$39+ Cheap flights to Columbus, OH

This Midwestern gem of a city is worth a go. When you book flights to Columbus, you’re getting much more than railroads and the Eerie Canal (although you get those too, don’t worry). This town, once a shipping port, is now full of arts, sports, leisure, education, and shopping. 

Incorporated in 1816, Columbus started out as a pretty serious factory town. With more than 200 of these industrial establishments pumping, the area became fluent in business, and German immigrants with business plans began to set up shop as brewers. A hundred years passed this way, with more and more business constantly fitting inside the city’s boundaries, so in the 1980’s, it was begging for a little renovation. Now, the Arena District exists as a mixed-use planned urban environment with restaurants, hotels, shops, and offices. New brick buildings now stand where old warehouses once did. Some of the old industrial architecture still stands, adding historical flavor to the fresh look of new Columbus.

Columbus, OH climate

When you book flights to Columbus, expect the typical Midwest seasonal pattern. The climate here is strongly affected by Lake Eerie, and gets great heat waves in the summers. Winters are much milder than other northern cities, so while you should pack warm clothing, there’s no need to worry about harsh or dangerous snow storms. Spring and fall months are mild and sunny, with occasional rain showers. 

Best Time to Fly to Columbus, OH

If you’re looking to really enjoy the city on foot, then book flights to Columbus in the summer, when the temperatures are mild, and rain showers are infrequent. Pack light clothing and sunglasses and hit the road.

Peak Season 

The best time to plan flights to Columbus is undoubtedly during the summer, because the weather creates perfect conditions for exploring the city, and no one can resist a sunny day.

Off-peak Season 

Winter here isn’t exactly nasty, or particularly stormy, but it’s nothing to write home about. Temperatures plummet to below freezing and drizzle and rainfall are consistent.

Getting around Columbus, OH

Columbus doesn’t have much public transportation, but it’s very easy to get around by car. You can rent a car at one of the companies found at the airport. You’ll find that most hotels provide transportation from the airport. You can find taxis, but not as easily as you could in larger cities.  

Columbus, OH Travel Information

Columbus Museum of Art: While you might not find a village-y Soho scene when you step off your flight to Columbus, you can breathe easy knowing that artistic culture does live here, you just need to look for it a little. The Columbus Museum of Art boasts a wide collection of impressionists, cubists, modernists, and contemporary artists from North America and Europe. Pros like Degas, Monet, Matisse, Picasso, Hopper, and O’Keeffe all play nice together. When you’re done here, stroll over to the Russell Page Sculpture Garden, or the Ross Photography Center to get more a specialized experience.

Jack Nicklaus Museum: If you’re not packing the clubs on your flight to Columbus, don’t worry, you can still fit a little love for the game in on your trip. Golfer, golf course designer, family man, and Columbus native, Jack Nicklaus is honored at the (aptly named) Jack Nicklaus Museum. Interactive exhibits are fun and interesting, and an impressive collection of memorabilia chronicles his playing career highlights. Actor and legend Sean Connery narrates some of the audio tour.

King Arts Complex: Break out your easels, kiddos. While you might board your Columbus flight unknowing of its artistic opportunity, once you get there, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. In memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, the King Arts Complex exists to aid cultural and educational programs. Three performance areas, two dance studios, an art gallery, and three interactive arcades work together to make an open area for learning. As you stroll through the complex, keep in mind that legend Duke Ellington played here in 1925, when it was a nightclub called the Pythian Temple.

Columbus Alive Magazine: If you’re planning flights to Columbus for a business trip, and ache to shake that four-hour meeting you just came from, then pick up Columbus Alive Magazine, which will tell you where to find the reddest Shiraz, the tallest burgers, and the best dressed establishments in town. Specializing in nightlife, music, arts, and local celebrity interviews, this little publication is the key to your post-briefcase blues. So trade your pant suit for your jeans and hit the town.