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Guidelines & Forms | Accommodations | Ground Transportation | Campus

Suggested Local Accommodations

• The Blackwell – The only lodging directly on OSU campus
• Wayfaring Buckeye Hostel – The only hostel in Columbus (1.5 miles, bus route)
• Red Roof PLUS at The Ohio State University (1.5 miles, bus route)
• Fairfield Inn & Suites Columbus OSU (1.8 miles, bus route)
• Holiday Inn Columbus Univ Area (2.1 miles, bus route)

Please consider the OSU football schedule when planning lodging between August-November. Home football games generate a marked increase in hotel demand, which can result in limited availability and higher prices.

Ground Transportation

• Airport Shuttles
  • Arch Express at (614) 252-2277
  • Guests at The Blackwell have complimentary shuttle service (614) 247-4050
•  Busing
  • Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) – Columbus metropolitan bus service
  • Campus Area Bus Service (CABS) – Free bus service around OSU campus
• Taxi
  • Yellow Cab of Columbus – (614) 444-4444
• Car Rental
  • Car rentals available at Port Columbus International Airport. OSU is contracted with Enterprise and National, so these vendors are required in order to be reimbursed.
• Ride Sharing Services
  • Uber and Lyft are readily available throughout Columbus, including the campus area.

Campus Navigation

Center for Emergent Materials
Physics Research Building, 2000
191 W. Woodruff Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43210

• Campus Map
• Physics Research Building Room Map
• Campus Area Bus Service (CABS) – Free bus service around OSU campus

Guidelines

Travelers and guests should review OSU travel policy prior to departure to ensure compliance and full reimbursement.

All travelers must have a finalized travel request in the OSU eTravel system before travel commences. OSU administrators need a minimum of three business days to process travel requests for approval; more time is needed for large parties, or if prepayments for airfare/lodging are desired.

During travel, all receipts should be itemized and saved for reimbursement. Receipts should show payment or zero balance due. At the conclusion of travel, all receipts and travel reimbursement requests must be requested within 90 days or risk denial.

Columbus per diem rate is $61/day.

• Special Situations that Require Additional Documentation:
  • Car Rental or Personal Mileage
    • Traveler must provide documentation that renting a car (including gas expenses) or reimbursement for personal mileage (at $0.575/mile) is more cost-effective than flying. Flight comparisons should be timely (obtained 4+ weeks ahead) and reasonable. OSU will reimburse up to the most cost-effective documented amount. Car rentals are subject to individual pre-approval by the Office of Research.
  • Personal Time Added to Trip
    • Traveler must provide documentation of flight rates for both the desired trip dates and the standard business dates. Flight comparisons should be timely (obtained 4+ weeks ahead) and reasonable. OSU will reimburse up to the most cost-effective documented amount.
  • Destinations Outside of Standard Round-Trip (Home/OSU)
    • Travelers with destinations outside of a standard round-trip between home and OSU must provide documentation of flight rates comparing desired deviations with round-trips between home and Columbus.  Flight comparisons should be timely (obtained 4+ weeks ahead) and reasonable. OSU will reimburse up to the most cost-effective documented amount.