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CMH

John Glenn Columbus International Airport

Columbus, United States

Where to start
Rideshare from the ground-level TNC zone / COTA AirConnect to downtown

CMH is about nine miles from downtown with no rail link. Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) picks up on the arrivals level (Level 1): cross the Arrivals drive to the ground transportation area and stand between the columns to the right. Taxis are at a stand outside baggage claim on the lower level. COTA's AirConnect bus runs to downtown; confirm the current route and stop via COTA's Trip Planner.

Ride Options

Uber

rideshare

Door-to-door; the default given no rail

AvailabilityCommonly available; short trips downtown
Pickup NoteArrivals level (Level 1) — cross the Arrivals drive to the ground transportation area, stand between the columns to the right. Be in the zone before requesting.
Convenience
Relative costMid cost
Visit Website

Lyft

rideshare

Alternative rideshare

AvailabilityCommonly available
Pickup NoteSame TNC zone as Uber.
Convenience
Relative costMid cost
Visit Website

Columbus Licensed Taxi

taxi

No app needed

AvailabilityAt the stand outside baggage claim; metered
Pickup NoteLower-level baggage claim taxi stand.
Convenience
Relative costHigher cost
Visit Website

COTA AirConnect

transit

Lowest-cost route to downtown

AvailabilityCOTA AirConnect serves downtown with a stop near the Hyatt Regency / Convention Center; COTA directs travellers to its Trip Planner for current times, and Route 7 is an alternative fixed route
Pickup NoteGround transportation area near the ticketing level; runs to the Convention Center area downtown.
Convenience
Relative costLower cost
Visit Website

SIXT Ride — Pre-booked Airport Transfer

Private Transfer

Fixed-rate pre-booked door-to-door transfer

AvailabilityAvailable at Columbus — book via SIXT app or website
Pickup NoteDriver meets you in arrivals with a name sign. Fixed price, flight tracking, up to 60 min free waiting.
Convenience
Relative costHigher cost
Book Transfer

Pickup Guidance

Rideshare

Arrivals level (Level 1). After reserving your ride, cross the Arrivals drive to the ground transportation area and stand between the columns to the right — this is the airport's own official instruction. Be in the zone before requesting.

Taxi

Taxi stand directly outside baggage claim on the lower level. Metered fares to downtown.

Shuttle

Hotel shuttles use the ground transportation area on the lower level. The rental car centre is reached by the purple shuttle from the ground transportation area.

Transit

COTA serves the airport. The dedicated downtown service has been branded both "AirConnect" and by route number in different sources; it stops at the ground transportation area and runs to downtown Columbus (convention centre / Statehouse area) in roughly 25–40 minutes. COTA directs travellers to its Trip Planner for current times, and Route 7 is an alternative fixed route.

Private Transfer

Pre-booked cars and black-car services use the ground transportation area on the lower level.

Travel Extras

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Local Tips

  • There is no train to CMH and none in the city — anyone expecting rail will be disappointed.
  • The airport is close to downtown, so rides are short; Easton Town Center is even closer.
  • Be physically in the ground transportation area (between the columns to the right, on the arrivals level) before requesting a ride.
  • For the bus, COTA points travellers to its Trip Planner rather than one fixed airport express; AirConnect (to the Convention Center) and Route 7 both serve the airport — check current times.
  • Intel's large new campus and ongoing growth mean airport traffic is rising; allow buffer at peak.
  • The airport code CMH comes from the original name Columbus Municipal Hangar, not the current John Glenn name.

Tarmyq local tip

CMH is a car airport — accept that and it's simple. The one thing to get right is the rideshare spot: cross the Arrivals drive to the ground transportation area and stand between the columns to the right before you tap request.