Columbus

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Columbus
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Columbus is a huge city with several district articles that contain information about specific sights, restaurants, and accommodation.

Columbus is the capital of the American state of Ohio and is located centrally within the state as the core of the Greater Columbus area. Sited in an area where the Rust Belt, Bible Belt, Appalachia, and the Farm Belt meet, Columbus is a fusion of many different parts of America. It is the home of the Ohio State University. The combination of Ohio Government and the Ohio State University has fueled amazing growth both financially and physically in Columbus. It has created a business and research environment that has provided substantial employment opportunities to the diverse ethnic and local graduates of the Ohio State University, and other academic institutions in Columbus. The Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC), is projected to be one of the top 50 supercomputers in the world and among the top 10 supercomputing academic centers. It also ranked number 1 on About.com's list of the United States' Most Underrated Gay Cities.

Districts

Downtown
including the Arena district and the Short North

University Area

Northwest Columbus

Northeast Columbus

South Columbus
including German Village, Brewery District, New Rome, Valley View, Galloway, Urbancrest, Grove City, Obetz, Groveport and Brice

Understand

Named after the Italian explorer who sailed under the Spanish flag, this city is the largest in Ohio in terms of population with 906,000 in 2021, and the 14th largest city in the United States—though with only2.1 million people, the metropolitan statistical area is relatively small (the 32nd largest in the nation and the 3rd of 4th largest in Ohio). Major area employers are state government (as the state capital), Ohio State University (the largest student population in the nation) and numerous Fortune 500 companies headquartered here (Cardinal Health, Nationwide Insurance, Limited Brands, etc.) It is a day's drive from one half of the U.S. population and is located at the intersection of I-70 and I-71.

Generally arranged in a really big wheel, Columbus is the central hub to many nearby cities including (clockwise from the north):

Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville, and Indianapolis.

Visitor information

39.96797-83.009091 Experience Columbus Visitor Center (Downtown), 277 W Nationwide Blvd, Suite 125, ☏ +1 614 222-6135. M-F 8AM-5PM. (updated Jul 2019)
40.05143-82.915322 Experience Columbus Visitor Center (Easton), 188 Easton Town Center (first floor of Easton Station building), ☏ +1 614 416-8080. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su noon-6PM. (updated Jul 2019)

Get in

A view of downtown Columbus' skyline from street level

By plane

39.998-82.88871 John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH ^IATA formerly known as Port Columbus International Airport), 4600 International Gateway, ☏ +1 614 239-4083. Served by all the major airlines, with direct flights to most major American cities and a few international cities. Aside from rental cars, the airport can also be reached by the #7 or AirConnect buses, or by taxi. A taxi ride to downtown is about 20 minutes, depending on traffic, and will cost approximately $20-50. Depending on your schedule and where you are connecting to, it may be worthwhile to check flights to Dayton as well (estimate one-hour drive to Columbus), as they are often cheaper. (updated Jul 2019)

Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK ^IATA), 2241 John Circle Dr. Rickenbacker is served by low-cost carrier Allegiant Air.

Ohio State University Airport (OSU ^IATA), 2160 West Case Rd. The Ohio State University Airport is a public general aviation airport.

By car

Major highways include I-71 & Rte. 315 (north and south), I-70 & I-670 (east and west), and the outer-belt, I-270. US Routes 33, 23, and 40 also converge downtown.

By bus

39.9643-83.03822 Barons Bus, (office) 1330 McKinley Ave (McKinley Ave & Central Ave), toll-free: +1 888 378-3823. (updated Oct 2019)
Go Bus (Operated by Barons Bus), Greyhound bus station at 111 E Town St (Additional stop at the airport.), ☏ +1 614 228-2266, toll-free: +1 888 95 GOBUS (46287). Goes towards Wooster, Athens and Coolville in several routes.
39.9586-82.99653 Greyhound, (Bus station) 111 East Town St (Along E Town St between S 3rd & 4th St, a couple of blocks south of the state capitol), ☏ +1 614 228-2266. 24 hours a day.
39.9581-82.99384 Jaguar Inc (formerly Skyhorse), (Bus stop) Mobil gas station at 213 E Rich St (Next to a Mobil gas station at E Rich & S 5th St), ☏ +1 917 288-6888, +1 347 203-2209. From New York to Louisville, KY via Columbus, Springfield, Vandalia, Cincinnati, and Dayton, OH, (updated Jun 2015)

