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Columbus · Hotel shortlist

The best hotels near Columbus State University

Mei-Lin Zhou

Mei-Lin Zhou Japan

Updated 1 September 2026 · 16 Columbus hotels assessed

These are my five favourites in Columbus, out of the 16 that qualified. I read what other travellers scored them before I picked, so the order follows the guests, 4.2 down to 3.9.

All five are within 2.2 km of Columbus State University.

Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Columbus

Highest rated of the five

Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Columbus

★★★★★4.2 from 687 reviews

Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Columbus comes out on top of this list, and not narrowly: 4.2 from 687 guest reviews is a score that holds up at that volume, which is the whole test here. A perfect ten from nine people does not beat it.

It is a 3 star property, found under poi and around $107 a night on the dates we checked.

16 hotels in Columbus qualified for this list and five made it. Holiday Inn Express Columbus Northeast, an IHG Hotel is the one I would book if the first is full.

Why it works for this trip

  • Poolsomewhere to cool off between walks
  • Air conditioningthe one that decides a summer trip
  • Family roomscots and larger rooms rather than a squeeze
  • Gymopen to guests, not a partner pass down the road
  • Parkinga real consideration if you are driving in

Check rates Read more

All five, ranked

  1. Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Columbus1

    Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Columbus

    ★★★★★4.2 from 687 reviews

    1.4 km from Columbus State University, about a 18 minute walk

    • Pool
    • Gym
    • Parking
    • Kid friendly
    • Air conditioning
    • Accessible

    Check rates Read more

  2. Holiday Inn Express Columbus Northeast, an IHG Hotel2

    Holiday Inn Express Columbus Northeast, an IHG Hotel

    ★★★★★4.3 from 102 reviews

    1.1 km from Columbus State University, about a 14 minute walk

    • Pool
    • Parking
    • Air conditioning
    • Accessible

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  3. Courtyard by Marriott Columbus3

    Courtyard by Marriott Columbus

    ★★★★★3.9 from 746 reviews

    800 m from Columbus State University, about a 10 minute walk

    • Pool
    • Gym
    • Restaurant
    • Parking
    • Kitchen
    • Kid friendly

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  4. TownePlace Suites by Marriott Columbus4

    TownePlace Suites by Marriott Columbus

    ★★★★★3.9 from 506 reviews

    1.5 km from Columbus State University, about a 19 minute walk

    • Pool
    • Gym
    • Parking
    • Kitchen
    • Pet friendly
    • Kid friendly

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  5. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Columbus5

    DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Columbus

    ★★★★★3.9 from 1,479 reviews

    2.2 km from Columbus State University

    • Pool
    • Gym
    • Restaurant
    • Bar
    • Parking
    • Pet friendly

    Check rates Read more

How this list was put together

16 Columbus hotels qualify for this list. We ranked them on guest rating first and on how close they are to Columbus State University second, then took the top five.

Two things decide these lists. The first is my own time in the city: every hotel on this page is one I have stayed in, walked into and looked at, or gone back to check. That is where the shortlist starts, and it is why some well reviewed places are not on it.

The second is the numbers, and those are what set the order. The rating and review count come from the big travel sites, pooled through Google, so a score here reflects Expedia, Booking, Hotels.com and the rest together rather than any one of them. I also read the review breakdown by topic, which is where the figures on service, breakfast and location come from. Hotels with fewer than forty reviews are left out altogether, because a rating that thin is not a rating. No more than two come from one neighbourhood.

What I do not do is move anyone up the order. The ranking is the guest score, highest first, and nobody pays to be on the list.

Distances are straight lines from published coordinates, so the real walk is a little longer. Amenities are as recorded by Google Hotels and can change without notice. Rates are an indicative nightly figure for a midweek autumn stay, not a quote. Check the booking page before you commit.

Mei-Lin Zhou

Mei-Lin Zhou Japan

Works agency hours in Vancouver and spends all 18 vacation days abroad. One new country and one repeat visit per year. Five trips to Japan and a running list of ramen shops.

Trip Grapevine earns a commission on bookings made through the links on this page. It costs you nothing, and it does not change the order of the list, which is set by the measurements above.