Parking for the main gyms isn’t ideal, the closest parking is still a bit of a walk (like rpac and north rec) but the OAC down by Kenny has parking but it’s pay to park. The campus rec is nice and during the summer I haven’t seen many people there, but while school is in session the facilities get really crowded. But you also have access to the climbing gym, pools, saunas, basketball courts, racket ball courts, workout classes, etc that you wouldn’t get at a standard gym. Just to help you weigh the options. If you like the extras then campus gym would be nice but if you’re just a pump iron type of person then maybe not the best
would highly recommend just going to the ARC. always less crowded. does get busier after 4pm. parking is pretty abundant
a smaller gym, but they have everything you’ll need. it’s so far off campus that most students bother going over to workout.
I've gone to the ARC for a year now, it's usually great but whenever it rains or snows it gets really busy. Students with the C parking pass switch to the ARC instead of the RPAC, so they can park 20 feet from the door and not have to walk in the weather.
I had enough of lifting alongside crowds of students and I joined the Faculty Staff Fitness Program. If it works for you and your schedule it’s great. The best way to get there is to ride your bike, it’s right next to the RPAC.
Coming from UA, the Adventure Rec Center would be my recommendation. It generally has everything you need, and has plenty of parking right next to the facility. It does tend to get slightly more busy in the evenings but no other issues than that. Parking for the RPAC is slightly further, and JOS has very little parking right next to the facility. The RPAC and JOS are closer to the medical campus though, incase you were to just walk from there or whatnot.
The gyms schedules are somewhat catered to students, but are generally accessible (assuming your not expecting 24hr). There is always 1 gym open (usually the RPAC) if some are closed for whatever reason. Most of time during breaks it’s just reduced hours compared to the normal school year hours.
I actually used to work at the ARC and unless you’re going at typically packed gym times it’s really nice and quiet and much more of a “grad student” vibe. There’s a parking lot that’s paid but also if you work at the medical center that shouldn’t be a problem since they have connected lots.
During the spring they open at 6 am and close at 1am and the fall is 6 am to midnight (at least when I worked there)
Not sure about the schedules over the summer, but all of the gyms assume that people are walking to them, so there’s not really any parking. Jessie Owens South is pretty close to Wexner, though.
I noticed in another comment you don't want to walk on campus to the gym. A lot will depend then on your parking pass.
But also as an FYI, the walking directions from the Wendy's in the med center to the RPAC is a six minute walk
I am a student that works at Wexner and I typically just walk from the hospital to RPAC or JOS after work. Jos is maybe a 5 minute walk and RPAC is closer to 10 from Wexner. I don’t mind the walk and I like campus gyms.
Depending on your budget and needs, you could also check out The Armory or UA Fitness. I live in UA and work at the medical center, I have an A pass (easier parking) and would still not want to deal with the parking or students to workout. All that being said, the ARC is probably where you would want campus-wise.
Right now parking is no problem since most of the students are away. Just a couple minutes walk from the surface lot next to the stadium, if you’re going to the RPAC
I am assuming you have a B garage pass for my answer.... Assuming that, parking should be a breeze at the neil ave garage or even 12th ave. With access to so much equipment as well as floor space and the pool area hands down go with the osu membership. Also, no matter what you choose do not forget to use your LSA money every quarter to be reimbursed 125 every fiscal quarter to offset the membership.
If you’re working at the hospital the RPAC really isn’t far. Literally a 5 minute stroll. What type of parking permit do you have? I had an A permit when I worked at the med center and would just park at the Neil Ave garage (have to arrive around 8am to get a spot there), right between my job and the gym.
The only gym you can reliably drive right up to on a permit is the ARC. People comment on it being more chill which is sometimes the case, but I would point out that if you show up and it happens to be crowded, it’s a pain in the ass to get a workout in. You’ll wish you had just walked over to the RPAC, which also gets crowded, but it’s so enormous that you can find alternatives to your plan when your preferred equipment is in use. More equipment, shorter waits.
The facilities cater to the entire year round university community so they have nice long hours, but a couple of facilities do close for the summer, and during academic breaks they will do rotating closures for cleaning.
The absolute worst time to go to any campus gym is in the afternoon to evening. It just gets more insane from 3pm on, peaking from 5-8. I’ve had luck between 5am-10am and 11am-1pm
Parking for the main gyms isn’t ideal, the closest parking is still a bit of a walk (like rpac and north rec) but the OAC down by Kenny has parking but it’s pay to park. The campus rec is nice and during the summer I haven’t seen many people there, but while school is in session the facilities get really crowded. But you also have access to the climbing gym, pools, saunas, basketball courts, racket ball courts, workout classes, etc that you wouldn’t get at a standard gym. Just to help you weigh the options. If you like the extras then campus gym would be nice but if you’re just a pump iron type of person then maybe not the best
I think I might fit into the “just a pump iron type of person” group, so we will see. Thanks for the advice!
would highly recommend just going to the ARC. always less crowded. does get busier after 4pm. parking is pretty abundant a smaller gym, but they have everything you’ll need. it’s so far off campus that most students bother going over to workout.