Get around

By bus

The COTA bus service can take you to most important places in the city, which should be about 5 blocks away from any conceivable location you need to go to. This service costs $2.75 for an Express bus and $2.00 for a Local/Crosstown bus. Transfers for a Local/Crosstown bus are free, but transfers between bus types, such as from a Local to an Express route, are subject to an upcharge. Ask the bus driver for a transfer when you pay your fare, and you'll be given a transfer pass that you use when boarding the next bus. You cannot use a transfer pass to board a bus on the same line that travels in the opposite direction (i.e. you cannot get off a bus line and use the transfer pass to board a bus going the other way).

By foot

Most of High St (US Route 23) from Clintonville in the north to Merion Village in the south is pedestrian-friendly, and while areas between campus and the Short North had been fairly rough, gentrification and the growth of student housing, boutique shops, and restaurants has created a fairly continuous stretch of safe by-foot travel. Downtown Columbus is a walkable area with most attractions within a 20-minute walk of each other. The Columbus Landmarks Foundation conducts walking tours, too.

By car

Columbus is a car-centric city, with usage of a car required outside of the areas directly surrounding downtown. Parking is extensive (and reasonably priced) at almost all major destinations. There are many surface lots and garages around the city. There are only a few areas of the city, like the Short North, where parking can be hard to come by; those locations feature abundant valet parking at $5 per vehicle. U-turns are illegal citywide in Columbus.

Downtown is a short drive ($20-50 taxi fare) from the airport via I-670W. Uber and Lyft are also available, and tend to run on the lower end of that $20-50 range.

Columbus is notorious for aggressive towing companies, especially downtown, on campus, and in the Short North. Before you park somewhere, make sure that it does not have a "Private Parking" or "Tow Away Zone" sign nearby.

By bike

CoGo Bike Share. A bike sharing program with stations in downtown, surrounding communities and Easton Town Center; pick up a bike at any station and return it to any station. A pass enables unlimited 30 minute trips. $6/24 hour pass.

See

Museums

Most Columbus museums are located near Downtown, or near the Ohio State University.

Architecture

The Ohio Statehouse and other buildings in the downtown core serve as distinct architectural landmarks.

Notable Neighborhoods

The neighborhoods on the outskirts of Downtown are usually very distinctive. These include the German Village, The Short North, the Victorian Village, and others.

Do

Festivals and events

These are a few of the larger or major events in Columbus:

40-82.9931 All American Quarter Horse Congress (Ohio Expo Center/Fairgrounds). October.
The Arnold Fitness Classic. Held once a year in early March at the Columbus Convention Center. Many competitions ranging from martial arts to cheerleading to bench press, plenty of "fitness babes" and free supplement samples, and speeches by former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Asian Festival (Franklin Park). Annual event. May. Food, games, market place, health screening. Great location! Free.

Columbus Arts Festival (Downtown Riverfront), festival@gcac.org. June (annual event) ARTS, crafts, food, music, entertainment. Big event. (updated May 2016)
Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest (River Front downtown). July. Expect 500-700,000 people at this fun food and music event held each year.
39.9753-83.00672 ComFest (The Columbus Community Festival) (Goodale Park). June. Music, arts, culture, shopping, fair food, beer & bare feet. Who's who of Columbus musicians and those from elsewhere!
Festival Latino. Held on the downtown River Front in the middle of June each year. Billed as "The largest Hispanic/Latino event in Ohio". Lots of food, fun, entertainment and feista. Free admission.
German Village Oktoberfest (South Grant & East Livingston Ave). September.
39.99897-82.990423 Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave. Home to the Ohio State Fair. Each month, a variety of shows, expositions and competitions are held at the Ohio Expo Center, over 175 events per year. These range from shopping for antiques to boxing, there is something for everyone at the Ohio Expo Center.
Origins International Game Expo. Origins is run by the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) as one of their two shows for the adventure gaming industry. (The second show, the GAMA Trade Show, is for game manufacturers and retailers only.) Origins is specifically chartered to serve adventure gaming in general, including wargames and miniatures gaming, which tend to be less well represented at Gen Con and Dragon*Con. Board games, trading card games, and role-playing games are also popular at Origins. It is usually compared in size with E3 and GenCon, and is famous for its Origin Awards. The Origins Award is commonly referred to as a Calliope, as the statuette is in the likeness of the Muse of the same name. Academy members frequently shorten this name to "Callie."
Red, White & BOOM (Downtown, river front). Take a bus, traffic is as bad as it gets in Columbus for this event. Billed as The biggest and best Independence Day fireworks celebration in the Midwest. July.

