VARSITY INN OSU SOUTH, Columbus – Your ideal downtown stay
71US$
Book direct
and save up to 10%
compared to Booking.com
Key details
Hotel Overview
1445 Olentangy River Rd,
Columbus,
Ohio,
United States,
43212,
Ohio
Varsity Inn Osu South - Budget-friendly hotel near Ohio State University
Located in downtown Columbus, a 10-minute walk from Ohio State University and the Schottenstein Center. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Nearby attractions include the Columbus Zoo, Ohio Expo Center, and Wexner Center for the Arts. The front desk is located inside the Crimson Cup Coffee Shop. Pets are allowed for an additional fee.
Additional perks of the hotel
Free regular-size brewed coffee and breakfast sandwich from Crimson Cup (6am-9am)
Pet-friendly accommodations ($10 per day, max 2 pets, 75lbs each)
Complimentary high-speed wireless Internet
Microwaves and refrigerators in all rooms
Accessible room options with roll-in showers and visual alarms
Room options
Standard Double Queen Non-Smoking rooms feature two queen beds, a 40-inch flat-panel TV, work desk, and micro-fridge. Standard King Non-Smoking rooms include a king bed with the same amenities. Renovated Bath King Rooms offer upgraded accommodations with wireless HSIA. ADA-compliant rooms are available with roll-in showers or tubs, lowered features, and visual alert systems.
Other conveniences
40-inch flat-panel TVs with cable
Work desks in all rooms
Micro-fridges and microwaves
Free local phone calls
Ironing facilities and air conditioning
Bath and Body Works bath amenities
View all
Choose Your Room
Our listed hotels offer a variety of room types—double rooms, family suites, or deluxe options—all with features like breakfast, flexible cancellation policies, and exclusive deals.
1445 Olentangy River Rd,
Columbus,
Ohio,
United States,
43212,
Ohio
Map view
1445 Olentangy River Rd,
Columbus,
Ohio,
United States,
43212,
Ohio
City landmarks
Stadium
Ohio Stadium
1.4
mi
Landmark
The Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center
1.3
mi
Park
Goodale Park
1.4
mi
Market
North Market
1.7
mi
University
Ohio State University
1.5
mi
Landmark
Jack Nicklaus Museum
1.4
mi
Museum
Ohio Craft Museum
1.3
mi
Landmark
Victorian Village
1.3
mi
Stadium
Nationwide Arena
1.8
mi
Landmark
Watershed Distillery
3200 ft
Library
Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum
1.2
mi
Convention Centre
Greater Columbus Convention Center
1.8
mi
Botanical Garden
Chadwick Arboretum
1.5
mi
Landmark
Short North Arts District
1.4
mi
Gallery
Pizzuti Collection
1.5
mi
Store
Kroger
1.1
mi
Night club
Skully's Music-Diner
1.1
mi
Gallery
Brothers Drake Meadery
1.2
mi
Landmark
Middle West Spirits
1.1
mi
Gallery
Studios on High Gallery
1.5
mi
Event hall
Express Live
1.6
mi
Landmark
Orton Geological Museum
5200 ft
Night club
Axis Nightclub
1.4
mi
Museum
Central Ohio Fire Museum
2.1
mi
Landmark
Short North Stage
1.1
mi
Stadium
Mapfre Stadium
2.3
mi
Store
Tigertree
1.4
mi
Stadium
Bill Davis Stadium
1.4
mi
Museum
National Veterans Memorial and Museum
2.1
mi
Nearby
Store
Market District Supermarket
1900 ft
Restaurants
Tim Hortons
1600 ft
1501 Olentangy River Rd
Pizza Cucinova
3700 ft
1187 Olentangy River Rd.
Potbelly Sandwhich Shop
2300 ft
1171 Olentangy River Road
Guest Reviews & Ratings
What Guests Are Saying?
Guest reviews
5.0/10
based on 10 reviews
3/5
based on 186 reviews
7.5
7.5/10 based on 30 reviews
#131 of 167 hotels in Columbus based on Tripadvisor
Liam
United Kingdom,
May
2024
8.2/10
The hotel offers clean and comfortable rooms with a superbly friendly staff, making for a pleasant stay. The location is great, especially for those visiting OSU, with convenient access to restaurants and shopping. However, there are some noise disturbances between midnight and 5 am. The dining experience was enjoyable, particularly with their Tuscan bread, but limited over the last weekend. Overall, a budget-friendly option with good value for money.
Rooms
9.0
The room was clean, comfortable, and equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker.
Service
9.0
The staff was very nice, always polite, and extremely helpful.
