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Columbus, Ohio, is a city rich in history—and, if the legends are true, more than a few lingering spirits. From relocated graveyards to historic buildings with dark pasts, the city has no shortage of ghostly tales. Ohio is often listed as one of the states with the most paranormal sightings, so it’s no surprise Columbus has its fair share. If you’re looking for an entertaining evening adventure, a US Ghost Adventures Columbus ghost tour is the perfect way to explore the city’s haunted side.

On this guided walking tour, you’ll hear stories of paranormal activity in Columbus and visit sites known for their eerie past. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, this tour offers a fun and unique way to see Columbus after dark. I had the opportunity to take this tour courtesy of US Ghost Adventures and made a fun evening of it!

The Arnold Statue near the Convention Center, and the meeting point for the tour.

What To Expect from the Columbus Ghost Tour

Tours generally begin at 8:00 pm in downtown Columbus at the Arnold Statue near the Convention Center. The original tour includes six stops along the walking tour and lasts roughly an hour. You also have the option to add on the extended tour, which adds four more stops and about a half hour to the duration.

I really appreciated that the tour began with a quick history of Ohio and the Columbus area! Ohio has a lot of history, including Native American heritage, the Civil War and Underground Railroad, and a booming business industry — all of which have played a role in its paranormal stories. The history introduction provided enough details that I could better appreciate the stories of the tour, but not so many that I felt inundated.

The six stops along the tour cover about a mile. For those with any mobility concerns, the path was on wide sidewalks with minimal elevation change.

You don’t enter any of the buildings, all information is discussed on the sidewalk. But several of these buildings are open to the public if you’d like to explore on your own after the tour.

Elevator Brewing Company is located in a nationally registered historic building. It’s a fun building, so it’s worth a visit!

Interested in a tour? Sign up for a Columbus tour here, and be sure to use code AAC10 for a 10% discount!

What To Bring On Your Tour

As this is a rain-or-shine walking tour, be sure to wear comfortable clothing for the weather, including walking shoes and a rain jacket, if needed. You may wish to bring a water bottle (always a good idea) and a camera or your phone for pictures. Don’t forget to bring a bit of cash for gratuity.

When you book the tour, you have the chance to buy a cute ghostie plush, or to rent an EMF activity detector. Thomas also had these items available for purchase when I showed up, so consider having cash on-hand for these if you’re interested.

Other than that, there’s nothing you really need to enjoy your tour, meaning you can travel light and just enjoy the walk and stories!

Make An Evening Of It

It’s really easy to make the US Ghost Adventures Columbus tour a whole evening event! For one thing, it’s right next to the Convention Center and Arena District. So if you’re already in Columbus and staying at a nearby hotel for a day event, this is an easy activity to tack onto your evening itinerary.

Near the starting point of the Arnold statue are a few bars and restaurants. I arrived early (it was a Friday night downtown, after all) and stopped at Agave & Rye first. They have a fun selection of margaritas, and overall it just has a fun vibe! If you’re looking for a recommendation, the Lychee and Mango Paloma and the Jalapeno Pineapple Rita were both tasty!

You could also stop at Barley’s Brewing Company or Elevator Brewing Company, both of which are stops on the tour. Although, you may wish to save these for after the tour so you can better appreciate the stories that go with both locations. Elevator Brewing is in a historic building that has some fascinating architecture and decor, so I think it’s worth a visit even if just for the ambiance.

If you have a bit of time to spend the next morning, I highly recommend a visit to the Ohio Statehouse! It’s the last stop on the standard US Ghost Adventures Columbus tour, and it’s such a beautiful building! You can also do free guided or self-guided tours, which I highly recommend.

A Jalapeno and Pineapple Rita from Agave & Rye, right across the street from the Arnold statue.

Looking for more paranormal fun in Ohio? Make a road trip out of it by also visiting Moonville Tunnel, the Fairfield County Infirmary, and the Mansfield Reformatory.

Parking Logistics

The standard tour begins at the Arnold Statue and ends at the Ohio Statehouse, so you could conveniently park anywhere on this path. I parked at the Vine Street Garage, located near the statue, which has ample parking and is easy to get in and out of. Just know that you’ll have to walk the mile back to this area after the tour.

Of course, if you’re visiting the area for work or the convention, you could stay at one of the nearby hotels. There are several right by the Convention Center. Or you may consider staying at Hotel Leveque, another haunted site on the tour. Plus, it’s just a really cool looking building with a lot of history. Paranormal history aside, it’s on my wish list of hotels!

Leveque Tower, one of the stops on the tour.

Final Thoughts on the US Ghost Adventures Columbus Tour

Overall I really enjoyed my evening and tour with US Ghost Adventures! My guide, Thomas, was friendly and easy to chat with. I would say I found four of the six sites quite interesting, and the other two mildly interesting. Regardless, I really appreciated the history and the variety of paranormal happenings. If I do the tour again, I think it would be worth tacking on the extra four sites. I’m curious to see which sites would make the cut.

Given the location, duration, and cost ($26), this is a fun addition to your Columbus visit, whether you’re visiting the city for work or pleasure. This tour also inspired me that I should spend more time exploring what Columbus has on offer, and experiencing this walk and bit of local history was a great place to start!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary tour from US Ghost Adventures in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this article are my own and reflect my personal experience. I strive to provide fair and unbiased content to help my readers make informed decisions.

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