How to Get to Upper Arlington, Ohio: By Road, Bus and Air
How to Get to Upper Arlington, Ohio: By Road, Bus and Air
Upper Arlington has no airport or train station of its own, so plan on arriving via Columbus and covering the last few miles by car, bus or rideshare.
By air: use John Glenn Columbus International
The nearest full-service airport is John Glenn Columbus International (CMH), about 12 miles east of Upper Arlington. From baggage claim, a rideshare to the Lane Avenue or Kingsdale area takes 20–30 minutes and typically costs $25–35; a taxi runs closer to $35–45. COTA bus route 52 connects the airport to downtown Columbus, where you can transfer to a route serving Upper Arlington, but the trip takes over an hour with luggage. If you are heading straight to a hotel, a rideshare is the simplest choice.
Rickenbacker International (LCK) is a cargo-focused airport 25 miles southeast and rarely useful for leisure travellers. For a smoother arrival, fly into CMH on a weekday morning; afternoon arrivals often hit the I-670 and I-71 interchange at rush hour. Rental cars are available on-site at CMH, but if you are staying within Upper Arlington, you may not need one: the city is compact, and most hotels sit within a short drive of the OSU campus and Lane Avenue.
By road: I-70, I-71 and the Lane Avenue exit
Upper Arlington sits just west of the Olentangy River, bounded by I-70 to the south and I-270 to the west. From downtown Columbus, take SR-315 north to the Lane Avenue exit; the drive is 10–15 minutes outside rush hour. From Cleveland, I-71 south to I-270 west takes about 2 hours 15 minutes. From Cincinnati, I-71 north to I-270 west is roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Parking is free at most Upper Arlington hotels and at the Kingsdale and Lane Avenue shopping centres; downtown Columbus hotels charge $20–30 per night, so staying in Upper Arlington can save on parking.
If you are driving from Franklin County’s outer suburbs, I-270 is the quickest ring route, but the Henderson Road and Fishinger Road exits feed directly into Upper Arlington’s residential streets. Avoid arriving between 4 and 6 pm on weekdays, when SR-315 northbound slows near the OSU campus. For a scenic approach, exit at Lane Avenue and drive west past the Ohio State University golf course; in autumn, the tree-lined stretch is one of the prettiest entries to the city.
By bus: COTA routes and the transfer downtown
COTA, the Central Ohio Transit Authority, serves Upper Arlington with routes 1, 2, 5 and 18, all of which connect to downtown Columbus. Route 1 runs along High Street and Northwest Boulevard; route 2 serves King Avenue and Lane Avenue; route 5 covers Henderson Road; and route 18 links to the OSU campus. A day pass costs $4.50, and exact change is required on board. From the airport, take route 52 to downtown and transfer to route 1 or 2; the total journey to Upper Arlington takes 60–75 minutes.
Greyhound and Barons Bus serve Columbus from Cleveland, Cincinnati and other Ohio cities, arriving at the downtown terminal on East Town Street. From there, a rideshare to Upper Arlington costs $10–15 and takes 10–15 minutes. For intercity travel, Megabus picks up at the OSU campus on College Road, a short walk from the northern edge of Upper Arlington. If you are arriving by bus with luggage, the downtown transfer is manageable but not ideal; a rideshare from the terminal is worth the modest cost.
Where to stay and when to book
Upper Arlington hotels cluster around Lane Avenue and Kingsdale, within walking distance of shops and restaurants and a 10-minute drive to the OSU campus. Rates are highest during home football weekends (September to November) and commencement in May, when Columbus hotels fill up. For a quieter visit, aim for late spring or early autumn. If you want to be near the city’s restaurants and nightlife, downtown Columbus is a 15-minute drive; if you prefer free parking and a residential feel, Upper Arlington is the better base. I would book a hotel in Upper Arlington for a campus visit or a relaxed family trip, and choose downtown for a concert or convention weekend.
The city has no budget hostels, so the cheapest option is usually a mid-range chain near Kingsdale. Book directly with the hotel for the best cancellation terms, and check whether your rate includes breakfast; many Upper Arlington hotels offer it, while downtown properties often charge extra. If you are arriving by air, confirm that your hotel offers an airport shuttle; most do not, so budget for a rideshare. For a stress-free arrival, reserve a hotel with free parking and plan your route via SR-315 to avoid the I-71 construction zones.
Before you book
What people ask before booking Upper Arlington.
John Glenn Columbus International (CMH) is the closest major airport, about 12 miles east. A rideshare to Upper Arlington takes 20–30 minutes and costs $25–35. Rickenbacker International is farther and not practical for most travellers.
Yes. COTA routes 1, 2, 5 and 18 connect downtown Columbus to Upper Arlington. A day pass costs $4.50, and exact change is required. The trip takes 20–30 minutes depending on the route and traffic.
Book well in advance for Ohio State home football weekends (September–November) and May commencement, when rates rise. Late spring and early autumn offer milder weather and better availability. Mid-range hotels near Kingsdale are the most affordable option.
