Ohio State, Ohio University and Wright State in 3 Days: A Columbus, Athens and Dayton Drive Trip
A parent-first plan for seeing The Ohio State University, Ohio University and Wright State University from one hotel in Columbus: official tour sign-ups, visitor parking at every campus, meals between tours, things for siblings and weather by season.
The Oval and Thompson Library, Ohio State, Columbus (Jun 2013). Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).
Check before you go. Tour times, sign-up rules, parking and seasonal closures change often, sometimes weekly. Every campus section below links to that school's official visit page and shows when we last checked it. Confirm there before you book or drive. College Visit Guides is not affiliated with or endorsed by any college or university. Names are used only to identify them.
The short version
Trip at a glance
Schools
The Ohio State University, Columbus · Ohio University, Athens · Wright State University, Dayton
Days
3: Ohio State on foot, then Ohio University in Athens, then Wright State on the way to the airport. Arrive the day before.
Fly into
John Glenn Columbus International (CMH), about 18 minutes and 9.8 miles from the hotel by car. On day 3 you can fly home from Dayton (DAY) instead.
Best base
The Blackwell Inn, Ohio State's only on-campus hotel, about a 19-minute walk from the Ohio Union, where Ohio State's tours check in.
Car or transit
Plan on a car: Athens is about an hour and 40 minutes away and Wright State about an hour and 20 minutes, with no traffic.
Registration
All three schools take visit registration online. Ohio State requires a reservation and doesn't take walk-ins or waitlists.
1. Who this guide is for
This plan is for parents with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, who want to see three Division I universities in central and southern Ohio in one trip: The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio University in Athens and Wright State University near Dayton.
Instead of changing hotels, you sleep at The Blackwell Inn every night. It's Ohio State's only on-campus hotel, so day 1 starts with a walk.
Why this order
Day 1: Ohio State's visit checks in at the Ohio Union, about a 19-minute walk from the hotel, and its walking tour runs 90 minutes.
Day 2: Ohio University's daily campus visit runs about 3 hours, and Athens is about an hour and 40 minutes from the hotel by car.
Day 3: Wright State's two-hour visit is about an hour and 20 minutes west. The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is about 11 minutes from campus, and Dayton's airport is about 27 minutes from the museum.
Each campus checks you in somewhere different
Ohio State: the Undergraduate Admissions Welcome Center on the third floor of the Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St. Check-in opens no more than 30 minutes before your start time.
Ohio University: the Undergraduate Admissions Welcome Center on the 5th floor of Baker University Center. Your parking assignment arrives by email after you register.
Wright State: the Office of Undergraduate Admissions on the first floor of the Student Union, near University Blvd. and Colonel Glenn Hwy. Visitors park free during the day in Lot 2, next to the Student Union.
Tour availability varies by season.
Ohio State posts new visit dates on the first of every month, so check back then if the dates you want aren't open yet.
Ohio State tours go rain, snow or shine, so dress for the weather.
The Air Force museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Winter brings snow: the Columbus airport averages about 9.5 inches in January and 7.6 inches in February.
2. The suggested 3-day plan
Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, using addresses geocoded with OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Weekday rush hours can make the drives to Athens and Dayton longer.
Rent a car at the airport for the Athens and Dayton days. Ohio University also points visitors to GoBus, an intercity bus that runs twice daily, seven days a week, between Columbus and Athens.
Arrival day: fly into Columbus and check in on the Ohio State campus
John Glenn Columbus International (CMH) → The Blackwell Inn (2110 Tuttle Park Pl.)
Driving (no traffic)
~18 min, 9.8 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking & driving
Drive
Hotel → COSI (333 W. Broad St., downtown Columbus)
Driving (no traffic)
~10 min, 5.4 mi
Walking & driving
Drive
If you land early, COSI, Columbus's science center, is about 10 minutes downtown. City-run underground and above-ground garages sit just west of the building.
Text OSUGuest to 67283 to get Ohio State's Buckeye Alerts about severe weather, traffic closures or emergencies for 24 hours while you're on campus.
Day 1: The Ohio State University on foot
Hotel → Ohio Union (1739 N. High St.)