Sports teams

Columbus Blue Jackets. Ice hockey.
Columbus Clippers - AAA Baseball. The team plays AAA Minor League Baseball at Huntington Park.
Ohio State Buckeyes. The athletic teams representing Ohio State University are one of the city's (and state's) greatest sporting institutions. Members of the Big Ten Conference along with 10 other schools in the greater Midwest region, Penn State in central Pennsylvania, and Maryland and Rutgers on the east coast, the Buckeyes frequently contend for national honors in a wide variety of sports. The most famous Buckeye team is the American football team, playing before regular sellout crowds of over 100,000 at Ohio Stadium. Some of the many legendary figures to wear the scarlet and gray of Ohio State include Jesse Owens (track), Jack Nicklaus (golf), and Bob Knight (who played basketball at OSU and became far more famous as a coach in that sport). (updated Jul 2017)
Columbus Crew - Major League Soccer, Lower.com Field, 96 Columbus Crew Way.

Factory tours

40.09814-82.997554 The American Whistle Factory, 6540 Huntley Rd, ☏ +1 614 846-2918. The only manufacturer of metal whistles in the United States
39.98971-83.117415 Anthony-Thomas Candy Co., 1777 Arlingate Lane, toll-free: +1-877-226-3921. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30AM-2:30PM.
39.97467-83.030196 The Krema Nut Company, 1000 W. Goodale Blvd, ☏ +1 614 299-4131. One of the oldest peanut butter makers still manufacturing in the United States today! And PB & Jelley Sandwich shop.

Mature audiences

39.8406-82.99587 Scioto Downs, ☏ +1 614 295-4700. 2 mi (3.2 km) south of Route 270 on Route 23 South (High Street). Harness racing and betting. (updated Dec 2019)

Other

39.9312-82.83528 Magic Mountain Fun Center East.
40.1379-82.97299 Magic Mountain Fun Park Polaris.

Learn

The Ohio State University is a large college, bordered on the south by West 9th Avenue, on the north by Lane Avenue, and on the east by North High Street. The university owns most of the property within these bounds, up to Olentangy River Road on the west, and some properties west of Olentangy River Road.
Columbus College of Art and Design is an art school headquartered at 60 Cleveland Avenue in downtown.
Columbus State Community College is a community college located at 550 East Spring Street in downtown.

Work

Government - Columbus serves as the capital city of Ohio, and government is one of the city's largest employers.
Insurance - Several large insurance companies are headquartered in Columbus, including Nationwide Insurance Company, which is headquartered in downtown Columbus.
Healthcare- Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is a teaching hospital associated with The Ohio State University. Nationwide Children's Hospital is one of the nation's leading children's hospitals with multiple specialties.

Buy

Columbus has many vibrant shopping districts downtown, and the surrounding suburbs offer shopping malls and chain outlets.

39.979719-83.0047111 Short North. A neighborhood of galleries, restaurants and cafes lining High Street, which is the main north-south thoroughfare in the downtown. The Short North lies just north of the downtown on the north side of I-670. The Short North runs until about Third Avenue. The overpass of I-670 has a "cap" over the freeway with restaurants and shops. Check out the Gallery Hop the first Saturday of every month when the galleries stay open late and the streets and bars are definitely hopping.
40.0268-83.014862 Wholly Craft!, 3169 North High St, ☏ +1 614 447-3445. M W-F 1PM-8PM, Tu closed, Sa noon-7PM, Su noon-5PM. Craft shop featuring handmade clothing, jewelry, gifts, recycled artwork, soaps, and anatomically themed knittery. Designers are from all over the country, but many are in Ohio; thus making this a good place to find Ohio souvenirs because of its showcasing of local artists' merchandise.

