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Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH

Photo: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory Buff

Ohio Stadium

411 Woody Hayes Dr · Columbus, OH

Why you should go…

Ohio Stadium, known as the Horseshoe or the Shoe, has been the home of Ohio State football since 1922 and seats 102,780. The rotunda at the north end was designed to look like the dome of the Pantheon in Rome and holds stained glass murals of football squads. The stadium sits beside the Olentangy River and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974. Ohio State runs guided stadium tours on non-game days, with a longer VIP version that adds the home locker room.

  • #college football
  • #stadium tour
  • #ohio state
  • #historic stadium

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Ohio Stadium, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    COSI

    $25–$50

    Hands-on science museum on the Scioto riverfront with a planetarium, a dinosaur gallery and themed exhibit halls.

    3.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    German Village

    Free

    Walk brick-paved streets lined with restored red-brick homes, then browse the shops, restaurants and Schiller Park.

    4.1 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

    $25–$50

    Glasshouse biomes, outdoor botanical gardens, a children's garden and Chihuly glass art inside Franklin Park.

    4.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    Family Favorite

    Dublin, Ohio

    Free

    A Columbus suburb famous for championship golf and the world's largest Irish festival.

    8.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

    $25–$50

    Tour eight regions of animals from Heart of Africa to Polar Frontier, plus an aquarium and a 1914 carousel.

    12 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Pickaway County

    Free

    Visitor bureau for Pickaway County, Ohio, home of the Circleville Pumpkin Show and area parks and history.

    28 mi awayMore like this