Car Travel

Getting to Columbus is easy as the city sits in the center of the state. Two major interstates intersect near downtown: I–70, which runs east–west, and I–71, which runs north–south. I–670 runs from downtown and connects to Port Columbus International Airport. I–270 loops around the outer boundaries of the city.

Interstate 70, I–71, and I–670 headed toward downtown are congested weekday mornings; in the evening, the roads are clogged in the opposite direction. Traffic is lighter Saturday and Sunday. The Short North area, German Village, the Arena District, the Brewery District, and High Street are also very busy. Traffic usually flows smoothly in outlying suburbs but can get congested during morning and evening drive times. Outlying traffic jams are most common around I–270 at Route 23, I–71, Route 315, Route 161 toward New Albany, and the Polaris interchange. You do need a car in these areas because bus service is infrequent or nonexistent.

Downtown, metered parking is available but difficult to find. If you find a spot, be sure to put sufficient money in the meter; meter maids are efficient here. Be sure not to park in a "permit-only" area as a ticket will show up on your windshield in no time. Parking garages are plentiful in this area and near the Ohio State University campus. Parking for an entire day costs between $10 and $15. Columbus is a growing city, which means roadway construction projects. For construction information, contact Paving The Way, a joint project of the Federal Highway Administration, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and the city of Columbus.

Contacts

Paving The Way. 614/645–7283; www.pavingtheway.org.