Eat

Food Safety In Columbus, all restaurants must post color coded signs that show the results of the most previous inspection by the Columbus Public Health Dept. The law applies to public pools, tattoo parlors, spas, campgrounds as well as food markets The sign must be obvious, within 5 ft (1.5 m) of an entrance. Green - passing most recent inspection. Yellow - uncorrected repeat violations. White - increased inspection frequency. Red, - ordered closed by the city.

The City of Columbus issues approximately 6,000 licenses for a variety of types of food vendors, Franklin County issues about 3,000 for the remainder of the county and the suburban area.

A major test market for most major chain restaurants (though this is not as true as it once was), Columbus has a large density of national chain restaurants, some even having multiple venues in a single neighborhood. That being said, Columbus has a growing ethnic and upper class dining scene thanks in part to continued immigration (from Africa, especially Somalia and Ghana, Southeast Asia, and Latin America) and the continued gentrification of the downtown area.

The North Market, 59 Spruce St, ☏ +1 614 221-7237. Homemade sauces at Pastaria. BBQ or Vietnamese, sushi or rice balls, the biggest problem is choosing what to eat, and it's all relatively cheap.

Budget

Rubino's Pizza. Local pizza joint that boasts the thinnest crust in existence. Famous for great sauce, 60¢ sodas, and vintage arcade games.
Raising Canes. Five locations in the Columbus area. Fast food chain that serves excellent chicken fingers in a tasty dipping sauce. Try the box combos that include fries, cole slaw, and Texas toast.
City Barbecue. Chain that is primarily in Columbus, with locations in a few of the suburbs. Incredibly good pulled pork, with tastes for anyone interested in BBQ cooking.
Piada. Fast-growing new chain spread throughout Columbus. Italian quick service, specializing in piadas (Italian flatbread wraps) and pasta. Also has a selection of Italian sodas and teas.
Yau's China Bistro. This is an unpretentious, but incredibly good Chinese restaurant on North High Street, part of the campus area. Very authentic and reasonably priced.
Udupi Cafe (on 161 between I-71 and Cleveland Ave). Excellent, inexpensive, entirely vegetarian South Indian restaurant.
Mi Mi Cafe, 5858 Columbus Square (in the shopping area at Cleveland Ave and 161). Very nice Vietnamese sandwiches and noodle dishes. Iced coffee and billiards too.
Bangkok Grocery & Restaurant, 3283 Refugee Rd. On the East Side. Thai restaurant and connected grocery store serving the usual Thai, Laotian, and Chinese fare. Very large portions.
Wendy's. Headquartered in nearby Dublin, Ohio. The original Wendy's restaurant is downtown at 257 East Broad St but has closed, and the building has been re-purposed.
El Arepazo (Corner of Gay and Pearl). Venezuelan faire. Delicious and cheap.
Lunch wagons. Called loncheras, or lovingly referred to as "roach coaches" which cater to a Latino labor force, are becoming a common sight around town and are very popular with those in the know. Similar to the lunch wagons so popular in Hawaii, but with a Latino twist. They are subject to inspection by the health dept. and should not be feared but enjoyed.
Taco trucks. All over Columbus. Cheap and tasty Mexican fare. Check out the Taco Truck tracker website.
Tensuke Market Cafe, 1167 Old Henderson Rd, ☏ +1 614 451-6002. A well-kept secret for Japanese food, and budget alternative to its posh neighbor, Akai Hana. Features several kinds of Japanese noodles, tempura, gyoza, teriyaki, and potato croquettes.
Whole World Natural Restaurant, 3269 North High St, ☏ +1 614 268-5751. Entirely vegetarian with many vegan options. New soups and specials every day, as well as vegan pastries, cookies, and cakes sold at the counter.

