Best Hotels Near Ohio Stadium in Columbus

Few college-football trips put as many people into one place as a Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

"The Horseshoe" has a current seating capacity of 102,041, making it the fourth-largest on-campus stadium in the country. When more than 100,000 fans converge on the Ohio State University campus, your hotel location matters.

For most visitors, there are three sensible strategies: stay directly on or near campus for the easiest game day, stay in the Short North for restaurants and nightlife, or stay a little farther away to get easier parking and potentially better value.

Here are some of the best options.

The Blackwell Inn: Best Hotel for Ohio Stadium

If the football game is the main reason you're coming to Columbus, The Blackwell Inn and Pfahl Conference Center is the location we'd check first.

The Blackwell sits directly on Ohio State's campus on Tuttle Park Place, and the hotel's own recent guest feedback describes it as being across from Ohio Stadium.

That's an enormous advantage on game day. Rather than worrying about stadium traffic or finding a rideshare among tens of thousands of other fans, you're already where you need to be.

The hotel also has an on-site restaurant, lounge and coffee shop.

Best for: First-time visitors, alumni and anyone prioritizing game-day convenience.

Hyatt House Columbus OSU / Short North: Best Balance of Campus and City

Hyatt House Columbus OSU / Short North sits between Ohio State and the Short North area.

Hyatt says Ohio Stadium is approximately 1.5 miles from the hotel and the Ohio State campus about one mile away.

That makes it a useful compromise. You're close enough to campus that football weekend still feels nearby, but you're also positioned to explore more of Columbus.

Complimentary breakfast is another nice perk before a long game day.

Best for: Families, longer weekends and travelers who want both OSU and Columbus.

Hilton Garden Inn Columbus-University Area: Best for Free Parking

Hilton Garden Inn Columbus-University Area is a particularly practical choice if you're driving.

Hilton places the hotel about one mile from Ohio State University and Ohio Stadium, while downtown, the convention center, Nationwide Arena and the Arena District are only minutes away.

More importantly for road-trippers, self-parking is complimentary.

That can make a meaningful difference during a football weekend when parking expenses start stacking on top of already elevated hotel rates.

Best for: Drivers and travelers who value parking over nightlife.

Graduate by Hilton Columbus: Best for the Short North Experience

For a completely different kind of weekend, consider Graduate by Hilton Columbus.

The hotel sits on High Street in the heart of the Short North Arts District, surrounded by restaurants, coffee shops, galleries, boutiques and bars. Hilton lists Ohio State University 1.2 miles away and Ohio Stadium 2.2 miles away.

That means Graduate isn't our pick if your sole objective is sleeping as close to the stadium as possible.

But it might be the better choice if you want Friday-night dinner, Saturday-night drinks and a neighborhood you can explore on foot when you're not at the game.

The collegiate-inspired design also leans heavily into Ohio and Ohio State history.

Best for: Couples, alumni, restaurants and nightlife.

Hyatt Place Columbus / OSU: Best for a Quieter Weekend Base

Hyatt Place Columbus / OSU is located in Grandview Heights.

Hyatt positions the hotel near Ohio State University, downtown Columbus, the Arena District and the Short North, specifically highlighting it as a base for visitors attending events at Ohio Stadium.

This location makes sense if you want access to the university without necessarily staying in the middle of the campus or Short North crowds.

Best for: Families and travelers wanting a quieter base near OSU.

Canopy by Hilton Columbus Downtown Short North: Best for Turning the Game Into a Columbus Weekend

If you're more interested in experiencing Columbus as a city, Canopy by Hilton Columbus Downtown Short North is worth considering.

It's located between the Short North and Arena District, across from the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Hilton puts the Short North just 0.2 miles away and Ohio State University about 2.2 miles away.

You won't have the same stadium proximity as The Blackwell, but you'll gain excellent access to downtown entertainment. Nationwide Arena and Lower.com Field are also walkable from the hotel.

Best for: Travelers combining Ohio State football with a full Columbus weekend.

Should You Stay Near Ohio Stadium or in the Short North?

For a first Ohio State game, we'd lean toward campus if you can find a reasonably priced room.

The atmosphere surrounding Ohio Stadium is a major part of the experience. Ohio State describes football Saturdays as a long-running ritual in which fans arrive early for the atmosphere and pageantry around the stadium.

Staying nearby makes participating in that much easier.

But the Short North has a different advantage: your weekend doesn't end when the football game does.

Restaurants, bars and entertainment are clustered along High Street, making it a much better home base for visitors who want nightlife.

A simple way to decide:

Stay near campus if the game is the trip.

Stay in the Short North if the game is part of the trip.

Do You Need a Car in Columbus for an Ohio State Game?

It depends heavily on your hotel.

If you're staying at The Blackwell, bringing a car solely for game day is unnecessary.

Hotels farther north along Olentangy River Road or around Grandview Heights make a vehicle more useful, particularly if you're planning to explore areas outside the university and downtown corridors.

One attractive strategy for road-trippers is to choose a hotel with parking, leave the car there on Saturday and use walking or other transportation to approach campus.

Trying to drive as close as possible to a 102,000-seat stadium shortly before kickoff is rarely the relaxing part of a football weekend.

What Else Can You Do in Columbus?

If you're staying an extra day, your hotel location can open up quite a bit more than Ohio State.

The Short North gives you restaurants, galleries and nightlife. The Arena District puts you near Nationwide Arena and Lower.com Field.

Downtown also gives you access to attractions like COSI and the Scioto riverfront.

This is why staying somewhere between campus and downtown can make sense for a three-night trip even if it means traveling a little farther to Ohio Stadium.

How Far Is the Airport From Ohio State?

John Glenn Columbus International Airport is relatively convenient for a city football weekend.

Graduate Columbus lists the airport 7.7 miles from its Short North location, while Hilton Garden Inn Columbus-University Area lists it 12 miles away.

Travel time will depend heavily on traffic, particularly around a major football weekend.

When Should You Book a Hotel for an Ohio State Game?

As early as practical.

The reason is simple: Ohio Stadium holds more than 102,000 spectators.

A huge percentage of those people don't need hotel rooms, of course, but even a fraction of that crowd can put significant pressure on lodging around campus and the Short North.

For marquee Big Ten games, rivalry weekends, homecoming and graduation weekends, waiting for a last-minute bargain can severely reduce your choices.

If your plans aren't completely settled, look for a refundable rate rather than waiting to reserve anything.

For pure football convenience, The Blackwell Inn is our first choice because you're already on the Ohio State campus next to the stadium.

For families or visitors who want a little more flexibility, Hyatt House OSU / Short North offers a nice middle ground.

Drivers should consider Hilton Garden Inn Columbus-University Area, particularly because of its complimentary parking.

And if your ideal Ohio State weekend includes restaurants and drinks before and after the game, Graduate Columbusputs you right in the Short North.

Ohio Stadium is the centerpiece of the trip, but where you stay determines how much of Columbus you get to experience around it.