Family friendly stays when visiting Dublin or nearby Columbus
We first learned about Dublin, Ohio, when our family of four was planning a road trip from Virginia to Wisconsin and Michigan. On the way back from Michigan, we stopped for four nights in Dublin and got to know the city from its historic Old Town to modern developments that have struck us as some of the best urban planning in the country. Fortunately, for any trip, where to stay in Dublin has extensive, easy options for families and other travelers.
Along with extensive public art installations, Dublin is home to the stunning Dublin Link pedestrian bridge over the Scioto River, a preserved yet convenient old town that treasures its history, and new commercial centers that combine car-free dining, living, and enjoying. Dublin is home to over 20 lodging establishments, including global hotel brands, boutique B&Bs, and more.
The city earns space in your itinerary as its own destination. However, if you’re visiting nearby areas such as Columbus, Dublin can be an excellent way to combine sightseeing in a town that not enough people know about, to Columbus destinations such as the nearby Columbus Zoo.
Note: Our original visit was part of a project we did with the good folks at the Visit Dublin, Ohio tourism board. However, all our opinions are our own, and this piece isn’t part of that project.
Plan your trip
Understanding the Dublin area
Part of Dublin’s claim to fame isn’t a claim to fame at all. It’s behind-the-scenes, invisible, forward-thinking urban planning. Strange, and possibly boring, as that might sound, it’s integral in why Dublin is such an enjoyable place to visit—even when driving around a 25-foot Class C RV, like we were at the time our family visited.
The roots of the city as we know it today go back to 1802. (Funnily enough, the founders are German, but they gave the honor of naming the town to the land surveyor—who was Irish, so he named it after his hometown of Dublin.) Over the years, Dublin’s leaders have worked progressively to balance preserving the city’s history with encouraging solid planning and development that works just as well for residents as it does for visitors.
Consistently top-rated stays for families in Dublin
Throughout our stay in Dublin, from a historic walking tour to the 15+ global restaurants at North Market, we found a family-friendly community. That extended to pretty much everywhere we visited, from parks to art museums to hotel staff.
Below, here are our suggestions for where to stay in Dublin, including the hotel we enjoyed as well as other consistently highly rated places to stay in the area.
Where we stayed in Dublin
Home2 Suites by Hilton Columbus Dublin
5000 Upper Metro Pl, Dublin, OH 43017
It’s not always easy to strike a balance of a comfy, quiet hotel that welcomes kids and has a delicious, hot, complimentary breakfast. Yet the Home2 Suites by Hilton kept us comfy with its homey lobby, plus our spacious room’s kitchenette made it easy to have a bite in our rooms when we wanted some time to recharge. The entry to the patio also has free-to-borrow lawn games, including oversized jenga, cornhole, and connect four.
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Other Dublin accommodation recommendations
If these stays aren’t available or aren’t the right fit, here are consistently well-rated options in the same area.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Columbus Dublin
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Drury Inn & Suites Columbus Dublin
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Holiday Inn Express – Columbus – Dublin by IHG
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Find your place to stay in Dublin
Best areas and neighborhoods to consider for your stay
For you planning your trip, that means you can pinpoint your accommodation choices based exactly on what you need. If touring Dublin itself is your priority, as it was for us, then you have an array of choices in and close to the historic downtown core.
However, if you want to balance time in Dublin with proximity to Columbus or other parts of the area, you can just as easily plan your stay to be near major highways such as I-270, U.S. Route 33, and State Route 257 (SR 257, which leads visitors to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium).
- West of the river: historic Dublin and downtown boutique accommodations
- Along U.S. Route 33 between downtown Dublin and the I-270 interchange: larger hotels, especially global brands, such as the Home2 Suites by Hilton Columbus Dublin, which we stayed at and recommend
- East of the river: some hotels and other accommodation, but can be more convenient if accessing the newer shopping and dining developments is a priority
Dublin has great stays near the amenities you need and the activities you came for
Crossing the Dublin Link bridge, lingering over the public art installations throughout the area’s parks, and enjoying more dining throughout the city: Dublin remains a destination I’m so glad to have visited, yet want to go back and stay longer. However long your stay is, it’s going to be all the better thanks to the array of good accommodation available throughout the city.
More about Dublin, Ohio
Our experiences in Dublin (in partnership with Visit Dublin): Art, history & food: Dublin, Ohio is accessible, family-friendly and a joy to visit