Mid-range

Max & Erma's. The quintessential 'burgers and stuff' sort of place got its' start here. Most locations have been closed, but you can find a few locations on the East Side near Reynoldsburg. Adventurers are recommended to try their Garbage Burger, while those with a sweet tooth should get a pan of cookies made fresh for them, or try the sundae bar! (updated Apr 2021)
Schmidt's Sausage Haus, 240 E Kossuth St. This family run restaurant serves up some of the best German food in Columbus. It is famous for their Bahama Mamas and their large cream puffs. Schmidt's has been featured on the food network and on the Travel Channel's "Man V. Food". Try a little bit of everything to experience the authentic German cuisine.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream. This ice cream shops features exotic flavors that will you keep you coming back. Jeni's has won many awards and has been featured on numerous shows on the Food Network and the Travel Channel. All of the ingredients are organic and most of them come from local farms in Ohio.
My Momma's Sweet Potato Pies, 813 East Livingston Ave, ☏ +1 614 444-4282. Authentic sweet potato pie.
Columbus Brewing Company (just west of the Brewery District). Fine food at a good price.
Akai Hana. Columbus' most authentic source of excellent Japanese food and sushi. Located at Old Henderson & Kenny, in the Japanese part of town next to the Japanese gift shop, Japanese bakery, and Japanese market. It's a bit hard to find, tucked in a strip mall behind 'The Ski Shack'. Also provides carry-out. This restaurant used to be known as Restaurant Japan.
Skillet, Rustic. Urban. Food., 410 E Whittier, ☏ +1 614 443-2266. Seasonal menu from local farms. Small, walk-up to counter joint. Excellent brunch with a unique take on traditional comfort foods. (updated Dec 2023)
Eddie George's Grille 27, 1636 North High St, ☏ +1 614 421-2727. Great American food and atmosphere for watching sports. Located in the South Campus Gateway. This sports-themed restaurant is owned and named after the Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State.

Splurge

Alana's, 2333 North High St (just north of The Ohio State University), ☏ +1 614-294-6783. The best place to indulge in a nice bottle of wine with dinner, as the mark-up on her amazing selection is practically non-existent. With a new menu hand-picked by Alana herself every night and an on-site sommelier (her husband), Alana's is a great place to enjoy fine food in a non-pretentious atmosphere.
Cameron Mitchel Restaurants. For better or for worse, a majority of the fine dining in Columbus is owned by the same parent company. For a predictably pleasant (if unadventurous) night out you can choose from Molly Woos, The Columbus Fish Market, M (high-end), Cameron's (steak), or Cap City Diner. Cameron Mitchell's Ocean Club at Easton is somewhat of a hidden treat on the second floor of the main Easton Station. (updated Mar 2018)
^{[dead link]} Spagio, 1295 Grandview Ave. European and Pacific Rim Cuisine. They have excellent wood-fired pizzas.

Dives

For the mid-west, Columbus has its share of ethnic and domestic eateries that shelter culinary artists throughout the city and offer outstanding meals at sometimes bargain prices, in locations that may be carry-out only, limited seating or maybe small bars that offer outstanding food. Places that are well worth the effort to find, which is part of the adventure.

Chef Butcher's Creole Kitchen, 777 E Long St, ☏ +1 614 228-7588. Creole for the lunch crowd.
Ena's Caribbean Kitchen, 2458 Cleveland Ave, ☏ +1 614 262-0988. Limited seating, great food, family operation. Daily specials.

