All posts by Ben Keith

About Ben Keith

Former Lead Developer at the Institute for Nonprofit News

Transportation within Columbus

If you’re flying in, you’re most likely landing at John Glenn International Airport, KCMH, formerly known as Port Columbus International Airport. The airport’s own ground-transportation guide is posted on their website.

To get from the airport to our recommended hotel, you have a couple of options:

  • Take the COTA AirConnect bus from the Ground Transportation level of the airport to the COTA Transit Terminal on Main Street. Step across Main Street, take a few steps south on High Street, and you’ll be at the front door of the Westin. Cost: $2.75
  • You can take a taxi, Lyft, or Uber from the airport. Cost: $25-40

To get from the Westin to our venue this year, the Vue, you can:

  • Walk three blocks south and one block west, then from Front Street walk west on Liberty Street. It’s a half-mile walk. Keep an eye out for construction traffic at the intersection of Front and Liberty. 🚧
  • Ride the COTA 5, 8, or CBUS lines. From the stop at South High Street and West Main Street, ride the bus south for two stops, getting off at South High Street and West Blenkner Street. Walk one block west on Blenker Street, turn south on Front Street for half a block, then walk west on Liberty Street. Cost: Free if you take the CBUS, $2 if you take the 5 or 8
  • Ride a CoGo bike from the dock at South High Street and West Mound Street to the dock at West Beck Street and South Front Street, then walk the rest of the way. Cost: $8 for a one-day pass, or $18 for a three-day pass
  • Ride a dockless scooter. At last count, Columbus has Lyft, Bird, Spin and Lime scooters. Cost: Varies
  • Take a taxi, Lyft, or Uber. Cost: $10

To get from the Vue to Two Dollar Radio Club at 1124 Parsons Ave, the location of our Wednesday evening activity, there are a few options:

  • Walk, bicycle, or scoot south on Front Street to East Deshler Avenue, then west on East Deshler Avenue to Parsons Avenue. Two Collar Radio Club is just north of Deshler, at the intersection of Parsons Avenue and Cline Street. Cost: Varies
  • Walk to back to the Westin at South High Street and Mound Street, then take the COTA bus lines 4 or 8 to Parsons Avenue and Thurman Avenue. Walk a couple blocks north to the intersection of Parsons Avenue and Cline Street. Cost: $2
  • Taxi, Lyft, or Uber works, too. Cost: $10

To get from the Vue to Wolf’s Ridge Brewing at 215 N 4th Street, the location of the Thursday evening afterparty:

  • Walk about 1.5 miles, following your preferred mapping app’s best guidance. Depending on routing, you may pass by Columbus Commons, the Ohio Theatre, the Ohio statehouse, and many eateries and entertainment venues.
  • Take the Cota 8, 7, 11, or CBUS routes, depending on timing and walking distance desired. Consult your preferred mapping app. Cost: $2
  • Bicyclists and scooters will want to take 4th Street for as much of the route as possible; it has a reserved lane for northbound cyclists. Southbound cyclists must take Summit Street or 3rd Street. Cost: Varies
  • Taxi, Lyft, or Uber works, too. Cost: $10

Parking at the Vue

Park at the Grange Parking Garage at 600 South Front Street. Walk north on Front Street to West Beck Street and cross Front Street at Beck Street. Then continue north on Front Street to Liberty Street, and turn west on Liberty Street.

Park at the Grange Parking Garage, 600 S. Front St. Columbus, OH 43215

  • Bring your parking garage ticket to the conference. You can get a sticker that validates your parking, giving you a discount. Upon leaving the garage, insert your discounted ticket into the box. You will not receive discounted parking without Vue’s sticker on your ticket.
  • If you require onsite parking for accessibility reasons, there are a very limited number of spaces available in the front driveway at the Vue. Please contact us ahead of time if you need one of these spaces.

Parking at the Grange Parking Garage:

  1. Please take a ticket upon entry from the ticket box
  2. Park in any open, numbered space. (most public availability begins on the 3rd level of the garage)
  3. The garage closes at 7pm. You must retrieve your vehicle before 7 p.m.

Walking directions to the Vue:

  1. Exit garage using stairs on the Front St. side of Garage (west)
  2. Exit through glass doors on ground level and turn right (north) on Front Street to head towards the Vue.
  3. Please use the crosswalk at Beck Street to cross Front Street (about half a block from the garage)
  4. Turn left (west) onto Liberty Street and Vue will will be half a block down on your left, at 95 Liberty Street.