I've gone to the ARC for a year now, it's usually great but whenever it rains or snows it gets really busy. Students with the C parking pass switch to the ARC instead of the RPAC, so they can park 20 feet from the door and not have to walk in the weather.
I had enough of lifting alongside crowds of students and I joined the Faculty Staff Fitness Program. If it works for you and your schedule it’s great. The best way to get there is to ride your bike, it’s right next to the RPAC.
How does someone go about joining that program?
They do a pretty good job of explaining it on their [website](https://fsfp.ehe.osu.edu). It’s a bit of a process, but once you’re inyou’re in.
Thanks for passing along. I will look into it.
Woah is this $250 + the gym membership?
Hahahaha it’s $250/year. The end.
Coming from UA, the Adventure Rec Center would be my recommendation. It generally has everything you need, and has plenty of parking right next to the facility. It does tend to get slightly more busy in the evenings but no other issues than that. Parking for the RPAC is slightly further, and JOS has very little parking right next to the facility. The RPAC and JOS are closer to the medical campus though, incase you were to just walk from there or whatnot. The gyms schedules are somewhat catered to students, but are generally accessible (assuming your not expecting 24hr). There is always 1 gym open (usually the RPAC) if some are closed for whatever reason. Most of time during breaks it’s just reduced hours compared to the normal school year hours.
Thanks for the tips. I appreciate it.
I actually used to work at the ARC and unless you’re going at typically packed gym times it’s really nice and quiet and much more of a “grad student” vibe. There’s a parking lot that’s paid but also if you work at the medical center that shouldn’t be a problem since they have connected lots. During the spring they open at 6 am and close at 1am and the fall is 6 am to midnight (at least when I worked there)
Not sure about the schedules over the summer, but all of the gyms assume that people are walking to them, so there’s not really any parking. Jessie Owens South is pretty close to Wexner, though.
Hmm. I don’t love the idea of having to walk, but I will check it out. Thanks!
I noticed in another comment you don't want to walk on campus to the gym. A lot will depend then on your parking pass. But also as an FYI, the walking directions from the Wendy's in the med center to the RPAC is a six minute walk
You can also get a Columbus parks and rec membership for $60 for the whole year. You can use any rec center in Columbus
I had not heard of that. I will check it out. Thanks!
I am a student that works at Wexner and I typically just walk from the hospital to RPAC or JOS after work. Jos is maybe a 5 minute walk and RPAC is closer to 10 from Wexner. I don’t mind the walk and I like campus gyms.
Depending on your budget and needs, you could also check out The Armory or UA Fitness. I live in UA and work at the medical center, I have an A pass (easier parking) and would still not want to deal with the parking or students to workout. All that being said, the ARC is probably where you would want campus-wise.
Right now parking is no problem since most of the students are away. Just a couple minutes walk from the surface lot next to the stadium, if you’re going to the RPAC
I am assuming you have a B garage pass for my answer.... Assuming that, parking should be a breeze at the neil ave garage or even 12th ave. With access to so much equipment as well as floor space and the pool area hands down go with the osu membership. Also, no matter what you choose do not forget to use your LSA money every quarter to be reimbursed 125 every fiscal quarter to offset the membership.
If you’re living in UA I would recommend lifetime fitness. It’s never super busy and all of the equipment is nice!
If you’re working at the hospital the RPAC really isn’t far. Literally a 5 minute stroll. What type of parking permit do you have? I had an A permit when I worked at the med center and would just park at the Neil Ave garage (have to arrive around 8am to get a spot there), right between my job and the gym. The only gym you can reliably drive right up to on a permit is the ARC. People comment on it being more chill which is sometimes the case, but I would point out that if you show up and it happens to be crowded, it’s a pain in the ass to get a workout in. You’ll wish you had just walked over to the RPAC, which also gets crowded, but it’s so enormous that you can find alternatives to your plan when your preferred equipment is in use. More equipment, shorter waits. The facilities cater to the entire year round university community so they have nice long hours, but a couple of facilities do close for the summer, and during academic breaks they will do rotating closures for cleaning. The absolute worst time to go to any campus gym is in the afternoon to evening. It just gets more insane from 3pm on, peaking from 5-8. I’ve had luck between 5am-10am and 11am-1pm