Driving (no traffic)
Walk
Walking & driving
~19 min walk, 0.9 mi
Ohio Union → Thompson Library
Driving (no traffic)
Walk
Walking & driving
~11 min walk, 0.5 mi
Ohio State's 90-minute walking tour stops at a classroom, a residence hall, a dining location, an academic advising office, the RPAC recreation center and Thompson Library.
Most Ohio State dining locations are open to the public, so you can grab a meal or coffee before or after your visit.
The Barnes & Noble Ohio State bookstore is in the Ohio Union if your student wants a Buckeyes shirt or hoodie.
Day 2: Ohio University in Athens
Hotel → Ohio University, Baker University Center (Athens)
Driving (no traffic)
~1 hr 40 min, 77.6 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking & driving
Drive
Athens → hotel
Driving (no traffic)
~1 hr 41 min, 79.7 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking & driving
Drive
Ohio University's daily campus visit lasts about 3 hours, with an info session and campus tours. Food isn't provided, so plan lunch in Baker University Center or Uptown Athens.
Dress comfortably and bring a water bottle.
Day 3: Wright State and the Air Force museum, then fly home
Hotel → Wright State University, Student Union (3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy.)
Driving (no traffic)
~1 hr 20 min, 67.8 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking & driving
Drive
Wright State → National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (Wright-Patterson AFB)
Driving (no traffic)
~11 min, 4.7 mi
Walking & driving
Drive
Air Force museum → Dayton International (DAY)
Driving (no traffic)
~27 min, 14.9 mi
Walking & driving
Drive
Air Force museum → John Glenn Columbus International (CMH), if you're flying home from there
Driving (no traffic)
~1 hr 28 min, 74.0 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking & driving
Drive
Wright State's visit is a 30-minute admissions presentation, then a 90-minute walking tour with a current student, including the heart of campus and the residence halls.
Lunch in the Student Union after the tour: Union Market, Rowdy's Subs and Sushi Boss are all open weekday afternoons.
3. Campus by campus
The Oval and Thompson Library, Ohio State, Columbus (Jun 2013). Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Every visitor needs a confirmed reservation; Ohio State can't take walk-ins or offer waitlists. Without a reservation, you can use Ohio State's self-guided tour.
Each student may bring two guests. If you're bringing more than one prospective student, such as siblings, each should register separately and can bring two guests.
Most visits start and end at the Undergraduate Admissions Welcome Center on the third floor of the Ohio Union. Check-in opens no more than 30 minutes before your start time.
Visitor parking
Park in the Union South Garage, 1759 N. High St., right next to the Ohio Union; enter from the High Street side. If it's closed, use the Arps Garage (1950 College Rd.) to the north or the Gateway Garage (75 E. 11th Ave.) to the south.
Guests at an official in-person event or tour pay a flat $11.25 in a designated garage. Hold onto your ticket: a lost ticket is $48. Self-guided visitors don't get the flat rate.
Getting there
About a 19-minute walk from the hotel to the Ohio Union, so you can leave the car parked.
What to know
Thompson Library, a stop on the tour, is about an 11-minute walk from the Ohio Union.
Contact
Visit questions: visitday@osu.edu or 614-292-3980. Welcome Center: Ohio Union, third floor, 1739 N. High St., Columbus.
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
The daily campus visit lasts about 3 hours and includes an info session plus tours; the sign-up lists a Campus Living Tour and a Books & Bricks Tour. Tours cover campus greens, recreation facilities, classrooms, residence halls and dining.
Accessibility accommodations are available; choose them when you sign up.
Visitor parking
After you register, Ohio University emails you your assigned parking location.
Accessible parking spots are available in the Baker University Center garage.
If you stay longer, the Athens City Parking Garage is on East Washington St., with its entrance between Court St. and College St. in Uptown Athens. Many city meters have a two-hour limit.
Getting there
About an hour and 40 minutes from the hotel by car with no traffic. Ohio University lists Columbus as about 1.5 hours away.
Athens Public Transit charges visitors $1 a ride.
What to know
Baker University Center is the hub of student life, with the West 82 food court, the Front Room Coffeehouse, Latitude 39 restaurant and the Bobcat Depot store.
Contact
Undergraduate Admissions Welcome Center: Baker University Center, 5th floor, Athens; 740.593.4100, admissions@ohio.edu; Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern.
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
The two-hour campus visit starts with a 30-minute admissions presentation, then a 90-minute walking tour with a current student.
