga and Nashville that use the Tennessee, Ohio and Cumberland rivers, and Viking plans a Nashville–Memphis voyage on the Cumberland.
Are there Ohio River cruises?
Yes. American Cruise Lines lists Ohio River cruises between Louisville and Pittsburgh, and Viking has announced 2027 voyages that reach Louisville from Memphis and New Orleans.
Where can I take a short sternwheeler trip in Ohio?
Marietta, Ohio, where the Muskingum meets the Ohio, has the Valley Gem sternwheeler for sightseeing trips in season.
Cruise the Ohio, Cumberland or Tennessee
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