If you have tickets to a game at Ohio Stadium, the game itself is about four hours of your weekend. This guide covers everything else: getting there, getting in, where to go if you don't have a ticket, and what to do on Friday night and Sunday morning.
Kickoff times are usually announced one to two weeks out, so book your room before you know the time. Rivalry weekends fill up first. If one of those is your game, book now.
How to Get to Ohio Stadium
The stadium is on the west side of Ohio State's campus, about three miles north of downtown. Traffic is heavy for hours on either side of kickoff, so plan on it.
Driving
Campus lots open at 5 am and are cashless. Day-of parking runs about $30 to $60, depending on how close you are. Woody Hayes Drive closes about four hours before kickoff.
Rideshare
Drivers can't drop off or pick up at the stadium. Pickup zones are on Borror Drive near the Schottenstein Center and at 17th Avenue and Neil Avenue. Expect surge pricing and a walk after the game.
Bus
Several COTA lines serve campus, including the 1, 2, 8, 22, 31 and 102.
Bike or Walk
The Olentangy Trail runs along the river from downtown to campus. It's a flat ride of about 30 minutes, and it beats sitting in postgame traffic. Guests at The Junto can borrow a bike from the hotel's Gear Garage.
What to Know Before You Go In
Bags
Bags and purses aren't allowed. A wallet or wristlet up to 5 by 8 by 1 inches is fine. Medical, dietary and childcare bags go through the Band Center doors at Gates 10 to 12.
Gates
Gates open two hours before kickoff.
No Re-Entry
Once you leave, you're out.
Cashless Stadium
Everything is cashless, including concessions and parking.
Tailgating and What to Do Without a Ticket
Tailgating starts when the lots open at 5 am, and no equipment goes down before then. For a noon kickoff, that means an early coffee. Maudine's at The Junto opens at 6:30 am.
If you're not tailgating, go to Skull Session. The marching band's pregame show at St. John Arena is free and packed, and for a lot of fans it's the best part of the day.
No ticket? Watch at a campus bar along High Street or Lane Avenue. For a slightly calmer room, try a bar downtown or in the Short North, or Little West Tavern in Franklinton, where the game is on over the bar and the kitchen cooks over a wood fire.
Friday Night Before the Game
The night before a home game, the city fills up with fans in scarlet and gray and everyone is in a good mood. Get dinner in the Short North, or head across the river to Franklinton for a beer at Land-Grant Brewing.
Before select home games, Little West Tavern hosts Campus Cookoff, a burger battle against a chef from the visiting team's city.
If you'd rather start with the view, Brass Eye's rooftop bar looks back at the downtown skyline.
Book a table wherever you go. Visiting fans from the other team are out too, so you'll meet them.
Sunday Before You Head Home
Get rooftop brunch at Brass Eye, served Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm, then walk off the weekend on the Scioto Mile along the river downtown.
If you have kids with you, COSI, the science museum on the Scioto Peninsula, is an easy morning. North Market downtown is a good stop for food to take on the road.
Where to Stay for an Ohio State Game
Hotels near campus are the closest, but they book first and cost the most on game weekends. Downtown and the Short North put you about three miles away, with more restaurants and bars around you.
Staying at The Junto for Ohio State Football
The Junto is just across the river from downtown in Franklinton, about five miles from the stadium. Our Gridiron Getaway package includes game-day cocktails and a ride to the stadium, so you skip the parking question entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Bring a Bag Into Ohio Stadium?
No. Only a wallet or wristlet up to 5 by 8 by 1 inches is allowed, plus approved medical, dietary and childcare bags.
When Do the Gates Open at Ohio Stadium?
Two hours before kickoff.
Where Do Rideshares Pick Up After an Ohio State Game?
On Borror Drive near the Schottenstein Center, and at 17th and Neil Avenues. Rideshares can't stop at the stadium.
What Can I Do on Game Day Without a Ticket?
Go to Skull Session at St. John Arena, which is free, or watch the game at a bar on High Street, Lane Avenue or downtown.
Where Can I Watch the Ohio State Game Near Downtown Columbus?
Downtown and Short North bars show every game, and so does Little West Tavern in Franklinton, just across the river.