Xavier University in 2 Days: A Cincinnati College Visit Fly-In Trip
A parent-first plan for visiting Xavier University in Cincinnati: how to book the 2-hour Admission Presentation and Campus Tour (and the $1,000 grant for seniors who visit), check-in at Schott Hall, visitor parking, the Hilton Garden Inn about 3 minutes away plus Budget, Mid-range and Upscale options, drive times from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport, the Cincinnati Zoo and Museum Center for siblings, and Cincinnati weather by season, every fact sourced and checked Oct 31, 2026.
Gallagher Student Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati (April 2021). Photo: EEJCC · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).
The short version
Trip at a glance
School
Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH)
Days
2 days: fly into CVG and check in, then the Admission Presentation and Campus Tour.
Fly into
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG), about 31 minutes from Schott Hall with no traffic.
Best base
Hilton Garden Inn Cincinnati Midtown on Dana Ave, about a 3-minute drive (or 24-minute walk) to Schott Hall.
Car or no car
Plan on a rental car: all five hotels here are 3 to 12 minutes from campus by car, and the airport is in Kentucky, about 30 minutes away.
Registration
Register for a campus visit on Xavier's Visit XU portal; tours run Monday to Friday plus select Saturdays and evenings.
1. Who this guide is for
This plan is for parents bringing a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see Xavier University, home of the Musketeers, in Cincinnati.
Xavier's main campus is at 3800 Victory Parkway, and the Office of Admission is in Schott Hall on Dana Avenue, right off I-71 at exit 5.
Why this order
Day 1: fly into CVG and drive about 31 minutes to the Hilton Garden Inn, with no traffic.
Day 2: the Admission Presentation and Campus Tour starts at Schott Hall; plan to spend about 2 hours on campus.
With extra time, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is about 7 minutes from Schott Hall by car, and the Cincinnati Museum Center about 14 minutes.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
Daily Campus Tours pair a 2-hour campus tour with an admission presentation, for first-year and transfer students. You can also schedule an Academic Department Visit to learn about your student's major. Tours run Monday through Friday and on select Saturdays and evenings; pick a date on the Visit XU portal.
Seniors: Xavier says current high school seniors who schedule a visit earn a $1,000 grant.
Prefer an open house? Mission: Musketeer is Xavier's fall open house for high school students and families, with campus and residence hall tours and lunch on campus. The next date listed is Nov. 8, 2026; register on Xavier's open house page.
Xavier also runs Friday open houses called Discover Xavier Days, where students may bring up to two guests. The fall 2026 dates have passed, so check the page for new ones.
Can't make the trip yet? Xavier has a self-guided walking tour guide and a 360-degree virtual campus tour. Transfer students have their own visits, and groups of 15 or more high school students can request a group tour.
Tour availability varies by season.
Winter brings some snow: the Cincinnati airport averages about 7.7 inches in January and 6.7 inches in February, with January highs around 40°F.
Fall is a good time to walk campus: September averages about 79°F highs and October about 67°F, while November drops to about 54°F.
Men's basketball game days change visitor parking at Xavier, so check the Musketeers schedule before you book.
The Cincinnati Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Jan. 5 through Nov. 18 in 2026.
2. The suggested 2-day plan
Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Campus times are to Schott Hall, 1496 Dana Ave, the address Xavier gives for GPS.
We list drive times only; check which airlines serve CVG for your dates. CVG is in Kentucky, about 30 minutes (18 miles) from Schott Hall with no traffic. Amtrak's Cardinal also stops at Cincinnati Union Station.
Day 1: fly into Cincinnati and check in
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) → Hilton Garden Inn Cincinnati Midtown
Driving (no traffic)
~31 min, 18.8 mi
Driving
Rental car
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) → Hampton Inn & Suites Cincinnati Midtown Rookwood
Driving (no traffic)
~31 min, 18.2 mi
Driving
Rental car
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) → Comfort Inn & Suites Cincinnati Uptown Clifton
Driving (no traffic)
~30 min, 18.8 mi
Driving
Rental car
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) → Courtyard Cincinnati Midtown/Rookwood
Driving (no traffic)
~31 min, 19.2 mi
Driving
Rental car
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) → The Summit Hotel
Driving (no traffic)
~37 min, 23.3 mi
Driving
Rental car
Arriving with time to spare? The Cincinnati Museum Center in historic Union Terminal is open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., about 14 minutes from campus by car.