Location
8.0
The hotel is ideally located near OSU, offering easy access to restaurants and shopping. However, there may be some noise disturbances between midnight and 5 am.
Dining
7.0
The dining experience was enjoyable, especially the Tuscan bread, though options were limited over the last weekend.
Facilities
8.0
The facilities were satisfactory for my needs during the stay.
Dean
United Kingdom,
January
2024
7.0/10
The hotel's location is convenient, close to the Expo Center & Fairgrounds and an easy walk to restaurants and shopping. While the service was polite and friendly, there were some issues with bugs in the rooms. The facilities were satisfactory overall.
Rooms
6.0
The rooms had a refrigerator, microwave, and a coffee maker. Although clean and comfortable, there were live and dead bugs in the room.
Service
7.0
The service was polite and friendly overall, but the refusal to offer a refund was disappointing.
Location
8.0
The hotel's location is great, close to OSU, restaurants, and shopping. Safe neighborhood.
Dining
5.0
No specific information provided about dining experience.
Facilities
7.0
Peter
United Kingdom,
January
2024
6.6/10
The Varsity Inn has its positives and negatives. The rooms were quite average and old-looking, with some bugs and debris on the floor. Despite being very close to the train tracks at the back side, the location is convenient for some visitors. The service, although polite and friendly, lacked flexibility when it came to refunds or credits. On the bright side, the proximity to OSU and various sports venues, along with the safety of the area, are definite perks.
Rooms
5.0
The rooms were very average in appearance, and there were live and dead bugs as well as debris on the floor.
Service
7.0
The service was polite and friendly but did not offer any refund or credit options when needed.
Location
8.0
The location is great for those visiting OSU or McCorkle Aquatic Center, with easy access to restaurants and shopping.
Dining
Facilities
Joe
United Kingdom,
December
2023
7.8/10
The hotel is conveniently located near OSU and within walking distance to restaurants and shopping, making it a safe and great spot to stay. The rooms were decent, with essential amenities, but they appeared a bit dated. The service was friendly and helpful, although there was an issue regarding refunds. The location is a strong point with easy access to sports venues and Columbus highlights.
Rooms
7.0
My room was supposed to be smoke-free and turned out to be clean and comfortable. It had a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker, but overall had an average and old-looking vibe.
Service
8.0
The service was very nice with staff always being polite and friendly, although there was a disappointment with getting a refund.
Location
9.0
The location is fantastic, close to OSU, restaurants, shopping, and sports venues. It's a safe area and convenient to explore Columbus.
Dining
7.0
I had a pleasant dining experience over the last weekend with organic fruits, but more dining options could enhance the experience.
Facilities
8.0
The hotel offers convenient facilities and is close to the Expo Center & Fairgrounds, making it a valuable stay in the area.
Marc
United States,
December
2023
7.0/10
My stay at the hotel was a mix of positives and negatives. The rooms were clean and comfortable, but there were some issues with bugs on the floor, and the proximity to train tracks on the back side was a bit noisy. The service was polite and friendly, though I had some trouble getting a refund. The location was great for those visiting OSU and wanting easy access to restaurants and shopping, but being right near the train tracks was a drawback. The dining experience was good, especially the salads, and the facilities were decent.
Rooms
7.0
My room was clean and comfortable with a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker.
Service
6.0
The service was polite and friendly, but I faced challenges getting a refund.
Location
7.0
The hotel's location close to OSU and shopping was convenient, but the proximity to the train tracks on the back side was a downside.
Dining
8.0
I enjoyed the delicious salads during my dining experience.
Facilities
7.0
The facilities were decent overall.
Matt
United Kingdom,
November
2023
7.2/10
My stay at the Varsity Inn was quite pleasant overall. The hotel is conveniently located close to OSU, making it easy to access restaurants and shopping. The rooms are clean and comfortable, but being on the back side meant being very close to the train tracks, which was a bit noisy. The staff was always polite and friendly, although I was disappointed that they refused to offer any refund or credit towards my next stay. The location is indeed safe and convenient for exploring the area, but do keep in mind the proximity to the train tracks, especially during late hours. The dining experience was average, and the facilities at the hotel were decent.
Rooms
8.0
The rooms are clean and comfortable, but being on the back side, literally a stone toss to the train tracks was a bit noisy.
Service
7.0
The staff was always polite and friendly, but I was disappointed that they refused to offer me a refund or credit towards my next stay.
Location
8.0
The hotel's location is convenient, close to OSU, restaurants, and shopping. Just be aware of the noise from the train tracks during late hours.
Dining
6.0
The dining options were average, nothing exceptional.
