Blog Neighbourhood picks

2026-11-033 min readThe Awesome stay guide editorial team

Upper Arlington's central Ohio location puts four of the state's best holiday light shows within roughly 20 to 90 minutes of a Lane Avenue hotel room.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium: Wildlights in Powell

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 West Powell Road in Powell, runs on selected evenings from mid-November into early January, with the densest schedule between Thanksgiving and New Year. From most Upper Arlington addresses the drive up Riverside Drive then Ohio 257 is 20 to 30 minutes, or a straight shot west on Fishinger Road to Sawmill Parkway. Weeknight admission is typically $5 to $10 cheaper than Saturday, and the first hour after opening is the calmest window; arrive after 7pm on a Saturday and you will queue for the parking lots.

The loop is genuinely large, so plan two hours inside the gates and wear the warmest boots you own — the bulk of the display is outdoors and the walk between the polar bear and the Asia Quest sections is longer than first-timers expect. Bundle tickets online in advance; the zoo holds entry until capacity fills on peak nights. For families with young children the carousel and the train ride close earlier than the walking trail, so ride them first. This is the display I would book first because it is the shortest drive from an Upper Arlington base.

Franklin Park Conservatory and the Statehouse Tree

Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 East Broad Street, sits about 15 minutes southeast of Upper Arlington via I-670 and is the best wet-weather option on this list. Its holiday display mixes the warm, humid biomes — palm house, desert house, orchid forest — with a themed model railroad and hundreds of poinsettias. Evening hours are limited to specific dates, usually Thursday through Sunday in December, and timed tickets sell out several days ahead. The conservatory is smaller than the zoo, and 90 minutes covers it comfortably.

In the same evening, continue to Capitol Square in downtown Columbus, where the Statehouse lawn and the Scioto Mile riverfront are lit and free to walk. From the conservatory the drive downtown is 12 to 15 minutes. Park near the Statehouse or use the underground garages at the convention center. The Statehouse tree is smaller than the zoo's display and the riverfront lighting is scattered rather than concentrated, so treat this as a stroll rather than a destination. Skip it on a rainy night; the conservatory alone fills the evening.

Clifton Mill and the Legendary Lights

Clifton Mill, 75 Water Street in Clifton, sits in Greene County near Yellow Springs and is the most atmospheric of the four at roughly 75 to 90 minutes from Upper Arlington via I-70 and US-68. Its holiday illumination runs from late November through December, with the mill, the covered bridge and the Little Miami River gorge strung with lights and, weather permitting, a waterwheel light show. The ticket price is comparable to the zoo's but the site is much smaller; an hour covers the grounds.

Combining Clifton Mill with Yellow Springs makes a full evening. Browse the shops on Xenia Avenue in Yellow Springs first, eat early, then drive 15 minutes south to the mill for a later time slot. Weeknights are far quieter; a Saturday in mid-December means standing in line on the bridge. Road access is two-lane and winding, so allow extra time after dark and check for ice on the hill down to the mill. I would choose this over a second zoo visit if the group is all adults.

Where to Base Yourself and What to Skip

Upper Arlington is the practical base for all four drives because Lane Avenue and Northwest Boulevard feed straight onto the freeways: Ohio State's campus, the Short North and the Arena District are each 10 to 15 minutes away when you want dinner before or after a display. Hotels cluster along Lane Avenue and near the OSU campus, with midweek December rates generally lowest on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and Sunday rates often lower than Friday. Book a refundable rate for outdoor displays, as Ohio ice in late December can close sites with little notice.

Two things on visitors' lists are not worth the detour for a lights trip. The Ohio State Fairgrounds and most suburban neighborhood displays are drive-through at 15mph and finish in minutes, and downtown Columbus's bus circulator is thin on winter evenings after 9pm. Elsewhere in Ohio, the big Cleveland and Cincinnati shows are three to four hours each way and demand an overnight. If you want a second large show, choose Clifton Mill for the atmosphere; otherwise spend the saved evening at the Short North galleries.

Before you book

What people ask before booking Upper Arlington.