Experiences
Ark Encounter: a life-size Noah's Ark in the Kentucky hills
In a green valley off the interstate sits a wooden ship longer than a football pitch. Ark Encounter is one of America's most visited new attractions. Here is what you will see, and what to know before you go.
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The shuttle bus from the car park rounds a bend and there it is. A brown wooden hull filling the valley, no sea, no harbour, just grass and the interstate in the distance. Half the bus reaches for a phone at once.
Ark Encounter opened in 2016, built by the Christian organisation Answers in Genesis as a full-size replica of Noah's Ark. It draws several hundred thousand visitors a year, many on a road trip between Cincinnati and Lexington. Hotel and ticket links go to Hotels.com and Expedia.
In short: Ark Encounter
Ark Encounter is a replica of Noah's Ark in Williamstown, Kentucky, around 155 metres long and built from timber to the dimensions given in the Bible. Inside are three decks of exhibits. It is a little over half an hour south of Cincinnati and works as a day trip from there.
Our first choice: Hotel Covington, in a converted department store just across the river from Cincinnati. Check availability and prices
A ship with no sea
Scale is the reason people come. The ark follows the cubit measurements in Genesis, and only when you stand by the bow does its length really register.
The hull uses a vast amount of timber, and the structure is a feat in its own right. Inside, you walk through three decks of cages, grain stores, water tanks and model animals, and the beams overhead are as much part of the visit as the displays.
Outside there is a small zoo, play areas and restaurants, with activities aimed at children. Plenty of visitors spend a full day, but three to four hours is enough for the ship itself.
Good to know before you board
Ark Encounter is not a museum in the usual sense. The exhibits tell the story as the organisation behind it reads the Bible, literally, including the question of how old the Earth is.
That is worth knowing in advance, particularly with children who ask questions. Many visitors come out of faith, others to see the building and the phenomenon. Both are reasons to go, as long as you know what you are walking into.
Tickets can be bought ahead or on arrival, and parking is some distance away, with shuttle buses up to the ship. Arrive early at weekends and in school holidays, when queues are longest.
Getting there
The ark is outside Williamstown, just off Interstate 75 between Cincinnati and Lexington.
The nearest major airport is Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG), which is in Kentucky rather than Ohio. From there it is a little over half an hour by car. There is no practical public transport, so you will need a hire car.
The same organisation runs the Creation Museum in Petersburg, near the airport. Many people combine the two, but allow two days if you do.
Covington
The hotel is in central Covington, on the south bank of the Ohio River.
Where to stay
Williamstown is a small town with basic motel chains. We would stay in Cincinnati or in Covington, on the Kentucky bank of the Ohio River, with restaurants and breweries a short walk away.
Hotel Covington: on the Kentucky side of the river
Hotel Covington occupies a converted department store in central Covington, just across the bridge from Cincinnati. You sleep in Kentucky, save a few minutes on the drive south to the ark, and have the restaurants of the MainStrasse district close by.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Covington
Lytle Park
The hotel overlooks the park on the east side of downtown Cincinnati.
Lytle Park Hotel: a rooftop above the park
Lytle Park Hotel faces a small park on the east side of downtown, with a rooftop bar looking across the river to Kentucky. It is quieter than the hotels near the stadiums and a good choice for couples.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Lytle Park Hotel
Experiences: See experiences and tickets
When to go
Spring and autumn are comfortable for the walk from the shuttle and the outdoor areas. Kentucky is lush in May and turns colour in October.
Summer and weekends are busiest. For the quietest visit, come on a weekday just after opening.
Winter means short queues, though some outdoor activities may be closed.
Our first choice for Ark Encounter
Hotel Covington
We recommend Hotel Covington because it puts you on the Kentucky side of the river, with the shortest drive south to the ark. The hotel fills a converted department store in central Covington, and in the evening the restaurants of MainStrasse, or the bridge to Cincinnati, are a short walk away.
Ark Encounter: your questions answered
Where is Ark Encounter?
Ark Encounter is outside Williamstown, Kentucky, just off Interstate 75. It is a little over half an hour by car from Cincinnati airport and about an hour from Lexington. You will need a car, as there is no practical public transport.
How big is Ark Encounter?
The ark is around 155 metres long and built to the dimensions given in Genesis, with three decks of exhibits inside. That makes it one of the largest timber structures of its kind, and the sheer size is what most visitors remember.
How long do you need at Ark Encounter?
Allow three to four hours for the ship itself, and a full day if you also want the zoo and outdoor activities. If you are adding the Creation Museum in Petersburg, plan on two days rather than squeezing both into one.
Is Ark Encounter worth visiting?
It depends on what you want. The building is impressive on its own, but the exhibits carry a clear religious message and read the Bible literally. Go in knowing that and it makes an unusual day out on a Kentucky road trip.
Where should I stay to visit Ark Encounter?
Stay in Cincinnati or Covington, a little over half an hour away, for better hotels, restaurants and breweries than Williamstown offers. Hotel Covington, on the Kentucky side of the river, gives the shortest drive south. Lytle Park Hotel in Cincinnati is a quieter alternative, with a rooftop bar above the river.