Facilities
7.0
The hotel's facilities were decent overall.
Benjamin
United States,
November
2023
7.8/10
My stay at the hotel was a mix of highs and lows. The rooms were mostly clean and comfortable, but there were live and dead bugs and stuff on the floor, which was not ideal. The service was a bit of a letdown as they refused to offer me a refund or any kind of credit towards my next stay, although the staff was very nice and helpful overall. The location was great, close to OSU and within walking distance to restaurants and shopping, but being in the Area on a Budget meant it was a bit noisy between midnight and 5 am. The dining experience, over the last weekend for lunch, offered freshly prepared dishes, which was a delightful surprise. The facilities were decent, providing the basics needed for a short stay.
Rooms
7.0
The rooms were clean and comfortable overall, but there were live and dead bugs and stuff on the floor, which was a bit off-putting.
Service
8.0
The staff, although very nice and helpful in general, disappointed me by refusing to offer a refund or any credit towards a future stay.
Location
9.0
The hotel's location was a major perk, being close to OSU and offering easy access to restaurants and shopping. However, the late-night noise due to the Area on a Budget status was a downside.
Dining
8.0
I enjoyed the dining experience, especially the freshly prepared dishes over the last weekend for lunch.
Facilities
7.0
The facilities were average, providing the necessary amenities for a comfortable stay, without any standout features.
Chris
United States,
October
2023
7.8/10
The hotel is in a convenient location, close to OSU, restaurants, and shopping, making it ideal for budget-conscious travelers. The rooms, while clean and comfortable, have a slightly outdated appearance. The service was exceptional with polite and helpful staff. Dining options were satisfactory, particularly for lunch over the last weekend. Overall, a good value for money choice in the area.
Rooms
7.0
The rooms were clean and comfortable, equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker.
Service
9.0
The service was great, with very nice and helpful staff always being polite and friendly.
Location
9.0
The hotel's location is excellent, being close to OSU, restaurants, and shopping. It is also within easy reach of the Expo Center & Fairgrounds, and sports venues at OSU.
Dining
7.0
The dining experience, especially over the last weekend for lunch, was satisfactory.
Facilities
7.0
The hotel offers basic facilities suitable for a budget-friendly stay in the area.
George
United States,
August
2023
7.4/10
I found my stay at Varsity Inn to have its ups and downs. The rooms, although on the back side near train tracks, were supposed to be smoke-free and provided useful amenities like a refrigerator, microwave, and a coffee maker. The service was very nice and helpful, but there was a disappointing experience with a refund request. The location was convenient, close to OSU and various attractions, though there were noise issues at night. Overall, a mixed experience.
Rooms
7.0
The rooms, despite being near the train tracks, were equipped with essential amenities like a refrigerator, microwave, and a coffee maker.
Service
8.0
The service provided was friendly and helpful, although a refund request was not accommodated.
Location
7.0
The location was convenient, close to OSU and various attractions, but noise disturbances were noticeable between midnight and 5 am.
Dining
5.0
Facilities
5.0
Rose
United States,
July
2023
8.0/10
The hotel is conveniently located near OSU, making it easy to explore the area. The rooms were clean and had useful amenities like a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker. The staff was polite and helpful, though I had some issues with obtaining a refund.
Rooms
8.0
My room, although facing the back side near the train tracks, was surprisingly quiet despite its proximity. It was clean, comfortable, and equipped with a handy refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker.
Service
9.0
The service at this hotel was always polite and friendly. The staff was nice and very helpful during my stay, despite the minor inconvenience of not being able to secure a refund.
Location
9.0
The location is excellent, especially for those visiting OSU or attending events at the Expo Center & Fairgrounds. It's safe and within walking distance of restaurants and shops, making it convenient for exploring the area on a budget.
Dining
7.0
I enjoyed a satisfying lunch over the last weekend at the hotel's dining facility. The cold dishes I tried were delicious, offering a decent dining experience overall.
Facilities
7.0
The hotel facilities were adequate and met my needs during my stay. While not overly luxurious, they provided everything I required for a comfortable visit.
Nhow Roma
Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle By Ihg
Quality Inn & Suites Seattle Center
Sonesta Es Suites Scottsdale Paradise Valley
Quality Inn Moab Slickrock Area
Motel 6 San Francisco Ca Lombard Street
Grant Plaza Hotel
Lion Inn - Saint Augustine
Club Wyndham Inn On Long Wharf
Waikiki Marina Resort At The Ilikai
Days Inn By Wyndham Denver Downtown
Hampton Inn & Suites Providence Downtown