Museums and Galleries Within a Short Drive of Upper Arlington

From Ohio State's free art museum to the Columbus Museum of Art and the Short North's gallery row, here's what's worth the drive from Upper Arlington.

Free art and campus calm at Ohio State

The closest serious museum to Upper Arlington is the Ohio State University's own: the Wexner Center for the Arts, on North High Street at 15th Avenue, about a 10-minute drive from most of Upper Arlington. Its galleries are free and show contemporary exhibitions, film series and architecture shows in a building designed by Peter Eisenman. Parking is in the nearby Ohio Union garage or the Arps Garage on College Road; expect a short walk either way. The Wexner is closed Mondays and on home football Saturdays in autumn, when campus traffic makes the area a bottleneck.

A few minutes further into campus, the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, inside the Sullivant Hall at 1813 North High Street, is free and genuinely unusual: original comic art, editorial cartoons and rotating shows from a collection of millions of items. It's open Tuesday to Sunday afternoons, with longer hours during the academic term. Combine the two on a weekday morning, when parking is easiest and the galleries are quiet. For a family with mixed interests, the cartoon museum usually wins with children; the Wexner wins with anyone who follows contemporary art.

Columbus Museum of Art and the Discovery District

Downtown, the Columbus Museum of Art at 480 East Broad Street is roughly a 15-minute drive from Upper Arlington via I-670 or Broad Street. The permanent collection covers American and European painting, and the center for creativity draws families; admission is free on Sundays, and the on-site café makes it easy to spend half a day. Parking is behind the museum off East Gay Street. The museum is closed Mondays. Pair it with the Topiary Park across the street, a landscaped interpretation of Seurat's painting, which is free and a good run-around stop for children.

Two blocks away, the Columbus Metropolitan Library's main branch on Grant Avenue has a gallery space and a café in a renovated building worth a look even if you only stop for coffee. The Discovery District around them includes the Columbus Museum of Art, the library and the Columbus College of Art and Design, whose Beeler Gallery on Cleveland Avenue shows student and visiting artist work for free during term time. Skip the area on weekday afternoons if you dislike downtown parking; weekends are easier and the museum is open both days.

Short North galleries and the Franklinton arts scene

The Short North Arts District, along High Street between downtown and the Ohio State campus, is the city's gallery row: independent spaces such as the Brandt-Roberts Galleries and the Contemporary Art Matters gallery sit among restaurants and shops, and the district holds a gallery hop on the first Saturday evening of each month. From Upper Arlington it's a 10- to 15-minute drive; park in the Joseph or Front Street garages and walk. Most galleries are free to enter. The strip is busiest on weekend evenings, so go on a weekday afternoon if you want to talk to dealers without crowds.

West of the river, Franklinton has become the city's scrappier arts quarter, anchored by 400 West Rich Street, a converted warehouse with artist studios and galleries open during events, and the Vanderelli Room on West Rich Street. It's about a 12-minute drive from Upper Arlington via Broad Street. Check opening hours before you go, as many spaces are open only for scheduled events. I would book a Short North gallery afternoon over Franklinton for a first visit, because the concentration of galleries and cafés makes it easier to fill a few hours on foot.

Further afield: German Village, Bexley and Dublin

German Village, south of downtown, is not a museum district but has small house museums and galleries tucked into its brick streets; the German Village Society's meeting house on South Third Street is a starting point for walking tours. It's a 15-minute drive from Upper Arlington. East of downtown, the Columbus Museum of Art's satellite spaces aside, Bexley's Capital University has the Schumacher Gallery in its library, free and open during term-time afternoons. These are modest stops; combine them with lunch rather than making a special trip.

Northwest of Upper Arlington, Dublin's arts center on Riverside Drive hosts exhibitions and classes, about a 20-minute drive. The city also runs a public art walk downtown. If you are in Upper Arlington without a car, the number 1 and 2 buses on King Avenue and Northwest Boulevard connect to campus and downtown, but a car is far more practical for the museum circuit. Book a hotel in Upper Arlington rather than downtown if you want free parking and quieter evenings, and drive in for the galleries.

Questions, answered

Which museum is closest to Upper Arlington?

The Wexner Center for the Arts at Ohio State is the nearest, about a 10-minute drive from most of Upper Arlington. It is free, closed Mondays, and has parking in nearby campus garages.

Are any of these museums free?

Yes. The Wexner Center, the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, and the Schumacher Gallery in Bexley are free. The Columbus Museum of Art is free on Sundays and charges otherwise.

How long does it take to drive from Upper Arlington to the Columbus Museum of Art?

Allow 15 minutes via I-670 or Broad Street, longer at rush hour. Parking is behind the museum off East Gay Street, and the Topiary Park across the street is free.

What is the best day for the Short North galleries?

The first Saturday evening of each month, when galleries hold a gallery hop. Weekday afternoons are quieter if you want to talk to staff. Park in the Joseph or Front Street garages.

Are the museums open on Mondays?

The Wexner Center and the Columbus Museum of Art are closed Mondays. The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library is open Tuesday to Sunday afternoons. Check hours before you go, especially in summer.

Can I visit these museums without a car?

It is possible but slow. Buses on King Avenue and Northwest Boulevard reach campus and downtown. For the Short North, Franklinton and Bexley, a car is much more practical.

Where should I stay for a museum-focused trip?

Upper Arlington hotels offer free parking and quieter evenings, with a 10- to 15-minute drive to most museums. Downtown hotels put you within walking distance of the Columbus Museum of Art but add parking costs.

Is the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library worth a stop?

Yes, especially for families or anyone interested in comic art. It is free, open Tuesday to Sunday afternoons, and inside Sullivant Hall on North High Street at Ohio State.

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