Budget
8.1
Budget shares much of the operational backbone of Avis at a lower daily rate. If your trip is flexible on pickup time, it is usually the cheaper of the two.
Typically $39 to $74 per day at major airports before taxes and fees.
Columbus Travel Guide
An underrated, affordable weekend city
- Ohio
- August 2026
- An underrated, affordable weekend city
Why go to Columbus
Columbus is the cheapest good weekend city in the Midwest: strong food, walkable districts, and lodging that costs half what Chicago does.
It is a driving trip for most visitors, which makes the rental car decision the one worth optimizing.
How to get there
Driving
Within three hours of Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh.
Flights
CMH is 15 minutes from downtown with mostly domestic service.
Rental Car
Useful for reaching Short North, German Village, and the metro parks.
Getting around
- Short North and downtown connect on foot along High Street.
- German Village and Grandview need a car or a short ride.
- The Scioto Mile and Olentangy Trail cover the city by bike.
What to do in Columbus
1 hour
North Market
Two floors of independent stalls and the best single lunch in the city.
2 hours
Franklin Park Conservatory
Glass houses, gardens, and a solid rainy-day option.
2 hours
Highbanks Metro Park
Ravine trails and river overlooks 20 minutes north of downtown.
Outdoor options nearby
Moderate
Hocking Hills State Park
Gorges, waterfalls, and recessed caves an hour southeast of Columbus.
A workable plan
- Short North gallery walk
- North Market lunch
- Scioto Mile at sunset
- German Village and Book Loft
- Franklin Park Conservatory
- Buckeyes game if in season
- Highbanks Metro Park trails
- Grandview brunch
- Drive home via Hocking Hills
Columbus questions
How many days do you need in Columbus?
Two full days covers the essentials and three lets you add a day trip or an outdoor morning without rushing.
What is the best way to get around Columbus?
Check the getting-around notes above first: in some cities transit and walking beat a rental car outright, and in others a car is the only practical option.
Travel services for Columbus
The tools and providers that fit the way this trip actually works.
AllTrails
8.7
The most complete trail database in the US, and the reviews are recent enough to tell you whether a trail is muddy, closed, or busy this week.
Free tier is usable; the paid plan runs about $36 per year.
Hotels
Best used as a price check and a way to filter for genuinely refundable rates rather than as your only lodging search.
Varies by market; always compare against the hotel's direct rate.
