Columbus Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Photo provided by Indiana Office of Tourism Development
Brown County State Park showing a lake or waterhole
Brown County State Park which includes tranquil scenes
Brown County State Park showing forest scenes, hiking or walking and a garden
Brown County State Park featuring signage

Sometimes called the Athens of the Prairie, this Midwest city is a treasure trove of modern, post-modern and contemporary buildings.

Columbus is a city filled with architectural innovation and splendour as well as imaginative pieces of public art. See the work of some of the most influential architects of the 20th century and discover the attractive countryside within and around the city.

The imaginative cityscape results from the late industrialist Joseph Irwin Miller’s desire to improve Columbus to lure businesses and employees to the area.

For a good introduction to the city’s architecture, stroll along Fifth Street which is nicknamed the Avenue of the Architects for the prominent architects who built there. Among its collection of impressive buildings are Historic City Hall, St. Peter's Lutheran Church and the First Christian Church, which was the first contemporary building in Columbus, constructed in 1942. Study the street’s public artworks such as The Large Arch by English artist Henry Moore.

Get around to other fascinating buildings and artworks in Columbus. Appreciate the unusual forms of Ancestral Way, a series of abstract sculptures along Third Street. Tour the Miller House and Garden, a mid-20th-century modernist masterpiece that was commissioned by J. Irwin Miller. An enjoyable way to discover the buildings is on the architecture bus tour organised by the Columbus Area Visitors Centre.

While the architecture is often the magnet that pulls in visitors, Columbus also has beautiful southern Indiana scenery. Rent bikes from kiosks located throughout the city and ride along more than 27 miles (44 kilometres) of trails. You’ll pass through woods and along and over a river.

Kayak or canoe along the Driftwood River and relax in Mill Race Park, a riverfront park with lakes, playgrounds, basketball courts and an amphitheatre for concerts.

To get to Columbus, fly into Indianapolis International Airport and pick up a rental car for the 190-mile (310-kilometre) drive to this holiday destination of imaginative art, architecture and Midwest scenery.

Postcard Cabins Brown County, Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy

Postcard Cabins Brown County, Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy

2 out of 5
6249 Poplar Grove Rd, Columbus, IN
The price is AU$298 per night from 22 Oct to 23 Oct
AU$298
22 Oct - 23 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this cabin in Columbus. Enjoy free parking, patios, and climate control. Popular attraction Southwest Community Field is located nearby.
9.4/10 Exceptional! (45 reviews)
"Very cool place. We loved the large window and how secluded we felt."

Reviewed on 14 Oct 2025

Postcard Cabins Brown County, Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Columbus - Edinburgh

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Columbus - Edinburgh

3 out of 5
101 Carrie Lane, Columbus, IN
The price is AU$145 per night from 2 Nov to 3 Nov
AU$145
2 Nov - 3 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Columbus. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,022 reviews)
"Wonderful stop, easy to find with large clean room near food and shopping."

Reviewed on 15 Oct 2025

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Columbus - Edinburgh
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Columbus-Edinburgh

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Columbus-Edinburgh

3 out of 5
3888 Mimosa Drive, Columbus, IN
The price is AU$126 per night from 2 Nov to 3 Nov
AU$126
2 Nov - 3 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Columbus. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,010 reviews)
"Located convenient to I65, we stayed here one night while traveling north. The hotel is in an office park area, which is very quiet and safe at night. But it would be impossible to find without a map app. The hotel staff was very friendly and accommodating. The room was clean, and the balcony looking ..."

Reviewed on 16 Oct 2025

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Columbus-Edinburgh
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Postcard Cabins Brown County, Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy

Postcard Cabins Brown County, Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy

2 out of 5
6249 Poplar Grove Rd, Columbus, IN
Stay at this cabin in Columbus. Enjoy free parking, patios, and climate control. Popular attraction Southwest Community Field is located nearby.
9.4/10 Exceptional! (45 reviews)
"Very cool place. We loved the large window and how secluded we felt."

Reviewed on 14 Oct 2025

Postcard Cabins Brown County, Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy
YOUR OWN PRIVATE 12 ACRE LAKE, 80 ACRES, HOT TUB & GAME BARN

YOUR OWN PRIVATE 12 ACRE LAKE, 80 ACRES, HOT TUB & GAME BARN

Columbus
Book a stay at this beach cabin in Columbus. Enjoy free WiFi, a beach locale, and a water park. Our guests praise the property condition in our reviews. Popular ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (155 reviews)
"Lovely and quiet and just what we wanted in a place for some quality family time!"

Reviewed on 9 Sept 2025

YOUR OWN PRIVATE 12 ACRE LAKE, 80 ACRES, HOT TUB & GAME BARN
Private 3.5 acre Waterfront Cabin with Hot Tub, WiFi, Minutes from Nashville

Private 3.5 acre Waterfront Cabin with Hot Tub, WiFi, Minutes from Nashville

Morgantown
Stay at this cabin in Morgantown. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and patios. Popular attractions Hungry Acres Lake and Lutheran Hills Lake are located nearby.
9.6/10 Exceptional! (27 reviews)
"This was a great place for a 3-night stay over Fall Break. Our kids loved the cabin. They shouted, "everything is wood!!" as soon as we arrived. They fished for hours off the dock (catching only a twig and a leaf) but they thought it was perfect. We would definitely stay again."

Reviewed on 14 Oct 2025

Private 3.5 acre Waterfront Cabin with Hot Tub, WiFi, Minutes from Nashville
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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