Drink

The Arena District. Home of the Columbus Nationwide Arena. Bars include Frog Bear Wild Boar, Brother's, Gaswerks, and the Lodge Bar, each containing a different personality and young 20-somethings atmosphere. Cabs are easy to flag down, parking is cheap, and each bar has incredible happy hour specials. Don't miss Brothers Thursday mug night, an Ohio State student favorite.
The Char Bar. Across the street from the Greater Columbus Convention Center is a nicely low-key place to get good drinks, many different types of beer, and relax.
Old Bag of Nails Pub, 18 North Nelson Rd (Between Bexley district and Franklin Park on the right off E. Broad Street going into Downtown), ☏ +1 614-252-4949. Perfect place for happy hour! Landmark in Bexley community of Columbus. Styled after an English Pub this is a great place to hang out and test many different beer selections. The beer-battered pickles and fish-n-chips are excellent. Great for Happy Hour (2/7PM) to sit on their back patio overlooking the bridge and water with a fun jazz band playing every Thursday 7-9PM.
The Short North. Area, on N High Street above Goodale street combines art galleries with bars. First weekend of the month is "Gallery Hop" and places are open later.
Barley's. A microbrewery in the Short North that is known for its high-quality beers.
Wyandotte Winery, 4640 Wyandotte Dr. A family run winery located in a cozy neighborhood setting in northeast Columbus. Wyandotte has produced fine grape and fruit wines on premises since the 1980s. Visit the wine shop and tasting room, enjoy a taste of the current wine offerings, and browse the wine related items in the gift shop.
Brothers Drake Meadery, 26 E 5th Ave (near corner of 5th & High St.), ☏ +1 614-388-8765. Wines made from honey and local ingredients to create a distinctly local Columbus mead. Stop by to sample signature recipes, enjoy local art and live music. $15 +.
SideBar 122, 122 E Main St (E Main between 3rd and 4th), ☏ +1 614-228-9041. 4PM-noon. Sidebar offers classic cocktails and a Mediterranean inspired small plates menu with the flavors of South America. Behind the bar you will find bartenders shaking drinks with house-made syrups and juices. There's a dining room with exposed brick and candlelit tables. Opens Monday through Saturday at 4PM and begins offering dinner service at 5PM. Check out the Piano Bar on the lower level Saturday nights for live Jazz performances.

Music

Lifestyle Communities Pavilion, 405 Neil Ave (formerly the Promowest Pav.). In the Arena District. A mid-sized venue seating 2,200 patrons indoors and 4,500 outdoors.
The Basement, 391 Neil Ave. Known for showcasing local bands.
Newport Music Hall, 1722 North High St, ☏ +1 614-294-1659. America's longest continually running rock club, but also showcasing alternative and electronic music.

Sleep

Columbus is a convention city, with a large well established business and manufacturing base, as well as an education foundation that attracts many visitors. Downtown accommodations tend to be a little more expensive than those scattered near the interstate exits. But, there usually is lodging available in most price ranges.

The Wayfaring Buckeye Hostel, 2407 Indiana Ave. (One mile from OSU), ☏ +1 614-754-0945. Inexpensive lodging that doesn't skimp on the fun. Bar crawls, cookouts, movie nights, city tours, live music, etc. Dormitory beds starting at $30 per night.
Cambria Suites Columbus/Polaris, 9100 Lyra Dr., ☏ +1 614 841-9100, fax: +1 614 841-9107. NEQ of Lyra Dr. & Gemini Dr.
Courtyard by Marriott, 35 West Spring St, ☏ +1 614-228-3200.
Hampton Inn & Suites Columbus Downtown, 501 North High St, ☏ +1 614-559-2000.
Residence Inn Columbus Downtown, 36 E. Gay St, ☏ +1 614-222-2610, hixworthington@gmail.com. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. This all suite hotel is a converted historic bank. Hotel features a variety of amenities and services with the comforts of home.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Columbus - Worthington, 55 Hutchinson Avenue, ☏ +1 614-977-0520.

41.420806-97.367321 Columbus Inn, 371 33rd Ave, ☏ +1 402-564-2527. $69.

Cope

Newspapers

The Columbus Dispatch. Columbus' daily newspaper, and has the standard News/Sports/Arts/Classifieds mix. Perhaps because Columbus is the state capitol, the Dispatch usually carries more news about state politics than most of the other Ohio dailies. In addition to the standard vending machines, the Dispatch can also be purchased on some COTA (public) buses by depositing an extra $0.50 into the fare box.
Columbus Alive. While not as colorful or notorious as The Other Paper, Columbus Alive is another good source for entertainment schedules, and may be less jarring to those with conservative sensibilities. It is also provided free at local businesses and libraries.

Religious services

Broad Street in Downtown Columbus is home to a number of Christian churches of considerable historic and architectural interest, including First Congregational United Church of Christ, where Washington Gladden, a pioneer in the Social Gospel movement, preached from 1882-1918. Both First Congregational and the nearby Catholic cathedral, St. Joseph's, offer a range of special services and concerts throughout the year.

