Columbus Travel and Things to Do Guide
Welcome to the Cvent Columbus meeting planning guide, a city guide where you can find hotels, restaurants, and other meeting venues, as well as a wealth of Columbus meeting planning information.
With a walkable, condensed convention package, entertainment districts, historic neighborhoods, art, and culture, Columbus is a highly accessible, clean, manageable city, making it an ideal meeting place.
Although Columbus is a major metropolis, it is extremely navigable and safe. The smart and open community offers a dynamic convention package that is sure to fit the needs of any group. Columbus is located within a one-hour flight or a day's drive of half of the U.S. population. Getting downtown is a breeze with the AirConnect express circulator, and once there, numerous transportation services, including the free CBUS circulator
Beyond the 1.8-million-square-foot convention center, Columbus offers several other sizable event facilities. Nationwide Arena, Columbus' premier sports and entertainment attraction, can accommodate a wide range of functions, from intimate gatherings to large-scale events of up to 20,000 people. Groups willing to travel just outside of the downtown area can utilize the very meeting-friendly Ohio Expo Center, a 360-acre complex offering 1 million square feet of flexible space.
Supporting the package are 4,250 rooms available downtown, with 2,250 rooms connected or adjacent to the convention center. A 468-room expansion of the Hilton Columbus Downtown will create a 1,000-room convention hotel connected to the Greater Columbus Convention Center by 2022. Ranging from luxury boutiques to familiar chains, hotel venues in Columbus meet a wide variety of needs and price points.
Held annually in March, Columbus' Arnold Sports Festival attracts more athletes than the Olympics do. The largest multi-sport event in the country takes over venues across the city, with more than 18,000 athletes from 80 nations competing in 50 sports and events.
Along with its population, the Columbus economy continues to grow. The city is home to four Fortune 500 companies: L Brands (Victoria's Secret, Bath and Body Works, etc.), American Electric Power, Nationwide, and Cardinal Health. Other major corporate headquarters in Columbus include Abercrombie & Fitch, DSW, Express, Hexion, Huntington, Mettler-Toledo, Red Roof Inn, Rogue Fitness, Safelite, Scotts, Wendy's, White Castle, and Worthington Industries.
With a walkable, condensed convention package, entertainment districts, historic neighborhoods, art, and culture, Columbus is a highly accessible, clean, manageable city, making it an ideal meeting place.
Although Columbus is a major metropolis, it is extremely navigable and safe. The smart and open community offers a dynamic convention package that is sure to fit the needs of any group. Columbus is located within a one-hour flight or a day's drive of half of the U.S. population. Getting downtown is a breeze with the AirConnect express circulator, and once there, numerous transportation services, including the free CBUS circulator
Beyond the 1.8-million-square-foot convention center, Columbus offers several other sizable event facilities. Nationwide Arena, Columbus' premier sports and entertainment attraction, can accommodate a wide range of functions, from intimate gatherings to large-scale events of up to 20,000 people. Groups willing to travel just outside of the downtown area can utilize the very meeting-friendly Ohio Expo Center, a 360-acre complex offering 1 million square feet of flexible space.
Supporting the package are 4,250 rooms available downtown, with 2,250 rooms connected or adjacent to the convention center. A 468-room expansion of the Hilton Columbus Downtown will create a 1,000-room convention hotel connected to the Greater Columbus Convention Center by 2022. Ranging from luxury boutiques to familiar chains, hotel venues in Columbus meet a wide variety of needs and price points.
Held annually in March, Columbus' Arnold Sports Festival attracts more athletes than the Olympics do. The largest multi-sport event in the country takes over venues across the city, with more than 18,000 athletes from 80 nations competing in 50 sports and events.
Along with its population, the Columbus economy continues to grow. The city is home to four Fortune 500 companies: L Brands (Victoria's Secret, Bath and Body Works, etc.), American Electric Power, Nationwide, and Cardinal Health. Other major corporate headquarters in Columbus include Abercrombie & Fitch, DSW, Express, Hexion, Huntington, Mettler-Toledo, Red Roof Inn, Rogue Fitness, Safelite, Scotts, Wendy's, White Castle, and Worthington Industries.
Weather and Seasonality
Columbus enjoys four distinct seasons due to its humid continental climate characterized by hot summers and cold, dry winters. The average temperature in summer is 71.6°F, while temperatures in winter average 29.3°F. Spring and fall are relatively mild with temperatures in the low to mid-50s. The coldest month in Columbus is January, and the hottest is July.
Columbus sees an average annual rainfall of 37.8 inches and average snowfall of 28 inches. Like most of the Midwest, Columbus is subject to severe weather that includes thunderstorms and tornadoes, most often occurring during the months of June to October. The best time to visit Columbus is during spring, when the weather is mild, festival season is in full swing, and many of the lush gardens are in bloom.
Columbus sees an average annual rainfall of 37.8 inches and average snowfall of 28 inches. Like most of the Midwest, Columbus is subject to severe weather that includes thunderstorms and tornadoes, most often occurring during the months of June to October. The best time to visit Columbus is during spring, when the weather is mild, festival season is in full swing, and many of the lush gardens are in bloom.
| Month | High/Low °F | Seasonality |
|---|---|---|
| January | 36°/20° | Low |
| February | 39°/22° | Low |
| March | 50°/31° | Low |
| April | 62°/40° | Medium |
| May | 73°/50° | Medium |
| June | 82°/59° | High |
| July | 85°/64° | High |
| August | 84°/62° | High |
| September | 77°/54° | Medium |
| October | 65°/43° | Medium |
| November | 51°/34° | Low |
| December | 40°/25° | Low |