Ohio State Parent Travel Hub
Ohio State Family Weekend 2026
Ohio State’s fall family event is the Buckeye Family Tailgate on Saturday, October 10, built around the home game against Maryland at the Horseshoe. Columbus has real hotel supply, but the Michigan and Oregon weekends spike prices hard, so timing matters. Here is everything you need to plan the trip in one sitting.
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Start with the essentials
Lodging is the piece that fills up first, so it is worth locking in first.
Official dates
Ohio State’s fall family event is the Buckeye Family Tailgate on Saturday, October 10, 2026, built around the home game against Maryland at Ohio Stadium, the Horseshoe. The tailgate includes catered food, games, and music before kickoff. Note that the tailgate ticket does not include a football ticket, which you buy separately.
Registration for the Buckeye Family Tailgate closes September 2, 2026, and it costs $40 per person for ages six and up. Football tickets are sold separately through Ohio State. Columbus has good hotel supply, but the Michigan and Oregon home weekends are far busier than Family Weekend, so book lodging early whichever game you choose.
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Registration and tickets
Three things to handle, in this order.
Register for the Family Tailgate
The Buckeye Family Tailgate on October 10 costs $40 per person for ages six and up, and registration closes September 2, 2026 through the Buckeye Family Connection account. It covers catered food, games, and music, but not a game ticket.
Buy football tickets separately
Tickets for Ohio State vs. Maryland are sold separately from the tailgate, through Ohio State’s ticket office. If the allotment is gone, the resale market is your backup.
Lock lodging before both
You do not need tickets in hand to book a refundable room. On a home Saturday, Columbus lodging tightens, so reserve first and adjust later.
When hotels sell out (and how to beat it)
Columbus has strong big-city hotel supply, so most home weekends are manageable if you book a few weeks out. The Michigan game, and the Oregon game close behind, are the exceptions: rooms near campus sell out months ahead at multiples of normal rates with two-night minimums.
Book now, cancel later
Reserve a refundable room today even if your plans are not final. On a busy weekend the price only climbs, and the closest rooms disappear first.
Widen the radius
If downtown and campus are full, Easton Town Center and Polaris to the north, and the airport and west side, hold rooms and better value. Whole-home rentals around Columbus are a strong option for families, and for the Michigan weekend you should book months ahead.
Watch the minimum-night rules
Many hotels require two or three nights on a game or Family Weekend. A whole-home rental can be the more flexible option.
Where to stay: the parent lodging map
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This is the part generic travel sites cannot produce at scale. Every area around Columbus, what it is best for, roughly how far it is from campus, and how much lodging actually exists there. Drive times are approximate and heavier on game day.
| Area | Drive to campus | Best for | Typical price | Hotel density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short North | 5 to 10 min | Walkable dining and nightlife, close to campus | $$$ | Medium to high |
| Downtown Columbus | 10 to 15 min | Business hotels, riverfront, easy freeways | $$ to $$$ | High |
| Near campus / University District | Walk to 5 min | Being closest to Ohio Stadium and your student | $$$ | Medium, goes first |
| Grandview / Upper Arlington | 10 min | Quieter neighborhoods just west | $$ to $$$ | Low to medium |
| Easton / Polaris (north) | 15 to 25 min | Value, shopping, and more availability | $$ | High |
| Airport / east side | 15 to 20 min | Cheapest rooms and easy fly-in | $ to $$ | Medium to high |
Compare hotels and rentals near campus
The Where to Stay table above shows which areas fit your plan. Our interactive lodging map below shows live options near Columbus, so you can lock in a refundable room before it fills.
Our interactive lodging map below shows options near campus, set to the Family Tailgate weekend. Change the dates on the map for your game. For Michigan or Oregon, book as far ahead as you can.
Booking through the map above supports UniversityParent at no extra cost to you.
2026 Ohio State home football schedule
Ohio State plays seven home games at Ohio Stadium in 2026. The Buckeye Family Tailgate is the Maryland game on October 10. The two peak-demand home weekends are Oregon on November 7 and Michigan on November 28, the biggest rivalry in the sport, so those sell out first and cost the most.
| Date | Opponent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sept 5 | Ball State | Home opener |
| Sat, Sept 19 | Kent State | Non-conference |
| Sat, Sept 26 | Illinois | Big Ten |
| Sat, Oct 10 | MarylandFamily Tailgate | Book early |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Oregon | Marquee, high demand |
| Sat, Nov 14 | Northwestern | Big Ten |
| Sat, Nov 28 | MichiganThe Game | Biggest weekend, book far ahead |
Ohio State plays at Texas on September 12, so that marquee game is away. The Michigan game on November 28 is the hardest ticket and hardest lodging weekend of the year. Kickoff times are set by TV networks about two weeks out.
