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Olentangy Motor Inn

2.0 star property
Hotel near Ohio State University in Columbus

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Photo gallery for Olentangy Motor Inn

Exterior
Exterior
Coffee service
Premium bedding, individually furnished, free WiFi, bed sheets
Premium bedding, individually furnished, free WiFi, bed sheets

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
1445 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH, 43212
  • Place, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Place, Ohio Stadium
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Place, Ohio State University
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Airport, Columbus, OH (CMH-John Glenn Columbus Intl.)
    ‪13 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible

Premium bedding, individually furnished, free WiFi, bed sheets

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible

7.4 out of 10
Good
(12 reviews)
  • 285 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Premium bedding, individually furnished, free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(64 reviews)
  • 214 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Double Beds

Premium bedding, individually furnished, free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(23 reviews)
  • 285 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Room, 2 Double Beds, Accessible

Room, 2 Double Beds, Accessible | Premium bedding, individually furnished, free WiFi, bed sheets

Room, 2 Double Beds, Accessible

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(17 reviews)
  • 285 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Double Beds

Premium bedding, individually furnished, free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(92 reviews)
  • 285 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

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About the neighborhood

Columbus

Grandview Heights stay.Your stay at this Grandview Heights hotel places you within 3 miles (5 km) of Ohio State University and Greater Columbus Convention Center. Ohio State Harding Hospital and Olentangy Bike Path are also within 2 miles (3 km).

What's nearby

  • Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center - 12 min walk - 0.7 miles
  • James Cancer Hospital - 14 min walk - 0.8 miles
  • Ohio Stadium - 19 min walk - 1.0 mile
  • Schottenstein Center - 2 min drive - 1.5 miles
  • Ohio State University - 3 min drive - 1.1 miles

Getting around

  • John Glenn Columbus Intl. Airport (CMH) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Chick-fil-A - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Natalie’s - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪GetGo - ‬11 min walk

About this property

Olentangy Motor Inn

Hotel near Ohio State University in Columbus
There's a coffee shop/cafe on site. Free breakfast is available daily. Free self parking is available. A complete renovation of Olentangy Motor Inn was completed in September 2023.

This Columbus hotel is smoke free.

  • 1 building
  • 55 guestrooms or units
  • 2 levels
  • Built in 1986
  • To-go breakfast (free)
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • No smoking on site
  • Coffee shop
Olentangy Motor Inn offers 55 air-conditioned accommodations, which are accessible via exterior corridors and feature coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Each accommodation is individually furnished. Beds feature premium bedding. Televisions come with premium cable channels. Bathrooms include showers.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access (speed: 25+ Mbps). Business-friendly amenities include phones along with free local calls (restrictions may apply). Housekeeping is provided on request.

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Jan 28 - Jan 29
Total with taxes and fees
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 25+ Mbps

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site
  • RV/bus/truck parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available
  • Onsite parking includes off-street options

Food and drink

  • Free on-the-go breakfast available daily 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM
  • A coffee shop/cafe

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 4 accessible parking spaces
  • Assistive listening devices
  • Smooth flooring in public areas
  • Smooth flooring in room
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • 55-inch TV with premium cable channels

Bedroom

  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker

More

  • Access via exterior corridors
  • Air conditioning
  • Connecting rooms available
  • Free local calls
  • Heating
  • Individual furnishings
  • Mobile key entry
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Guests will receive an email within 7 days before arrival with check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 72 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
Prior to arrival, you must complete online registration via a secure link
You will be asked to provide the property with a copy of your government-issued photo ID after booking
A virtual front desk provides assistance to guests
This property enforces quiet hours from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • Pets: USD 10 per pet, per night (maximum USD 100 per stay)
  • Only dogs and cats are allowed
  • Maximum 1 (weight limit: 30 lbs per pet)
  • Pets cannot be left unattended
  • Restrictions apply
  • For more information, you can reach out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! Children 12 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Pet fee: USD 10 per pet, per night (maximum USD 100 per stay)
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A credit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Cash is not accepted. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector in each accommodation. Guests can access their rooms with a mobile device.

We should mention

  • Children 12 years old and younger stay free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.
  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in guestrooms.
  • Connecting/adjoining rooms are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property at the number on your booking confirmation.
  • To make arrangements to bring your pet, contact the property directly at the number on your booking confirmation (please see the Fees section for related charges).

Property is also known as

Varsity Inn South Hotel
Varsity Inn South Hotel Columbus
Varsity South Columbus
Varsity Inn Columbus
Varsity Inn
Varsity Columbus
The Varsity Inn
Olentangy Motor Inn Hotel
Olentangy Motor Inn Columbus
Olentangy Motor Inn Hotel Columbus

Frequently asked questions

How close is Olentangy Motor Inn to the airport?

