Welcome to the least clicked page on the whole ECS website. If you are here, you must really like to explore, just like Columbus, am I right? Right?! Anybody?!?!
GET THERE
Air
Being the 15th largest city in the U.S., it is easy and inexpensive to fly into (and not over) Columbus. The last time this page was updated, Seattle, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City did not have direct flights. Since then Alaska has a twice-daily direct flight, United added a San Francisco leg in 2023, and Delta starts direct to Salt Lake City in June 2024. Flights typically average $400 RT, though if you cruise the cheaper airlines like Frontier or Spirit you can get under $250 RT. Although it used to be a giant pile of poo (not literally), the newly upgraded John Glenn International Airport is surprisingly easy to navigate. It was recently announced the airport will be breaking ground on a new $2 billion terminal in 2025 that will open by 2029 and replace the current terminal.
Driving
Columbus has the the largest percentage of the U.S. population within 500 miles of it than any other U.S. city. So there’s a good chance you’re actually driving here. Ignore the above paragraph.
GET AROUND
Rental Car
This is probably the best way to get around town, as Columbus is a typically-sprawled Midwestern city. The airport has most rental companies available and run from $22/day for economy to a wallet-shattering $30/day for an SUV.
Transit
Now that Kansas City built a street car system, Columbus is the largest metropolitan area in the country without a local rail system. ODOT is currently exploring the idea of Ohio Hub, which would be high-speed rail linking Cincinnati and Cleveland through Columbus. Columbus is also included in every version of the recently announced Amtrak expansion options.
COTA is the city’s bus system, and is, well.. ok. You can purchase a day pass for $4.50. Or you could get a beer. If you brought your bike, or want to use bike share, Columbus is actually an easily bikeable city, nearing 165 miles of trails.
Uber/Lyft
Both operate in Columbus. If planning on being out on the town, this is probably your best bet anyway. Practice safe surge price awareness, kids.
SEE/DO
Arena District
Just north of downtown, the Arena District is location of several large venues, including the Crew’s new stadium opened in 2023. Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL’s Blue Jackets, Huntington Park the home of the Cleveland Indians AAA affiliate Columbus Clippers, and KEMBA Live, an indoor/outdoor concert venue, all call the Arena District their home. The Arena District also is home to several bars and restaurants and hosts the Columbus Jazz & Rib festival, typically in late July.
German Village
Just south of downtown is German Village, with the Brewery District just to the west. This was named one of America’s Great Neighborhoods in 2011 by the American Planning Association. A collection of historic homes, small eclectic shops, and some of the best restaurants in Columbus, German Village is a walkable must-see. Don’t miss Schmidt Sausage Haus for the all-you-can-eat sausage buffet (cool it..) and the best cream puffs (seriously, cool it..) you’ve ever had. Also, just click this link for another place you cannot pass on: https://thethurmancafe.com
Short North
This is by far the most unique part of Columbus. It is essentially a non-ending line of art galleries, specialty shops, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, and coffee houses extending from downtown to Ohio State’s campus. It has a monthly “gallery hop,” and is the location of the yearly Pride parade. A lot of work has been done to extend this area so it now connects South Campus Gateway at Ohio State all the way through to the revitalizing downtown area.
Bridge ParkIn the northwest part of the metro area, close to downtown Dublin, this is a new mixed-use area with several hotels and a slew of bars/restaurants, all within a designated open-beverage area. It also contains Pins/16-bit, a duck-pin bowling alley with an attached free arcade. Between the two halves of Bridge Park is the namesake of the neighborhood, the longest single-tower S-shaped suspension bridge in the world (as of spring 2024).
Zoo
Thanks to the decades of effort by Jack Hanna, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is consistently ranked in the top 3 of zoos in the country. Though easy to see an area or two in an hour, if you want to see the whole zoo then plan an entire day. Zoombezi Bay is an attached water park.
COSI
The Center of Science and Industry is a 320,000 sq ft building just across the Scioto River from downtown that hosts over 300 interactive science exhibits. It is also operates the largest outreach education program of any science museum in the country. Keep an eye out for any of the special exhibits that may be hosted when you are in town.
Cedar Point
If making a weekend or longer trip of it, do not miss out on the opportunity to drive 2 1/2 hours north to Sandusky and go to the best amusement park in the world. No, seriously. Cedar Point is consistently topping the charts with the most innovative roller coasters, all on the shores of Lake Erie. https://www.cedarpoint.com
Festivals
Summer matches usually mean there’s a festival going on somewhere. June typically plays host to the Jazz/Blues festival, Park Street Festival, Pride, ComFest, and Juneteenth. July is Jazz & Rib fest and the beginning of the State Fair, which extends into August. August is also Dublin’s Irish Festival. There are myriad other festivals with varying dates, so always look to see what’s going on.
EAT/DRINK
Columbus is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Midwest, and its demographics nearly match the national average. This makes Columbus one of the nation’s premiere test markets for stores and restaurants. Add to that a robust immigrant population, and Columbus has nearly any style of food you could wish for. This is good, as there is no “stereotypical Columbus cuisine” other than the tears of That Team Up North.
To be honest, there are so many places to try, so just use your search engine of choice.
Columbus also has a burgeoning craft brewery scene, changing the whole game from being “just another Anheuser-Busch brewery town.” There are a couple dozen, all with taprooms and most with food. Most recommended would be Wolf’s Ridge, Jackie O’s, and Land Grant, all with locations downtown.
SLEEP
Bridge Park mentioned above has hotels and is less than 20 minutes by car to the stadium. However, the area around the Arena District and downtown have a lot of newer hotel options also. You can stay elsewhere for less, but then you’re just adding transportations costs.
This has changed a ton with the construction of the new stadium in the Arena District. Matchday is now an actual event for the city, and the atmosphere has changed dramatically. 2024 will be the first away match since the stadium opened, so much will be learned. The stadium is about a half mile walk down a narrow neighborhood street from the rest of the Arena District and parking and is typically clogged with Crew supporters well before gates open. Prefunc will likely involve a location a bit farther from the stadium and possibly bussing in.
MEMORIES
Three points. Family. Hats.