Overview
Delaware is a quaint town of 41,000 people (2020) in the Greater Columbus region of Ohio. Delaware is home to the liberal Ohio Wesleyan University. It is the birthplace of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States of America. His Presidential Library and home are in Fremont, Ohio.
3 sights · 3 things to do · 8 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Delaware
Olentangy Indian Caverns
It's 105 feet deep with excellent exhibits of Wyandot tribe artifacts. Offers tours and cave yoga.
Ohio Wesleyan University
A prestigious liberal arts college. The campus is an integral part of Delaware.
Sulphur Spring
A historic spring where President Rutherford B Hayes Lucy is said to have met his future wife Lucy Webb.
The Little Brown Jug
Second leg of the pacing, Triple Crown harness racing, classic for 3-year-olds. Held at Delaware County Fairgrounds.
Mingo Park
Blue Limestone Park
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Columbus)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CMH John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Columbus — 23 mi away (major hub). Directions
- LCK Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus — 34 mi away. Directions
Delaware is connected by US 23, US 36, US 42, and is a short distance from I-71.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Ohio Wesleyan University, Sulphur Spring
- Lunch Amato's
- Afternoon Blue Limestone Park, Olentangy Indian Caverns
- Dinner Bun's Restaurant
- Evening Restoration Brew Worx
Day 2
- Morning Mingo Park
- Lunch 1808 American Bistro
- Afternoon The Little Brown Jug
- Dinner Typhoon Asian Fusion Bistro
- Evening Backstretch Bar
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
Delaware is connected by US 23, US 36, US 42, and is a short distance from I-71.
By bus
Greyhound buses offer service between Delaware and Columbus (30 minutes).
Get around
By plane
By bus
As Delaware is largely a college town, bus service by DATA (Delaware Area Transit Association) is frequent and runs relatively late.
By car
Parking is easy in most parts of Delaware. Parking lots are rarely full but parking on the street can be tricky. Meter parking is widely available.
Downtown street parking is metered and somewhat more difficult to come by, although there are always spots available if you're willing to walk.
Parking on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus is the trickiest of all parking tasks in Delaware. In fact, if you can get to Wesleyan by a method other than car, then that method is recommended. Bus service onto campus from downtown and other areas of Delaware runs very frequently during the day. If you have to park on campus during the day, you will need to get a visitor parking permit from the Department of Public Safety on campus, and then you can park in a spot labeled for visitor parking, which are very few and far between. The public safety officer can give you a map showing where visitor parking spots are, but during a school day, expect to hunt through all of them and not find anything.
By taxi
Taxi service is available by phone, but expect to wait up to an hour or more on busy or cold nights.
See
See Olentangy Indian Caverns
It's 105 feet deep with excellent exhibits of Wyandot tribe artifacts. Offers tours and cave yoga.
See Sulphur Spring
A historic spring where President Rutherford B Hayes Lucy is said to have met his future wife Lucy Webb.
Do
Do Mingo Park
Do Blue Limestone Park
Buy
Eat
Eat Kilbourne Pizza
A small-town pizza shop owned and operated by a Delaware-area native. Avoid the crowded franchises and order a one of a kind pizza to enjoy at Alum Creek Reservoir. For a big appetite try the Kilbourne Monster, an eight-pound pizza made fresh to order. Also available are seasonal specials such as cabbage roles or crepes.
Eat Amato's
Offers delicious handmade pizzas and crepes, salads and deli sandwiches. The small restaurant has a charming, quirky atmosphere- be sure to take a look at the antique cash register (still functioning!) used for cash transactions! Pizzas are offered in either 8-inch or 12-inch sizes, and come on either the traditional white wheat crust or a whole wheat crust. You can make your own pizzas (up to 5 toppings for $6) or choose from their extensive menu of pre-planned pies. The restaurant offers unique pizza combinations that go far beyond the typical pizza joint (an example is The Hulk, playfully described as containing "pesto, mozarella, spinach, green olives, green onions, green peppers, zucchini, and anything else we can find that's green."
Eat Typhoon Asian Fusion Bistro
A blend of Chinese, Thai and Asian fusion cuisine with hand-made sauces. The menu includes an array of appetizers, entrees, sushi, cocktails, sake and more.
Eat Ollie's
Ollie's is housed in a charming little gingerbread house with a beautiful courtyard and renovated interior. They offer a large selection of hot beverages, from coffee to tea to hot chocolate (all of it fair-trade), and a modest selection of hand-churned ice cream flavors. Their ice cream selection rotates occasionally. Adjacent to the ice cream parlor is a cute little seating area, with tables, antiques, and wireless internet. The friendly, personal service, unparalleled ice cream and drinks (make sure to try their chai- it takes a week to make!), and cozy setting makes Ollie's a must-stop.
Eat Chelly Belly's
Chelly Belly offers delicious sandwiches, salads, soups, pastries, smoothies, and Seattle's Best Coffee. The sandwiches are all gourmet-quality and freshly made to order on delicious bread ranging from panini to sourdough rolls and everything in between. Everything is a cut above your typical deli in this shop- you'll find gourmet niche sodas in the freezer, homemade pastries, and kettle-cooked chips on the shelves, but for traditionalists all the old staples are offered, too.
Eat Old Bag of Nails Pub
Popular with students and local Delaware residents alike. Old Bag of Nails offers typical American fare, from steaks to salads to their specialty, fish and chips. Their Happy Hour is famous and extremely popular- 5 days a week, for 4 hours, all appetizers are half off, which is a great incentive for cash-strapped students.
Eat 1808 American Bistro
Serves classic American fare with the occasional Southern and Cajun twists. Steaks, pastas, burgers, sandwiches, salads, appetizers and desserts. 48 craft beers on draft, and a nice selection of wines and spirits.
Drink
Drink Backstretch Bar
The happening spot in Delaware, home to locals and OWU alike. Live music on Thursdays and Saturdays and DJ on Fridays. They offer a large selection of domestics and imports with rotating draft handles. Free wireless is available.
Drink Staas Brewing
Established in 2013, a small batch, all grain brewpub that specializes in Belgian and English beer styles. Features 12 taps and two English beer engines with an ever changing selection.
Drink Restoration Brew Worx
Local brew pub featuring hand crafted beer.
Sleep
Camping
Go next
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