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Olentangy Motor Inn

2.0 star property

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Photo gallery for Olentangy Motor Inn

Exterior
Exterior
Premium bedding, individually furnished, free WiFi, bed sheets
Coffee service
Premium bedding, individually furnished, free WiFi, bed sheets

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Pet friendly
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Free WiFi
$130
includes taxes & fees
Oct 1 - Oct 2

Explore the area

View in a map
1445 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH, 43212
  • Ohio Stadium
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Ohio State University
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Greater Columbus Convention Center
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Columbus, OH (CMH-John Glenn Columbus Intl.)
    ‪14 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Double Beds

Premium bedding, individually furnished, free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(84 reviews)
  • 285 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible

Premium bedding, individually furnished, free WiFi, bed sheets

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible

7.4 out of 10
Good
(12 reviews)
  • 285 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Double Beds

Premium bedding, individually furnished, free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(20 reviews)
  • 285 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Room, 2 Double Beds, Accessible

Room, 2 Double Beds, Accessible | Premium bedding, individually furnished, free WiFi, bed sheets

Room, 2 Double Beds, Accessible

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(13 reviews)
  • 285 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Premium bedding, individually furnished, free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(57 reviews)
  • 214 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

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About this property

Olentangy Motor Inn

Hotel in Grandview Heights
A coffee shop/cafe, a 24-hour front desk, and RV/bus/truck parking are available at this smoke-free hotel. On-the-go breakfast is free. Housekeeping is available on request.
Olentangy Motor Inn offers 55 air-conditioned accommodations, which are accessible via exterior corridors and feature coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Each accommodation is individually furnished. Beds feature premium bedding. Televisions come with premium cable channels. Bathrooms include showers.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access (speed: 25+ Mbps). Business-friendly amenities include phones along with free local calls (restrictions may apply). Housekeeping is provided on request.

The hotel offers a coffee shop/cafe. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning. Onsite self parking is complimentary. A total renovation of this property was completed in September 2023.

Olentangy Motor Inn is a smoke-free property.

A complimentary on-the-go breakfast is served each morning between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM.
Crimson Cup - Onsite coffee shop.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 25+ Mbps

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site
  • RV/bus/truck parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available
  • Onsite parking includes off-street options

Food and drink

  • Free on-the-go breakfast available daily 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM
  • A coffee shop/cafe

Restaurants on site

  • Crimson Cup

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (on request)

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 4 accessible parking spaces
  • Assistive listening devices
  • Smooth flooring in public areas
  • Smooth flooring in room
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking

More

  • 1 building
  • 2 floors
  • Built in 1986
  • Renovated entire property - September 2023
  • Smoking not allowed
  • Traditional architecture

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 55-inch TV with premium cable channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker

More

  • Access via exterior corridors
  • Air conditioning
  • Connecting rooms available
  • Free local calls
  • Heating
  • Individual furnishings
  • Mobile key entry
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Guests will receive an email within 7 days before arrival with check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 72 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
Prior to arrival, you must complete online registration via a secure link
You will be asked to provide the property with a copy of your government-issued photo ID after booking
A virtual front desk provides assistance to guests
This property enforces quiet hours from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 10 per pet, per night (maximum USD 100 per stay)
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
1 total (up to 30 lbs per pet)
Pets cannot be left unattended
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Children up to the age of 12 years can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Pet fee: USD 10 per pet, per night (maximum USD 100 per stay)
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation

Property is also known as

Varsity Inn South Hotel
Varsity Inn South Hotel Columbus
Varsity South Columbus
Varsity Inn Columbus
Varsity Inn
Varsity Columbus
The Varsity Inn
Olentangy Motor Inn Hotel
Olentangy Motor Inn Columbus
Olentangy Motor Inn Hotel Columbus

Olentangy Motor Inn Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 773 out of 1159 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 250 out of 1159 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 82 out of 1159 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 25 out of 1159 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 29 out of 1159 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Cory

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was clean and roomy.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

James

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Comfortable overnighter

Slighty older but well refurbished, this place was an OASIS in Columbus' tangled mess of confusing, half-under-construction roadways. Front desk exceptionally nice both nighttime and morning staff. Barely noticed slow moving freight trains on nearby tracks. Complimentary am coffe and hot breakfast sandwich were a delicious surprise.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sandy

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Deborah

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We’ve stayed here several times now and will definitely do so again. Only downside is that staff did not do daily cleaning or refreshing of towels, etc.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Xuelian, Brooklyn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The staff is very friendly and very helpful. Will come back.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ryan

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
coffee shop
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Clarence

Traveled with group, Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place! I stay here often when I’m in Columbus!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

Tom

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Samantha

What a hidden gem! This place was wonderful to stay at.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

Ilya

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

LIEN t

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Convenient location
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

4/10 Poor

Erin

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Train runs directly behind the building at 6:00 am on Sunday morning. The individual half and half creamer in the room was spoiled, floated on top of the coffee in pieces. Coffee shop in the lobby has a drive thru that wraps around the building directly behind guest parked car's, difficult to get out. Added an additional cleaning fee for "smoking" in the room by nonsmoker. Blue haired girl at the desk told me to prove it didn't smell like smoke, what?? They take advantage of people coming to town for events, never again! I'll stick with the big chain hotels because of issues like these.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Tom

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Confortable, clean motel.

Reserved three rooms for one night. When arrived, no obvious sign indicating "The Office" Found that the office was part of the attached "restaurant". Had a brief wait checking-in while the clerk took an order for food. No big deal, just quite different from most motels. The card would not open one of the rooms. Took almost 3 hours to get the lock repaired before we could enter the room. Again stuff happens, no big deal, but a "we're sorry" would have been nice. Rooms very clean and modern (spartan). Pleased with the rooms. Train track behind the facility. So no, it's not an airplane flying low in the middle of the night, it's a looooong train. Would stay there again if in the area.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Emanuel

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Jessica

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The motel is as described. Not many amenities but that is what we expected at a motel. The rooms were newly remodeled, clean and had everything we needed. The free breakfast sandwich and coffee were good. Staff were very friendly and accommodating. Price was good compared to other bigger hotel chains in the area. We would stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Terry

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Deborah J.

Business traveler, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
This is a retro motel nicely renovated. Attached is a coffee shop that serves guests and the public. The complimentary coffee and breakfast sandwich were both very good. It also serves as the office for the motel. There are many restaurants nearby. We only stayed one night as we had medical appointments at OSU Wexner Medical Center, which is very close.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeanne

Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gyasi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Elisha, Cincinnati

Traveled with partner, Traveled with family
Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
friendly staff and clean room
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

joel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Lillian

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Nice no thrills hotel

It is a good "no thrills" hotel (no - pool, restaurant/bar, exercise room, elevator). All the room doors open to the outside. breakfast is a coffee and a egg beacon or sausage sandwich (nothing for small kids). Pros: very clean, new comfortable beds, large TV, Friendly and helpful staff, free parking, easy access to highways and places to eat in walking distance. Cons: freight train tracks right behind hotel (trains run 2-3 times during night).. I would recommend requesting a room towards front of hotel, preferably on the west side. I would stay here again because it it priced competitive and in good location.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Russell

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

hyo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Clean and good parking
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

2/10 Terrible

Gordon

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff. Was not friendly or accommodating until I had to push them to change the room I was in. Over an hour. To change room. When the place was empty. Smh
Stayed 1 night in May 2025