Olentangy Motor Inn is 8.9 mi (13-min drive) away from the John Glenn Columbus Intl. Airport (CMH) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

How much does it cost to stay at Olentangy Motor Inn?

As of Jan 21, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Olentangy Motor Inn on Jan 27, 2026 start from $110.0, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does Olentangy Motor Inn have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at Olentangy Motor Inn.

Does Olentangy Motor Inn offer free breakfast?

Olentangy Motor Inn offers free on-the-go breakfast every day from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM.

Is there a casino at Olentangy Motor Inn?

No, there is no casino at this hotel, but Hollywood Casino (11-min drive) and Scioto Downs (15-min drive) are nearby.

What time is check-in at Olentangy Motor Inn?

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime.

Is there free parking at Olentangy Motor Inn?

This hotel offers free self parking.

Does Olentangy Motor Inn have a pool?

Olentangy Motor Inn does not have a pool.

Does Olentangy Motor Inn have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hotel.

How close is Olentangy Motor Inn to downtown Columbus?

Olentangy Motor Inn is 2.4 mi away from Columbus.

Olentangy Motor Inn Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 898 out of 1360 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 307 out of 1360 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 95 out of 1360 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 27 out of 1360 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 33 out of 1360 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jenevieve, Arlington

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very clean, well appointed, cute and friendly staff.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mackenzie

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

Nate

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Ashley

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Older hotel, but they have done a great job updating it! Location is great, very close to so much! Staff was friendly. They have a cute coffee shop in the lobby and you get a complimentary breakfast sandwich & coffee from there for your breakfast. My only complaints are it could be cleaner, not that it was horrible, and the trashcans need to be larger, you can barely fit anything in them.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paula

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice, clean and a great location. Only four minutes away from OSU hospital which is where I needed to go.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Susan

Room
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Very clean room. Excellent service.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Eli

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
Good for a no frills motor inn. Not a lot of service to speak of, front desk is run by kids who are doubling as coffee shop employees. Breakfast sandwiches were tasty. Cleaner and more comfortable than your average motor inn. Location was walkable to campus and Short North area which is nice.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Stefanie

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I didn’t stay here! I accidentally booked a reservation and called IMMEDIATELY to request it be canceled (I’m talking within 60 SECONDS!) and this hotel REFUSED to cancel. This hotel has zero compassion or understanding. Sad thing is that I HAVE stayed here before and had no issues. I will make sure anyone I know never sets foot there again!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Our stay went really well! Although we did not spend a lot of time at the hotel, it was very clean and appears to have been remodeled not too long ago. For an older hotel, I think they did a great job on the remodel. The room looked 100% redone, and not just a partial like yo might see elsewhere. Breakfast was hot and free even though they had a small coffee shop business there too. I would stay there again for sure.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Alex

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
We had a great stay overall! This is a charming, budget-friendly spot with everything you need if you’re not planning to spend a ton of time in your room. The space has been updated, the location is super convenient for getting into downtown Columbus, and the breakfast is a pleasant surprise — especially the coffee, which was genuinely excellent. We also appreciated the complimentary sandwich and coffee voucher. However, cleanliness was a concern. The floors were extremely dirty — after walking across the room once, the bottoms of our feet were black, and the shower mat picked up a lot of dirt as well. The linens were also on the thin, scratchy side. I’d recommend bringing a pair of flip-flops or slippers for the room and maybe an extra blanket for comfort. With just a little more attention to cleaning and comfort, this would be a fantastic stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shannon

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Gabriel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Trisha

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robin

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

jay

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Niceeeeeeee place
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michelle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Julie

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Clean room and convenient. Right near railroad tracks don’t did get a bit loud. Breakfast was a free small coffee and breakfast sandwich that they didn’t offer up when I checked out. They also didn’t provide the wifi password until I searched down a staff member to hide it to me. I thought the information would have been in the room. Room was fine for what I needed but felt the description was a bit exaggerated.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

James

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
Room was ok. Huge TV was great. Staff was very friendly, especially Seth.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen, Lecanto

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dorothy

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Yes safe with easy parking.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Benjamin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Nice hotel for a good price
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Miranda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lori

Traveled with pets, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Easy parking, very quiet and friendly staff
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Zach

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Overall a good stay, convenient location and nice enough rooms. It definitely smelled like whoever was there before us had smoked in the room. The floors were not as clean as they could have been, but everything else seemed to be clean enough.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025