Day 2: Xavier campus visit
Hilton Garden Inn Cincinnati Midtown → Schott Hall, Office of Admission (1496 Dana Ave)
Driving (no traffic)
~3 min, 1.1 mi (or ~24 min walk)
Driving
Drive or walk
Hampton Inn & Suites Cincinnati Midtown Rookwood → Schott Hall, Office of Admission (1496 Dana Ave)
Driving (no traffic)
~6 min, 2.2 mi
Driving
Drive
Comfort Inn & Suites Cincinnati Uptown Clifton → Schott Hall, Office of Admission (1496 Dana Ave)
Driving (no traffic)
~7 min, 2.5 mi
Driving
Drive
Courtyard Cincinnati Midtown/Rookwood → Schott Hall, Office of Admission (1496 Dana Ave)
Driving (no traffic)
~6 min, 2.0 mi
Driving
Drive
The Summit Hotel → Schott Hall, Office of Admission (1496 Dana Ave)
Driving (no traffic)
~12 min, 6.2 mi
Driving
Drive
Schott Hall, Office of Admission (1496 Dana Ave) → Cintas Center
Driving (no traffic)
~10 min walk, 0.5 mi
Driving
Walk
Schott Hall, Office of Admission (1496 Dana Ave) → Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Driving (no traffic)
~7 min, 2.3 mi
Driving
Drive
Schott Hall, Office of Admission (1496 Dana Ave) → Cincinnati Museum Center
Driving (no traffic)
~14 min, 7.0 mi
Driving
Drive
Schott Hall, Office of Admission (1496 Dana Ave) → Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Driving (no traffic)
~30 min, 18.4 mi
Driving
Drive
Registering for a tour gets you a visitor parking pass. Park in front of Schott Hall, where the Admission Presentation and Campus Tour kicks off; other campus lots also have visitor parking.
The Office of Admission lot is entered from Dana Avenue, and you can walk into the Office of Admission from the front of Schott Hall facing Dana Avenue.
Hungry after the tour? Xavier's own guide lists 10 Cincinnati restaurants to try during a campus visit.
Flying out the same day? Allow about 30 minutes to CVG with no traffic, plus time to return the car.
3. Campus by campus
Gallagher Student Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati (April 2021). Photo: EEJCC · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
The Admission Presentation and Campus Tour kicks off at Schott Hall, home of the Office of Admission, at 1496 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45207.
Coming by highway, Xavier's directions use I-71 exit 5 (Dana Ave) or I-75 exit 6 (Mitchell Ave).
Visitor parking
Tour registrants receive a visitor parking pass and can park in front of Schott Hall.
All vehicles on campus need a valid permit. Other visitors register their vehicle and license plate at Xavier.edu/visitorpermit before arriving, or scan the posted QR code in a visitor area, and pay online by card. Your plate is your permit, so there's nothing to display.
Visitor Lot A is on University Drive behind Gallagher Student Center, and Visitor Lot B is next to Flynn Hall by the Cintas Center. Parking may differ on men's basketball game days.
Getting there
Schott Hall is about 30 minutes by car from CVG with no traffic and 3 to 12 minutes from the hotels here. Xavier's campus map shows buildings and lots.
What to know
Xavier's visit page highlights the Health United Building, Smith Hall, Gallagher Student Center, Hoff Dining Commons and the 10,000-seat Cintas Center, about a 10-minute walk from Schott Hall.
Contact
Xavier Undergraduate Admission: Schott Hall, 1496 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45207; 877-XUADMIT, xuadmit@xavier.edu. Main university line: 513-745-3000. Parking Services: (513) 745-1050, parkingservices@xavier.edu.
Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
4. Where to stay: Midtown and Rookwood hotels 3 to 12 minutes from Xavier
Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Hotel · Our pickMid-range
Hilton Garden Inn Cincinnati Midtown
2145 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45207
Why here
It's the closest hotel here to Xavier, on Dana Avenue about a 3-minute drive (or 24-minute walk) to Schott Hall with no traffic. Expedia describes it as close to the Cintas Center and Xavier.
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.
Good to know
Expedia lists the Garden Grille & Bar on site, an indoor pool, continental breakfast and self parking for a surcharge, and pet-friendly rooms for a fee. The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
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.
It's by Rookwood, about a 6-minute drive to Schott Hall with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists a free breakfast buffet, an indoor pool, a gym, self parking for a surcharge and pet-friendly rooms for a fee. The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
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.
It's on Mitchell Avenue near I-75, about a 7-minute drive to Schott Hall with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists a free continental breakfast, a gym and free self parking. The minimum check-in age is 18. Confirm details 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.
It's by Rookwood, about a 6-minute drive to Schott Hall with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists The Bistro for breakfast (surcharge), an indoor pool, a hot tub, self parking for a surcharge and pet-friendly rooms for a fee. The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
It's near Kenwood Towne Centre, about a 12-minute drive to Schott Hall with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists three on-site restaurants, a rooftop terrace, free self parking, full breakfast for a surcharge and dog-friendly rooms for a fee. It's a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, and the minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
The Hilton Garden Inn is the closest to Schott Hall. The Hampton Inn and Comfort Inn include breakfast, and the Comfort Inn and Summit Hotel include parking; at the Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn and Courtyard, parking costs extra.
5. Meals between tours
Hours change, so check before you go.
At the hotels
The Hampton Inn and Comfort Inn include breakfast; the Hilton Garden Inn has the Garden Grille & Bar, the Courtyard has The Bistro for breakfast, and the Summit Hotel has three restaurants. Xavier also publishes a guide to 10 restaurants to try during a campus visit.
6. Things for siblings along the route
With siblings
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH 45220
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Jan. 5 through Nov. 18 in 2026. Parking is $12, cashless, in lots across Vine St., Erkenbrecher Ave. and Dury Ave. On busy days, arrive before 10:30 a.m. or after 2:30 p.m. About 7 minutes from Schott Hall by car.
Museums of history, natural history and science plus a children's museum and an OMNIMAX theater, inside historic Union Terminal. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. About 14 minutes from Schott Hall by car.
Enter Schott Hall, 1496 Dana Ave, in your GPS. The Office of Admission lot is entered from Dana Avenue, and tour registrants get a visitor parking pass.
Flying in and out
CVG is about 30 to 37 minutes from the hotels here with no traffic. Amtrak's Cardinal stops at Cincinnati Union Station if you'd rather come by train.
Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport)
Spring: March averages about 54°F highs and 34°F lows, April about 66°F/44°F and May about 75°F/54°F.
Summer: June averages about 83°F/62°F and is the wettest month at about 4.8 inches; July averages about 86°F/66°F and August about 85°F/65°F.
Fall: September averages about 79°F/57°F, October about 67°F/46°F and November about 54°F/35°F.
Winter: December averages about 43°F/28°F, January about 40°F/23°F and February about 44°F/26°F.
Parent checklist
Book a campus visit on Xavier's Visit XU portal (or a Mission: Musketeer open house).
Book flights into CVG and a rental car.
Book the Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn, Courtyard or Summit Hotel.
Watch for the visitor parking pass that comes with tour registration, and park in front of Schott Hall.
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.
1 Division I
Athletics
Xavier University
NCAA Division I BIG EAST Conference
RecruitingWe found no department-wide recruiting page. Look for a questionnaire on your sport's team page at the athletics site ↗, or email the coaches.
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 (Xavier 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 31, 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 Summit Hotel (star class, amenities and policies, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Cincinnati-Hotels-The-Summit-Hotel.h22339595.Hotel-Information)