The tour covers the heart of campus and the residence halls.
Visitor parking
Visitors park free during the day in Lot 2, near the Student Union. Parking anywhere else on campus during the day needs a visitor permit from the Lot 2 booth (8 a.m.–4 p.m. weekdays) or 060 Allyn Hall.
Permits are enforced 6 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 6 a.m.–4 p.m. Friday. Accessible spaces are in Lot 2, and visitors with a disability placard still need a visitor permit to use them.
Getting there
About an hour and 20 minutes from the hotel by car with no traffic. Wright State is about 15 minutes east of downtown Dayton and about 25 minutes from Dayton's airport.
What to know
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is free, with free parking, and open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. It's about 11 minutes from campus.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
By car with no traffic, it is about 7 minutes (2.6 miles) from Ohio State University-Main Campus, the closest campus on this trip. Weekday traffic can add a lot.
Good to know
Amenities, parking fees and room types change, so confirm them on the Expedia listing before you book.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
By car with no traffic, it is about 6 minutes (2.2 miles) from Ohio State University-Main Campus, the closest campus on this trip. Weekday traffic can add a lot.
Good to know
Amenities, parking fees and room types change, so confirm them on the Expedia listing before you book.
One hotel for every night means no repacking. Ohio State is a walk from your room, and Athens and Dayton are each a long morning drive, so leave early on days 2 and 3.
5. Meals between tours
Hours change, so check before you go.
At the hotel
Eat
2110, Simon's Lounge and Rohr Cafe (The Blackwell Inn)
2110 Tuttle Park Pl., Columbus
The hotel's restaurant, lounge and on-site Starbucks.
Ohio State
Eat
Ohio State campus dining
Ohio State campus, Columbus
Most of Ohio State's campus dining locations are open to the public, for a meal or coffee before or after your visit.
During fall and spring semesters: Union Market and Rowdy's Subs Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Sushi Boss Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Pour Café (Starbucks) Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Columbus's science center, about 10 minutes from the hotel by car. Ticket prices carry a 5% Columbus Arts and Culture Fee, and city-run garages sit just west of the building.
At Ohio State, walk from the hotel; if you drive, use the Union South Garage and keep your ticket for the $11.25 flat rate.
At Ohio University, use the parking spot in your registration email.
At Wright State, park free in Lot 2 by the Student Union.
Tour day comfort
Ohio State tours go rain, snow or shine, and Ohio University says to dress comfortably and bring a water bottle.
Arrive at the Ohio Union no more than 30 minutes before your Ohio State start time; that's when check-in opens.
Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Columbus Port Columbus International Airport)
Spring: April averages about 64°F highs and 42°F lows, with about 3.9 inches of precipitation.
Summer: July averages about 85°F highs and 65°F lows, and August about 84°F highs.
Fall: October averages about 66°F highs and 45°F lows; November highs drop to about 52°F.
Winter: January averages about 37°F highs and 22°F lows, with about 9.5 inches of snow.
Parent checklist
Register for all three visits online: Ohio State (reservations required; each student registers separately), Ohio University and Wright State.
Book The Blackwell Inn for every night and rent a car for the Athens and Dayton days.
Keep your Ohio State garage ticket; a lost ticket costs $48.
Watch your email for Ohio University's parking assignment.
After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.
8. Student-athlete recruiting visits
For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.
Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.
Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.
Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
Division I (The Ohio State University, Ohio University and Wright State University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.
Planning around the season
Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.
Add your dates and how you're getting there, and we'll pull this guide into one plan: tour sign-up links, the hotel base, parking or airport notes, the route and meals.
Coming soon
Planning more college trips?
Visit-season reminders and new trip guides from College Visit Guides. Newsletter coming soon.
Sources
All checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.
Expedia listing: The Blackwell Inn and Pfahl Conference Center (star class, checked 2026-10-27) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Columbus-Hotels-The-Blackwell-Inn-And-Pfahl-Conference-Center.h876317.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Hampton Inn & Suites Columbus/University Area (star class, checked 2026-10-27) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Columbus-Hotels-Hampton-Inn-Suites-ColumbusUniversity-Area.h1142611.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Aloft Columbus University District (star class, checked 2026-10-27) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Columbus-Hotels-Aloft-Columbus-University-District.h39481892.Hotel-Information)
