US 52 is kind of the forgotten but scenic route along the river. There were more amenities (restaurants, gas stations) along the route but the completion of the AA Highway (1995) and the Appalachian Highway siphoned off through traffic. For us, it takes 2.2 hours to get to Cincinnati via the AA Highway, or 2 hours via OH 32/73, or 3 hours via US 52.
The AA Highway hasn't fully developed except for Maysville and, to a limited extent, Vanceburg because of utilities and a lack of traffic. It's down to 1,300 or so along the northern branch toward US 23, 2,300 or so along the southern branch toward I-64, 6,200 west of Vanceburg, 12,000 around Maysville, and 6,000 west of Maysville.