Jews can attend services at Congregation Beth Tikvah, while Muslims can attend the Islamic Society^{[dead link]}.

Stay safe

Dial 911 to get emergency (police/medical/fire) help. Natural hazards include tornadoes in the warm months and snowy or icy roads in the cold months. Flooding can occur after extended periods of rain.

Broadly speaking, the northwest quadrant of the city (north of I-670 and west of I-71, including Clintonville, Grandview, Upper Arlington, Worthington, Dublin, and Hilliard) is the safe zone from a crime perspective. The other three quadrants, especially along Broad Street (US-40) and Cleveland Avenue (OH-3), are overall less so, although German Village and Bexley are notable oases in the southeast. Outside the I-270 outer belt, the risk of crime diminishes greatly.

Visitors to the area should be aware that the theft of laptop computers, phones, and other items from automobiles is a common occurrence. Always store valuables in the cargo compartment of one's car and make sure it is locked.

Theft of vehicles themselves has achieved a great deal of notoriety in the 2020s. Kias and Hyundais are targeted because of a vulnerability that enables a knowledgeable thief to operate the vehicle without the key. Thieves are often juveniles who steal the cars for the purpose of joyriding, but they are still dangerous and you should never confront them. Police recommend that drivers of affected vehicles use a steering wheel lock to deter this type of crime; occasionally they give these out for free.

Motorists who drink and drive will face stiff penalties if one's blood alcohol concentration is above the legal limit (0.08). Police routinely set up checkpoints along major roads where all drivers must pass through and show their license and registration to check for intoxicated people.

Vehicles are required by law to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. However, the law is not universally followed. Take care to watch for turning traffic when crossing streets. Conversely, the OSU campus is pedestrian-dominated, and drivers should be alert for jaywalkers.

Hospitals

Columbus has three major networks of hospitals, all of which offer a high standard of medical care. Each has many locations; the major hospitals are listed here, and others may be found on the district pages. Your insurance may not cover all three networks.

Mount Carmel Health System (Catholic)

39.977-82.8443 Mount Carmel East, 6001 East Broad Street (East of I-270 at East Broad Street), ☏ +1 614 234 6000. (updated May 2024)
39.957-83.0194 Mount Carmel Franklinton, 120 South Green Street (West of OH-315 at West Town Street), ☏ +1 614 234 5000. (updated May 2024)
40.115-82.9465 Mount Carmel St. Ann's, 500 South Cleveland Avenue (North of I-270 at Cleveland Avenue), ☏ +1 380 898 4000. (updated May 2024)
39.852-83.0746 Mount Carmel Grove City, 5300 North Meadows Drive (East of I-71 at London-Groveport Road), ☏ +1 614 663 5000. (updated May 2024)

OhioHealth (Methodist)

39.961-82.9927 Grant Medical Center, 111 South Grant Avenue (East of I-71 at East Broad Street), ☏ +1 614 566 9000. (updated May 2024)
40.03-83.0358 Riverside Methodist Hospital, 3535 Olentangy River Rd (West of OH-315 at North Broadway), ☏ +1 614 566 5000. (updated May 2024)
40.101-83.1679 Dublin Methodist Hospital, 7500 Hospital Drive (North of US-33 at Avery-Muirfield Drive), ☏ +1 614 544 8000. (updated May 2024)
39.954-83.13710 Doctors Hospital, 5100 West Broad Street (West of I-270 at West Broad Street), ☏ +1 614 544 1000. (updated May 2024)
39.876-83.03411 Grove City Methodist Hospital, 1375 Stringtown Road (East of I-71 at Stringtown Road), ☏ +1 614 788 1000. (updated May 2024)

Wexner Medical Center (State)

39.995-83.01912 University Hospital, 410 West 10th Avenue (East of OH-315 at Medical Center Drive), ☏ +1 614 293 8000. (updated May 2024)
39.97-82.96313 East Hospital, 181 Taylor Avenue (South of I-670 at Leonard Avenue), ☏ +1 614 257 3000. (updated May 2024)

The children's hospital is not part of any of the major networks, although it has some links to the Wexner Medical Center. It is particularly highly regarded.