Closest airports
John Glenn Columbus is close to campus and well served, the right airport for nearly every family. Dayton and Cincinnati are backups only if Columbus fares spike for the Michigan or Oregon weekend.
| Airport | Distance | Drive time | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMH John Glenn Columbus | About 8 mi | About 20 min | Your default, well served with nonstops. |
| DAY Dayton | About 70 mi | About 1 hr 10 min | A backup if Columbus fares climb. |
| CVG Cincinnati | About 110 mi | About 1 hr 50 min | Another backup with more flights. |
| CLE Cleveland | About 140 mi | About 2 hr 15 min | Overflow for the biggest weekends. |
Find flights
Search John Glenn Columbus (CMH) first, since it is about twenty minutes from campus and well served. Dayton, Cincinnati, and Cleveland are worth a look only if Columbus fills up or gets pricey for the Michigan or Oregon weekend.
Kiwi.com searches hundreds of airlines at once, including the budget carriers many sites skip.
Rental cars
A car is helpful but not essential. Columbus is spread out and car-friendly, but if you stay in the Short North or University District the campus, stadium, and dining core is walkable, and rideshare covers the rest.
GetRentACar compares the rental companies at John Glenn Columbus in one search. If you fly in and would rather not drive, a private airport transfer covers the short trip to campus or downtown.
Things to do around Columbus
Family Weekend is really Friday afternoon to Sunday. Here is how families fill the non-game hours, plus a module for tours and tickets.
Arts district
The walkable stretch of High Street between downtown and campus, with galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and the lighted arches. The go-to neighborhood before and after a game.
North Market
A historic food hall with local vendors and the original Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, a good casual group meal.
Conservatory
Glass-house gardens and rotating exhibits, a calm, weather-proof outing a few minutes east.
German Village
A brick-street historic district with shops, the Book Loft, and classic German restaurants.
For tours, attractions, and city passes around Columbus, these cover the non-game hours.
Where to eat
A short, honest list of parent-friendly spots. Reservations are essential for a busy Saturday, so book the moment your dates are set.
North Market
A historic food hall with something for everyone, quick and family-friendly, and home to the original Jeni’s ice cream stand.
Schmidt’s Sausage Haus
A German Village institution known for its Bahama Mama sausage and cream puffs, the quintessential Columbus sit-down.
The Guild House
Upscale contemporary American near the Short North, a good pick for a nicer family dinner. Reserve on a game weekend.
Game-day parking and getting around
Parking is the part that trips up first-time visiting families, because game-day rules differ from a normal campus visit.
Buy parking ahead
Ohio Stadium parking runs through CampusParc, and the closest garages and lots sell out, especially for Oregon and Michigan. Pre-pay a campus garage or lot rather than gambling on a day-of spot.
Stay in the Short North and walk
From the Short North or University District it is a walk of one to two miles to the stadium, often faster than driving out afterward. A smart way to skip the lot gridlock.
Arrive early and leave slow
Tailgating clusters along the Olentangy River and the RPAC lots west of the stadium. Lots open hours before kickoff, so get in early, and budget extra time to clear afterward, though the city grid absorbs the crowd better than most college towns.
A sample weekend itinerary
A relaxed template you can adjust once your plans are set.
- Afternoon: Fly into John Glenn Columbus, check in.
- Late afternoon: Meet your student, walk campus and the Oval.
- Evening: Dinner in the Short North (reserve ahead).
- Morning: Coffee in the Short North, then the North Market or Franklin Park.
- Midday: The Buckeye Family Tailgate before kickoff.
- Kickoff: Ohio State vs. Maryland at the Horseshoe (confirm time the week of).
- Evening: Late dinner after the crowds thin.
- Morning: Slow breakfast, one last campus walk, restock your student’s essentials.
- Midday: Drive back to the airport, or add a stop in German Village on the way out.
What parents should pack
Columbus in early October is cool, with highs in the low sixties and chilly evenings. A November game like Oregon or Michigan can be genuinely cold, near or below freezing at a late kickoff, so pack for it.
- Ohio State scarlet and gray
- Warm layers for a cool stadium afternoon
- A winter hat and gloves for a November game
- A rain jacket for changeable weather
- Comfortable walking shoes for campus and the Short North
- Clear stadium-approved bag
- Refillable water bottle
- Portable phone charger
- Cash for parking
- Hand warmers for a late kickoff
Frequently asked questions
When is Ohio State Family Weekend 2026?
Ohio State’s fall family event is the Buckeye Family Tailgate on Saturday, October 10, 2026, built around the home game against Maryland at Ohio Stadium. There is also a separate spring Buckeye Family Day.
How early should I book a hotel?
For the Maryland family weekend, a few weeks ahead is usually fine. For the Oregon (November 7) and Michigan (November 28) games, book months ahead, since those sell out fast with two-night minimums and peak rates.
What is the closest airport?
John Glenn Columbus (CMH), about eight miles and twenty minutes from campus, well served with nonstops. Dayton and Cincinnati are backups if Columbus fills up.
Do I need a rental car?
Not necessarily. Columbus is car-friendly, but the Short North and University District put the campus, stadium, and dining within walking distance, and rideshare covers the rest.
Is a football ticket included with the Family Tailgate?
No. The $40 Buckeye Family Tailgate covers food, games, and music, but the Ohio State vs. Maryland ticket is sold separately. Tailgate registration closes September 2, 2026.
Where should I stay if downtown is sold out?
Easton and Polaris to the north, and the airport and west side, hold more rooms and better value. A whole-home rental is a strong option for families, especially for the Michigan weekend.
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