39.952-82.97914 Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Dr (South of I-71 at Parsons Avenue), ☏ +1 614 722 2000. (updated May 2024)

Law enforcement

In the Columbus area, you will find a variety of law enforcement that includes Ohio State Patrol, Columbus Police, Franklin County Sheriff, local Police depts., in Dublin, Westerville and other local municipalities. Usually, they are what one would expect from law enforcement as far as being professional, polite and helpful. They are well trained and compensated, very good at crowd control and traffic control. Be polite, respectful and you will have few problems with them. Most have cameras in cars, do not offer any bribes of anything and keep in mind you are likely being video recorded.

Smoking

Smoking is banned in most public areas with very few exceptions. Some hotels, motels, or other lodging facilities may have special smoking rooms that are permitted under the new law. The law forbids restaurants and bars from allowing smoking on premises, unless they have an outdoor patio. Some private clubs, such as AmVets, Eagles, Moose, and similar establishments have been slower to enforce the smoking ban, especially in the outskirts of the city.

Connect

Visitor information

Easton Visitor Information Center: 188 Easton Town Center, +1 614 416-8080. On the first floor of the Easton Town Center mall; two free parking garages are at either end of the mall.
Downtown Visitor Information Center: 277 W Nationwide Blvd, +1 614 221-6623. On the corner of Nationwide Blvd. and Neil Ave. in the Arena District; parking is free for the first fifteen minutes in the lot across the street.

Wi-fi access

Stauf's (Grandview Village). Possibly the best coffee place in Columbus.
The Waiting Room, North High St (near 1st Ave).
Cafe Kerouac, North High St (near Northwood Ave). A funky neighborhood coffee shop that also has books and magazines.
Cup O' Joe. Several locations throughout the city including North High St, German Village, Bexley and Olentangy River Rd. Coffee roasted by Stauf's.
The ShiSha Loungue, 2367 N. High St. Cafe, hookah bar, live music, DJs
Panera. The nation's largest free Wi-Fi provider, has many locations in malls, on High St, and in the suburbs.
Scottie MacBean's. Location in Worthington on High St.
Arena District. Anywhere in the green spaces of the Arena District.

Go next

Former Longaberger Basket headquarters in Newark

Lancaster - 35 minutes southeast. Hilltop views from Rising Park, the Ohio Glass Museum.
Newark - The site of many prehistoric earthworks and some interesting architecture, 45 minute drive north east.
Deer Creek State Park and Resort & Conference Center, 3,100 acres of nature within a 45-minute drive from downtown, 22300 State Park Rd. No. 20, Mt. Sterling, +1-877-678-3777 or +1 740 869-2020, Fax: +1 740 869-4059.
Chillicothe - 1 hour south on US-23. The first capital of Ohio, also home of the UNESCO heritage site Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks.
Dayton is about 1 hour west on I-70
Hocking Hills State Park is less than an hour southeast on US-33.
Athens is 1 hr 15 minutes southeast on US-33. Home to Ohio University.
Cincinnati is about a 1-hour, 45-minute drive south on I-71.
Portsmouth is 1 hr 45 minutes south on US-23. Home of Shawnee State University.
Wayne National Forest consists of 3 separate units throughout southeast Ohio.
Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton is about a 2-hour drive.
Wheeling is 2 hours east on I-70.
Cleveland is about a 2-hour, 15-minute drive north on I-71.
Huntington is less than 2 and a half hours south. Home of Marshall University.
Toledo is less than 2 and a half hours northwest
Charleston is 2 hours 40 minutes southeast. State Capital of West Virginia.
Pittsburgh is 3 hours east on mostly I-70.
Camp Chase Trail

Routes through Columbus

Dayton ← London ←	W E	→ Reynoldsburg/Pickerington → Wheeling
Cleveland ← Worthington ←	N S	→ Wilmington → Cincinnati
Toledo ← Worthington ←	N S	→ Circleville → Catlettsburg
Fort Wayne ← Dublin ←	W E	→ Canal Winchester → Weston

This city travel guide to Columbus is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.